Rating: 
Summary: Jung chang shi bu hao!
Review: Jung Chang should in the least be foot bound for her insolence to male dominance in such a society. Her incessant prolix, wordy rambling, incoherence, and bias I find particularly galling. A pox on this female!
Rating: 
Summary: Wild Swans by Jung Chang
Review: Wild Swans is the chronicle of three generations of women living Communist China. It begins its tale during Imperialist China, where Jung Chang's grandmother has become the concubine of a warlord. Chang then takes the reader on a grim stroll through nearly sixty years and the rise and fall of Mao.The biography offers a harrowing look at the state of Communist society during the Cultural Revolution, where mystifying ideological shifts resulted in the persecution of loyal supporters of Communism. It illustrates how personal vendettas were resolved by public denunciations, yet manages to stay objective and lets the reader get an unbiased view of Communist China. I was quite surprised by this, considering Chang's horrific experiences. I enjoyed Chang's style - straightforward, unassuming, and above all, impartial. She doesn't beat you over the head to show you that Communist China was not always a happy place; she allows you to make your own judgments based on her experiences and the lives of her relatives. Chang put an extraordinary amount of research into the book and at times the tone is almost omniscient. She is able to paint vivid backgrounds for many of the supporting characters. Because of the depth of the narrative, Wild Swans reads more like a novel than a conventional biography. I would strongly recommend Wild Swans to anyone looking for a hard-to-put-down book with loads of historical background.
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Summary: A Complete Yet Engaging Historical Account
Review: I was given Wild Swans to read prior to a summer trip to Beijing. Being a high school student, I was not only daunted by the heft of the book, but by the extensive historical chronology and family tree in the introduction as well. I was also unsure as to whether the story would be a Chinese-generation plot along the lines of Amy Tan or whether it would be more of a strict historical recount of China in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Despite my apprehensions, I decided to go ahead and read it, and I have been thoroughly delighted with the results of my endeavor.
Wild Swans is what I would term a "human-interest history," meaning that the dry historical aspect of the book is tempered by the human emotion surrounding the individual events. Jung Chang uses the female leaders of each generation to provide a thoughtful outlook on the traditions and culture of China. For me, the best way to gain a true feel for the attitudes of a specific time period is to hear a personal account. This is the book's most salient quality. Chang makes the most of the little details that encompass the environment of the characters and uses the thoughts and feelings of her family to convey key concepts pertaining to Chinese morals and behaviors.
The concise language of the book also helps to promote these historical images and gives the book a quick tempo. Each anecdote is told in the same, somewhat removed manner, even Chang's own experiences. While some might find this an impersonal tactic, I felt that it allowed the tragedies of the story to shine by basing them purely on their own facets. Any extraneous writing would have clouded the sheer pain involved in a number of the events, and Chang's distance allows the reader to recreate the scene and absorb the historical depth behind it. Chang's own academic experience provides a particularly striking cultural contrast to typical Western thought processes and teachings.
Of course, there are some minor flaws in the book. Chang tends to gloss over her father's upbringing and adolescence and lingers on her grandmother's trials during her youth and during the Communist takeover, resulting in some unbalanced character depictions. Chang's privileged lifestyle prior to and then under the Communists also provides a lopsided view as to the true reign of Mao and the general state of China during the early Communist years. However, bias is to be expected whenever dealing with a personal account, and these deficiencies become lost in the greater framework of the book.
I have learned more from this book about Chinese history than I could have ever hoped to acquire from a guidebook or textbook. I highly recommend this book to anyone planning to travel to China in the near future or for anyone who is looking for an informative, yet entertaining, story of a family in China over the years.
Rating: 
Summary: a good learning experience
Review: What distinguishes this book from other books of Chinese women (Amy Tan, Maxine Hong Kingston) is that it takes place during the post-war era. The story of the grandmother will be familiar to Tan and Kingston readers, but this is where similarities end. The book mostly focuses on the rise of communism in China, from its idealistic beginnings until the author leaves China in the seventies. The book is split into three parts. The grandmother was a concubine to a warlord and later marries a kind older doctor. The mother joins the communist party, and marries a communist official. The daughter struggles between dedication to Mao and her own ideals. Most of the book focuses on the life of author, the daughter in the story. What I took out of this book was a greater understanding of communism, why it appealed to the people of China, and how communism can be twisted into something far less ideal.
Rating: 
Summary: Might not be what you are looking for...
Review: Jung Chang's book Wild Swans attempts to capture all major events from the end of the 19th century to the late 20th century happening in China. The book follows three generations of Chang's family, starting with her grandmother and ending with Chang. Of the many changes that occurred during the time period, Chang seems most fixated upon communism. Imperial China, Nationalist (Kuomintang) China, and the Japanese occupation are all only described briefly in Wild Swans. Wild Swans is supposed to be a story of "Three Daughters of China"; however it is far from it. First off the book is a lengthy 508 pages and is split unevenly among the three generations of women. After the first hundred pages, the communist section begins. Chang makes it obvious that she despises communism. When Mao Zedong dies Chang states "The news filled me with such euphoria that for an instant I was numb." Undoubtedly communism was a major part of life for all Chinese; however after page 100, every single anecdote dealt with communism. Chang must have had other stories to tell but she does not tell them. The stories are all negative and they grow increasingly shocking and critical of communism as the book progresses. In chapter 7, Jung Chang's mother, in order prove herself to be a devoted communist, is forced to forage for food even though she is pregnant. In chapter 20, Chang's father is arrested by communist authorities after speaking his mind. In chapter 22, the whole family is split apart and sent to the countryside for "re-education". Wild Swans is really an open attack on communism. It is fine for Jung Chang to write such a book. I would recommend it "whole-heartedly" if you are interested in reading a book containing bits and pieces of the communist life in China. However, if you are looking for a more comprehensive history, do not expect much from Wild Swans.
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Summary: The past, the present, and the future of China.
Review: The story of "Wild Swans" takes place in the early 20th century China, and presents the lives of three generations of extraordinary women. The book provides the "big picture" of China, by describing the political climate in the days when the Japanese ruled, followed by the joint effort of Chiang Kai-Shek's Kuomintang party and Mao Zedong's Communist party, and the eventual winner - Mao Zedong's Communist party. Jung Chung's biography, "Wild Swans", presents the reader with an interesting account of how China's political climate helped Mao Zedong rise to power and maintain his power, and the effects of the Cultural Revolution on the Chinese people. The combination of historical revelations and personal narratives leads to a satisfying read, but at times it is nevertheless dry and dense. The most noteworthy aspect of this narrative is the fact that the reader gets the chance to learn of the life under the Communist regime for the privileged leaders as well as the underprivileged or working poor. Although this may sound contradictory, especially since it takes place in a Communist country where all men and women are of equal status, Jung Chung reveals that even within the Communist government there was a structured hierarchy that was dictated by Chairman Mao Zedong. Jung Chung succeeds in dispelling many myths or common misconceptions about the Chinese people by explaining the factors that had allowed for Mao to win over the people and how he maintained his influence over the country. "Like many Chinese, I was incapable of rational thinking in those days... Besides we had been overwhelmed by deceptive rhetoric, disinformation, and hypocrisy, which made it virtually impossible to see through the situation and to form an intelligent judgement" (Chung 304). The life of Jung Chung, her grandmothers and especially the life of Chung's mother are so extraordinary that it would have been a tremendous loss if she had not documented it. Therefore, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about China, China's past and China's future.
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Summary: A Struggle for Survival
Review: Wild Swans is an exceptionally well-written and fascinating piece of literature as Jung Chang takers her readers on a journey from the beginnings of China--imperialism, ancient customs and traditions--to the periods of incessant hostility and political maelstrom in China--the constant battle for political power among two archrivals: Chiang Kai-Shek and the Kuomintang, and Mao Zedong and his Communist Party. It combines historical revelations with personal accounts to convey a story of truth, struggle, hope, and despair. Chang tells her grandmother's , her mother's, as well as her own stories of perseverance and triumph over the chauvinistic Chinese principles and Mao Zedong's constant manipulations. Chang also reveals her own victimization to Mao's corrupted regime; Chang herself moves through the stages of allegiance, confusion, and eventual disillusionment as the true nature of Maoism begins to reveal itself. Wild Swans is a realization of the truth; the truth that had been hidden beneath a facade; the truth that Mao had only one purpose and goal: "Duo-Quan!"--To seize power. It is also a heartfelt story of the love and unity of one family striving to survive and in search of a hope that is virtually beyond their grasp. A combination of humor, sorrow, and triumph, Wild Swans is an epiphany to many that a victory over evil is nothing short of a miracle.
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Summary: Wild Swans
Review: If you're looking for an engaging story, this book would be a bit too detailed and slow-moving for you, but if you are interested in Chinese history, Wild Swans, by Jung Chang, is an intriguing history book.
Wild Swans is a memoir chronicling the lives of the author, her mother, and her grandmother. These three generations span almost the entire twentieth century - until the 1980s. The author's goal is to demonstrate to the reader how the lives of the Chinese people changed as its government changed hands. She is effective in doing this, as she details her family's situations throughout Imperial China, the Japanese invasion, and the Communist regime. The majority of the book, however, takes place once the Communists gain control of the country.
Chang provides unique insight into the lives of the Chinese people and how they were often isolated from the rest of the world. Brainwashing was rampant, and, as she was growing up, Chang thought that the Western Capitalist children were impoverished and living lower quality lives than she. Such examples show unmistakably the power of the Communists.
Significant events in Chinese history are covered in Wild Swans from the perspective of the people living there at the time. The Tiananmen Square student protests, the Cultural Revolution, and the Great Leap Forward are all covered, along with earlier events, such as the Chinese Civil War and the Japanese rule of Manchukuo. The reader even gets an inside look at the Red Guards. For anyone who wants a detailed account of the lives of the Chinese under Mao Zedong, this is a great learning tool. I would not choose it for a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Long but enjoyable
Review: Wild Swans recalls a riveting story of three courageous daughters of China covering an entire century of time. Jung Chang truly put her English to great use in sharing her memoir with the rest of the world. She does a remarkable job of accounting for both her personal experience and the panoramic view of China. It is especially appealing to the reader that the intimate accounts of her life let all emotions fly, while the historical accounts provide a greater knowledge of the times in China. Chang's impressive skill in telling the story of her grandmother and her mother, as well as herself, offers a comprehensive understanding of three distinctive eras of history in China. Chang applies the most punctilious detail in explaining the sudden outbreak and upsurge of Communism in China, along with the unfathomable atrocities that came with it. Being unacquainted with Chinese history before reading this book, Wild Swans presented an extremely clear, unquestionable elucidation of China. Wild Swans affects every sensation possible, expounding a heartrending tale through spellbinding details. Wild Swans is definitely a great choice to read if you want to be blown away by both emotions and knowledge.
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Summary: An Account of the Turbulent Times of 20th Century China
Review: The memoir Wild Swans is an account of the lives of three generations of women during the turbulent times of 20th century China. The story follows the family line from Yu-Fang, a warlord¡¯s concubine and doctor¡¯s wife, to her daughter, who, along with her husband, is a devoted member of the Communist Party. Finally, the author of the book, Jung Chang, tells of her experiences as one of Mao¡¯s Red Guards during the chaotic Cultural Revolution. The personal perspectives and experiences of each woman clearly describe the evolution and development of China throughout the 1900s. The account of Yu-Fang, the author¡¯s grandmother, gives a vivid portrayal of traditional China, and its harsh and restricted lifestyle for women. The story of De-hong tells about the volatile life during the Japanese occupation and the Civil War between the Communist Party and Kuomintang forces. She sees the position of woman rise in society over time, but also experiences how Communism won the hearts of the Chinese population with false promises. Lastly, Jung Chang explains the brutal and horrifying events of Mao¡¯s attempt to purify and idealize the country. Because of the myriad of false convictions, public denunciations, and unwarranted humiliation, it is here that the author portrays Communism in its worst and defective form. Throughout the memoir, Jung Chang recounts all the experiences from an impartial viewpoint, but it is implied that she disapproves of the effects Communism had on the country of China. Although she does not agree any more with Imperialism either, she strongly believes that the establishment of Communism was what impaired the population over many decades. To the Chinese population, the ideology behind Communism was perfect and ideal, but the way it was instated by Mao ultimately did not satisfy the needs of the suffering country. Overall, Wild Swans details the struggles of the country of China through the perspectives of these three women, as the author tells of their heroic deeds and their triumph over countless obstacles.
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