The Woman Warrior : Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts

Rating:
Summary: Excellent story, well told
Review: I am stunned by the force of some of the negative comments on this book. I think that this unfortunately reflects the limitations of these individuals. This is an excellent story, told with grace, charm, and wit. Most remarkably, it is a story that SHOULD resonate with everyone, as we all have our struggles, and we all have to find our own way. Next Christmas I am giving copies of this amazing book to everyone I know.

Rating:
Summary: excellent imagery of life b/t two cultures
Review: if you're chinese american and haven't a clue what that means, then read this book. if you're not chinese american, then read something else. certain books mean certain things to certain people, based on one's past experiences. it's true: kingston's book is all ideology, but many books are all ideology; so goes life.

Rating:
Summary: Really quite good...
Review: Had to read this book for my English class, and was quite taken aback with Hong Kingston's style - very interesting. I really liked the book - she uses some great imagery and manages to inspire... which is quite an accomplishment.

Rating:
Summary: Irritating
Review: I was quite irritated by how Kingston seemingly tried to use Chinese mythology, but did not stay true to the story. I don't want to hear her life story! The only life story I would ever want to hear about would be of my own, my pet gerbil Foo-foo, and possibly the Dukes of Hazzard. I was forced to read this for a Writing class at UC Santa Cruz whose writing faculty most likely consists of a bunch of zit-brains. My suggestion to anyone who is required to read this book is to pretend you've read it and make stuff up as needed.

Rating:
Summary: A contrived novel full of blatant misconceptions
Review: I read this book because my English 12AP teacher recommended itto me personally. Well, I got the book, read it, and absolutely hateit. Kingston's portrayal of Chinese history and lore is horribly distorted and I don't appreciate the cracked glass through which she describes Chinese culture. She mashes up everything whether it be good, bad or insignificant. Her writing style is boring and so obviously contrived. As a Chinese-American I am disgusted with Hong. The book probably appeals to Americans because it supports their ignorant stereotypes about Chinese culture. That's all.

Rating:
Summary: On Maxine Hong Kingston's WOMAN WARRIOR
Review: I've never read a book that's anything like Maxine Hong Kingston's THE WOMAN WARRIOR. Kingston brilliantly combines fantasy, autobiography, feminist revisionism, and social commentary in her work about her search for self-discovery via her mother's talk-stories. I especially liked "White Tigers," the chapter where Kingston envokes the myth of Fa Mu Lan (the woman warrior who took her father's place in battle and killed her oppressors) to make social commentary on the status of women in ancient and modern society. Kingston's THE WOMAN WARRIOR is definitely a page turner, even if for no other reason than it's fascinating story line.

Rating:
Summary: an intriguing book about generations of woman warriors
Review: This novel is an amazing and intriguing interpretation of a first generation chinese woman growing up in America. It tells of the writer's struggle to integrate herself into american society, while trying to understand and save her heritage at the same time. The point of the novel is not to accurately display chinese culture, or write the "right" english interpretation of Fa Mu Lan, but to relate how the chinese customs and legends she grew up with influenced her own life. Kingston uses a new writing style that is refreshingly different from most required high school literature, and as a high school student myself, I find it hard to believe that there are any negative reviews on this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who is able to appreciate the unique writing style and would like to learn more about the essence of America.

Rating:
Summary: Sigh......
Review: I am chinese and have been in the U.S. for 7 years. Last Year I was assigned to read this book by my AP English teacher. I must admit the author does give a good view on the role of women in chinese society before the revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty(though in rural parts the treament of women still applied until the 50s). However, the rest of the book is a boring manifest of feminist ideology . What offended me the most was the way that Kingston used Chinese Culture. First of all is her version of the classic Hua MuLan story(I know it's "Fa" but Hua is the correct way to pronounce/write it), I read Mulan when I was 5 and took great offense when reading how Kingston "Butchered" this story, albeit better than the dreaded disney version(don't get me started on that...) Second is her usage of some chinese culture references that are way wrong(as in "Kingston did not know what the heck she was talking about when she put the reference in"). This book can only draw the interest of foreigners because it agrees with many misconceptions of China that is still dominant today. For a person that never been to China, she sure did a good job "butchering" chinese culture.

Rating:
Summary: Generally awful.
Review: A book about women rising above suffering, "The Woman Warrior" has noble intentions that do not make for a very good book. This is a rambling book full of pompous mystical passages about China, written by a Berkeley local who'd never visited the country when she wrote it. It should appeal those who are fascinated by the idea that menstruation is empowering. Too many people have been forced to read this book.

Rating:
Summary: The Woman Warrior a worthwhile read
Review: "And I have so many words-"Chink" words and "gook" words too- that they do not fit on my skin." I believe that this quote encompasses the meaning of the book. I found that most of the limitations of the book were in the way the author wrote it, and in the way it jumped between the past and the present. I enjoyed the way the author showed the difference between the Chinese and American cultures. I liked the book a lot. I thought that it was worth my time, and I might read it again.