Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China (Abridged)

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Summary: A century of suffering for one Chinese family
Review: This book is a readable, straightforward saga that puts recent Chinese history into heartbreaking perspective. Jung Chang does us all a great service with this account of her family's experiences at the hands of a cruel traditional society, the Japanese, the Kuomintang and Mao. I'd give it five stars, but, being a tough grader, I reserve those only for the really, really classic books. Readers interested in more on the sufferings of modern China might also appreciate Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng (more on the Cultural Revolution) and The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang (the hellish experiences of the people of that city after it fell to the Japanese in 1937). The lesson, of course, is that the problem lies not with the Chinese or the Japanese, the communists or the capitalists, but with all of us if we do not open our eyes to the realities of history and vow "Never, never, never again."

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Summary: NO GOOD BOOK
Review: I HATE I

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Summary: A fascinating report of three generations of women in China.
Review: Wild Swans is a biography/autobiography by Jung Chang; she tells of three women--her grandmother, born in 1909; her mother, born in 1931; she herself was born in 1952. Her grandmother, Yu-fang, lived as the old Manchu empire was dying out. She had bound feet, became concubine to a warlord general for whom she had a daughter, and later married a Manchu doctor. She lived into the Communist era, but never lost her femininity. Ms. Chang's mother, Bao Qin, later named de hong (or "wild swan") by her Manchu doctor step-father, grew up during Chiang-kai-shek's unification and the Japanese invasion. Her section of the book tells of her difficult life under Japanese domination and how these atrocities turned her to the Communist party. We meet her sincerely dedicated Communist husband and see the "ups and downs" to which they are submitted by that party. De hong took part in the Long March, was often separated from her family, helped with the disasters of the Great Leap Forward that resulted in terrible famine, had to fight bandits, had miscarriages, and eventually saw all of her children placed in nurseries--all in pursuit of Communist goals. The third swan, Jung Chang, attempted to join the Red Guard herself, but was never violent enough in nature to really participate in the atrocities committed under Mao's direction. She saw the suffering her parents endured, sometimes holding high positions, sometimes under house arrest or even exiled. As a student she was sent out into the provinces to "learn from the peasants." Ultimately, given the opportunity to study abroad, Ms. Chang elected to live in Great Britain. Her three brothers have also left China, but she keeps in touch with her mother and sister by mail and fax, and feels that China is changing rapidly from the historical periods described in her book. The reader who wants to find out what has been happening in China for the last century while looking at the lives of three interesting women should enjoy Wild Swans 500 riveting pages. Another interesting book about Mao and Deng that corroborates Ms. Chang's historical account is The New Emperors by Harrison E. Salisbury.

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Summary: An excellent historical account of 20th century China.
Review: Chang definately does justice to her mother and family in this book. She tells of a story so painful and so personal with a tremendous amount of courage. Several times I had to remind myself that these are real events and not just fiction. Reading this book is an excellent way to read about Chinese history. Much better than any textbook.

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Summary: First peraon history is the most reliable history.
Review: <Wild Swans> summarizes the modern history of China through first person experience. The tragic memories of the author's family reflect millions miserable stories of the others', if not more miserable. This book describes the noblest and ugliest sides of human nature. The resilience and toughness of the characters in the book can uplift our spirit throughout the challenges we face everyday.

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Summary: Four and a half stars!
Review: This was a very good book. However, it came short of five stars in my eyes because it was slow at times. I read it for school, and I'd have to say it's one of the best books I was forced to read. I can't imagine having to live the way that family did. They had so much courage. I appreciated how honest the author was in her account. She didn't hold anything back. In the beginning, she makes it sound as if Communism is what's best for the whole world. How quickly the story changes. You're just going to have to read this one for yourself.

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Summary: Courageous story of a womens heritage.
Review: I read this book at least once a month. It is a story with so many wonderful truths of a womens trials and accomplishments. Every mother should read this book to her daughters. It is a book who seems to written by an angel.

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Summary: A good book. Ting-Xing Ye's A Leaf... is far SUPERIOR
Review: This was a good and interesting book. Ting Xing Ye's A Leaf in the Bitter Wind is in the same vein, however, and is written with far greater beauty and skill. The books also make interesting contrasts, from different parts of China and different cultures as well one family being involved in the revolution while the other was, from the beginning, victimized by it. Christopher Patten's East West is another well written and interesting book dealing with China and Amy Tan is another writter whose stories are told with greater skill and subtlety than this one by Jung Chang. I encourage anyone who has read this to read A Leaf in the Bitter Wind which is not only a great story, but a great book.

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Summary: A must for anyone considering a trip to China
Review: A full and comprehensive description of China before opening to the world after Mao's death. A first hand teaching for whoever is interested in the history of China after WW2. Great benefit for a traveler who wishes to understand what he might see in todays Chaina: A description of the new past. Highly recomended

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Summary: This is an extraordinary book.
Review: I read this book right through in two days. Then I found another book which covers the same period of time, telling the inside story of Cambodia, right through the Pol Pot years. (KILLING FIELDS, LIVING FIELDS by Don Cormack.) Both books are an important contribution to our understanding of Asian history in our own lifetimes. They're unique and authoritative. Some pages are harrowing, so be prepared for that. My advice is to read them both. You won't regret it. Let me know when you have!