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Summary: A Sad Yet Warm Memoir of Love and Loyalty
Review: A wonderful account of life and childhood during the Cultural Revolution. As a college student interested in Chinese history and culture, I have been reading every Chinese memoir I could get my hands on over the past few years. In fact, I am often times more interested in the books these books I'm reading on my own than those assigned to me for class. "Thirty Years in a Red House" was one of the best Chinese memoirs I have read thus far. It was also the first Chinese memoir I have read written by a male author. The way Zhu told his story, of his father, family, and the struggles of everyday life drew me in like few books have. Every time I read someones personal account of the Cultural Revolution, I become even more fascinated and intrigued with how so many people held together over such a difficult time. The "seen through your eyes" style Thirty Years In A Red House was written in enables the reader to view Zhu's childhood and journey through Mao's China as if he or she were following his every step. I also enjoyed how historical and political events were artfully woven into the text. A great read!
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Summary: Book greatly enhanced understanding of Chinese politics
Review: Having spent two weeks in Beijing preceding and during President Clinton's state visit to China, I returned to the United States with many questions. I was curious to learn more about the Communist government, China's history, its culture, and especially, the conditions under which the Chinese people have lived in the period since Mao Zedong founded the People's Republic of China. In my quest for knowledge and understanding I came to read Zhu's _Thirty Years in a Red House_. This book offers the reader remarkable insight into the hardships and heartaches of a Chinese family during the years of the Cultural Revolution. While I had been dismayed at other accounts of the injustices dealt to the educated and intellectual citizens and leaders of this time, I was greatly heartened by Zhu's account of his parents' beliefs and practices in spite of the hardships they endured. This book gives one hope that the people of China will one day prevail, and that their leaders, both present and future, will learn from the sacrifices of those who went before.
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Summary: Lucid, heartfelt memoir and commentary on modern China
Review: I am extremely impressed with Mr. Zhu's memoir. It is at once a memoir of his own youth, both during and after the Cultural Revolution, as well as a loving tribute to his father, a high-ranking Communist Party member who suffered during the Cultural Revolution. The senior Mr. Zhu was a man of uncommon compassion, dignity, and values in any culture. Mr. Zhu also looks unflinchingly at contemporary Chinese politics and social mores, especially as they compare to those in America. For those who want to better understand contemporary China, this is a must-read. It is written along the same lines as "Life and Death in Shanghai," "Son of the Revolution," and "Falling Leaves." But be sure not to start it late at night, because you won't be able to put it down!
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Summary: a book that reflected my time
Review: I grew up in China. My family had similar experiences and background as the author. I could identify myself with the characters in the book. My personal experience was very painful before and during the "Cultural Revolution". For a long time, I couldn't look back without crying hard. Thank you for telling your story.
Whenever I read a book about China, either by native Chinese or foreigners, I found certain sterotype about China, Chinese families and Chinese people. A Chinese given name consists of 1 or 2 characters. Since Chinese characters are very rich in meanings they could represent, a name could tell a lot. My name, as well as my siblings' and all my cousins were carefully chosen by my grandfather. My given name, only two characters, tells where I was born. It also represents fountain flowing at great speed, which my grandpa thought was a symbol of life. It may be true that China is a male dominated society. However there are a lot of people who don't follow the trend. I was the third girl in the family. My parents were just as happy if not happier about my birth as compared if I were a boy. As a matter of fact, in the environment I grew up, there was no difference what so ever about boys or girls whom the parents preferred. Many families actually preferred girls to boys as Chinese people all believe when children grow up, girls are more considerate to their parents (this is another sterotype, but many believe it). I guess, after all, it is the parents, not the society decide if boys are preferred to girls. Families are different in China, just like they are different in the States.
BTW, My late father was a surgeon. My beloved mother had been a teacher before she decided to quit her job to be a full time mom.
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Summary: The best!
Review: I have read many books about the cultural revolution but this one stands out amongst them all. The story he tell is a complete one. Finally, we get to hear positive things about communism as well as the negative. I enjoyed reading Zhu's account about what a good communist his father was during his life. I hear the pride in his words. Zhu's father must be thought of as a hero back in China. Usually, you hear about government officials using their position to benefit themselves, but his father believed in the system. Even though I don't beleive in it myself, it's refreshing to hear from those who do. Zhu has a gift with words that I hope he will continue to share with us.
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Summary: A brilliant memoir with an insider's fascinating perspective
Review: Zhu, Xiao Di is a very courageous intelligent writer whose remarkable true story reads like a novel, as it goes to the core of what happened when the noble Chinese cause turns sour and the true believers become victims of the revolution.It is a brilliant memoir that documents, with an insider's fascinating perspective, the painful difficulties faced by the author's family, under Chairman Mao's "Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution." I highly recommend it to anyone seeking to know and understand more about public history and society past and present in China.
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