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kirstenrose22 's review for:
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
by Amy Chua
I knew I had to read this, because it was obvious from the media coverage that the actual book would be more nuanced and interesting than the way it was portrayed - and indeed, this is true. But I do still have very mixed feelings about this book, and about Chua's ideas. This is definitely a memoir, not a how-to manual, and she is surprisingly open and revealing about her own foibles and mistakes. I wish we got to see more of her husband in these pages, because I would love to know his take on all this. In the final chapter "Coda", she writes about the writing process of the actual book, and about her daughters reading and criticizing her drafts. Despite all the harsh words that have gone before, here you can really see the heart of their relationship, and how loving, supportive, and funny they all are. And in the end, isn't that (most of) what counts?
It was very thought-provoking, thinking about my own upbringing and how I am raising my child now. Ultimately, I realized, I wouldn't take this road myself - not so much for my child's sake (though I do not think my ultra-sensitive child would respond well to the methods Chua describes) - but for my own selfish reasons. Chua does not seem very happy, and in fact, she admits that personal happiness has never been a big thing for her. I am too selfish and like my personal time and my hobbies, and in the end, wouldn't want to trade in my happiness for a chance at having my daughter play at Carnegie Hall. If that makes me a Western parent, then so be it. I'm okay with that.
It was very thought-provoking, thinking about my own upbringing and how I am raising my child now. Ultimately, I realized, I wouldn't take this road myself - not so much for my child's sake (though I do not think my ultra-sensitive child would respond well to the methods Chua describes) - but for my own selfish reasons. Chua does not seem very happy, and in fact, she admits that personal happiness has never been a big thing for her. I am too selfish and like my personal time and my hobbies, and in the end, wouldn't want to trade in my happiness for a chance at having my daughter play at Carnegie Hall. If that makes me a Western parent, then so be it. I'm okay with that.