To pause and think and be circumspect meant trouble. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/apr/22/wild-swans-review-young-vic Another wonderful volume of poetry from Yeats, this is streaked through with a deep, weary sadness that wasn’t as prevalent in the previous volumes I’ve read. Nonetheless, it merits five stars or more because of the way it tells the story from the ground level of the fall the Qing dynasty, the attempt of the Kuomintang to create a modern state, the creation of a communist regime in China, the Great Leap forward and Mao's cultural revolution. It had a huge impact on me when I read it the year it came out – until then my knowledge of chinese history was minimal. My verdict: I SHOULD HAVE READ IT ALL ALONG WHILE I WAS DEEPLY ENGAGED IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA DURING OUR NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. He has the unique ability to cause his readers to connect with nature … So she wrote this in an English which is just. Learn how your comment data is processed. The author, who was born and who grew up in China, learned the rudiments of the English language when she was already a young adult. She knew him by repute as ‘wanted’ posters of him were hard to avoid. Welcome back. I even had the urge to start reading it all over again as soon as I'd finished. The stage has been stretched to fit it all in. 'WILD SWANS has the best selection of Scandinavian Fashion in London' - The Times Magazine. It was, however, the first book, after reading Isabelle Allende, that kept me awake for several weeks afterwards. Wild swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang, Curated Reads: Nonfiction Books to Intrigue and Inspire. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China at Amazon.com. My mother was much more flexible; her commitment was tempered by both reason and emotion. This book is amazing and is well and truly the best book I've ever read! [I just start reading and discovering chinese writers ,Do you think tha the writer in "Wild Swans "qualifies characters as sets of traits or as fully realized human beings ? Thanks! As appealing as a remarkable family story is, what makes Wild Swans important is that it serves as a microcosm for some of the twentieth century’s biggest events. To give one example, Chapter Seven shares the story of Chang’s mother’s ‘long march’; travelling a 1,000 mile journey to Sichuan mostly on foot. I don’t mean this as a criticism. Nonetheless, it merits five stars or more because of the way it tells the story from the ground level of the fall the Qing dynasty, the attempt of the Kuomintang to create a modern state, the creation of a communist regime in China, the Great Leap forward and Mao's cultural revolution. She captures the smallest detail and creates a clear picture for her reader. Songs about war and religious faith were not exclusive to U2 in the '80s. Review: Wild Swans. I enjoyed this a lot. While, this book provides an insight into the lives of ordinary Chinese people in this period, it becomes difficult to view this family as anything but ordinary. 'My father thought this was wrong and told his subordinates and public meetings, that only those who, unquestionably had blood on their hands should be sentenced to death. It rang page after page of unspeakable acts delivered to and through the everyday lives of the people of China under the rule of Mao. Although the Communists were apposed to torture in theory and on principle, officials were told that they should not intervene if the peasant wished to vent their anger in passionate acts of revenge(against the farm owners). During one period following the end of the Second World War, Jinzhou, which was considered strategically important, changed hands three times in four months – from Japanese, to Russian, to Chinese Communist to the American-supported Kuomintang. At one point, they are fired upon by Kuomintang soldiers who strike the ammunition boat travelling with them. Shea’s is actually the very first Wild Swans retelling that I’ve ever read. Reading her family's story makes me look with a different perspective at my own life and the community and culture in which I was raised. This is a very rare book which has convinced thousands of its readers here at goodreads to give it the highest rating possible solely on the strength of the story in it. Its a miracle that she lived through it to tell the harrowing tale, and that she was at some point able to leave China for the West. She loved her family and was an extremely good daughter to them. The 2003 Introduction is added, in which she aims to write about "how the Chinese really felt" during the twentieth century through experiences of her grandmother, her mother, and herself. Chang is writing about the lives of herself and her family members, so she definitely fully develops them as human beings. Chang’s grandmother, Yu-fang, was born into a China in turmoil. I wept with her and felt an almost physical pain at the loss of such an ancient culture during the Maoist regime. For the reader this near-death experience, one of many, is stunning and you can almost visualise it in your mind. I live in such an "easy" world, with freedoms I don't even consider being thankful for. Especially interesting are the changing lives of women across three generations, which depict notions of beauty, concubinage, and foot-binding then community activis. Throughout the entire 562 pages of this excruciating book, Jung Chang wallows in self-pity in the most abject fashion. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Young Vic, London Michael Billington. It was in this period that I started to realise that it was Mao who was really responsible for the Cultural Revolution. China’s isolationism, its Confucianist bureaucracy, which had kept it relatively safe and stable for centuries, was crumbling. Policy towards the 'stones' was: 'When in doubt, kill. But I still did not condemn him explicitly, even in my own mind. One of the most fascinating books I have ever read. Don't let that keep you from giving it a try, though, for by some strange mechanism, it also ranks among the most uplifting books I've read, chronicling as it does a courage, resilience and will to survive which are nothing short of riveting. As a 13-year-old, she devoted herself to the cause of a worldwide revolution, so that the whole world might benefit from what Mao had achieved for China. In ‘The Wild Swans at Coole,’ Yeats brings his readers to feel the passing of time through his speaker’s description of the lake and his feelings as he counts the swans and watches them take flight. Some of this book made me angry too, especially the destruction of all their material culture, which is trivial next to the loss of life. I am interested about the legacy left on the Chinese national psyche by the incredible torment of the 1920-1990 period. © Jason Fernandes and We Need to Talk About Books, 2013-2021. Restaurants in de buurt van The Wild Swans: (0.36 km) KOI Sushi (0.25 km) Restaurant Marie Louise (0.24 km) Arkaden Food Hall (0.22 km) Palaeet (0.23 km) Bar Sushi Odense; Bekijk alle restaurants in de buurt van The Wild Swans op Tripadvisor Summary: The summer before Ivy’s senior year is going to be golden; all bonfires, barbeques, and spending time with her best friends. I suppose a realist might argue that it is simply not possible to manage the two, and you either have to compromise or abandon one or the other. If you read only one book about twentieth century China, let this be the one. He understood ugly human instincts such as envy and resentment, and knew how to mobilize them for his ends. It was outrage at the injustice and prejudice towards women that drew Chang’s mother towards the Communists. After reading Margitte's excellent review just now and browsing through this book again, I've decided to up my rating. Though I could not find confirmation, it is by some accounts the highest-selling memoir of all time with sales variously reported as being between 10-15 million copies. Review Posted Online: Dec. 11, 2017 Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2018 We’d love your help. Those who look for unique writing styles, or breathtaking passages, memorable quotes, wordplays, or interesting new words will not find anything here. Wild Swans is, simply put, a masterpiece. It explodes, narrowly taking them with it. Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler is about twelve-year-old Princess Meriel, who very much does NOT want to sit around learning to sew, and would far prefer exciting things like learning to shoot an arrow and practice writing as her five older brothers … Reviews of Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China “An inspiring tale of women who survived every kind of hardship, deprivation and political upheaval with their humanity intact.” Hillary Clinton, O, The Oprah Winfrey Show “Immensely moving and unsettling; an unforgettable portrait of the brain-death of a nation.” J.G. The Emperor was overthrown and a fragile republic formed. We sell - Fashion, Lifestyle, Homeware, Accessories, Bags, Beauty, Books, Perfume. Arguably, one such theme in Wild Swans is the conflict of interests that occur when people who are committed to a cause have relationships and families. Genre: Fantasy Age: Middle Grade Series: Standalone REVIEW. So as you can guess. Like many others, she was not capable of consciously questioning Mao’s genius or benevolence or noticing his hypocrisy even as her own parents were denounced and put in labour camps. The Wild Swans are a post-punk band from Liverpool, England, which originally formed in 1980 shortly after Paul Simpson (ex-keyboards) left The Teardrop Explodes.The band's personnel has been subject to regular turnover, with vocalist Simpson being the only constant member. I love the font and picture, but Ivy … That being said, I have to say that it was the personal history that interested me the most. A charming and cozy middle grade take on the tale of The Wild Swans!. August 12th 2003 It is also, however, a valuable work of 20th-century Chinese history. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Because of the Chinese names, I was glad to know how to pronounce Jung=Yung, X=sh, Q=ch. The Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson [A Review], The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis [A Review], Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala [A Review], Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson [A Review], The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai [A Review], Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck [A Review]. Under a dictatorship like Mao’s, where information was withheld and fabricated, it was very difficult for ordinary people to have confidence in their own experience or knowledge. New York: Simon & Schuster. ( Log Out /  Besides, I came back to my senses that communism turns out to be an ineffective form of government after all. This book does that. But Mao's theory might just be the extension of his personality. ( Log Out /  This is a very rare book which has convinced thousands of its readers here at goodreads to give it the highest rating possible solely on the strength of the story in it. De-hong would go on to marry a communist, Wang Yu. During my time at the London Book Fair I had the opportunity to hear Jung Chang speak. Nobody showed any signs of fear or elation. Not only do I feel I got an honest history of communist China, its story plays out like a novel - I never wanted to put it down. Here in. A charming and cozy middle grade take on the tale of The Wild Swans!. Following the death of Mao, China began a process of repairing the damage he had caused, a part of which meant greater openness to the outside world. This is the story of the lives of three generations of Chinese women.All three endured great suffering during their respective eras.It was appalling to read about the cruel practice of foot binding of young girls,which resulted in permanant damage. Chang’s father, Wang Yu, was a deeply committed member of the Communist Party, to the extent that he frequently puts the party before his own family. Liverpool, England's the Wild Swans ventured into U2 territory on their 1988 debut album, Bringing Home the Ashes, while sustaining their distinctive sound.The haunting voice of Paul Simpson injects every track with emotional weight; whether he is trying to convey joy or sorrow, his icy baritone chills to the bone. Author Jung Chang discusses discusses Chinese representations of the west and writing Wild Swans. Five Stars! "Wild Swans" (1991) has very helpful introductory notes. Throughout the entire 562 pages of this excruciating book, Jung Chang wallows in self-pity in the most abject fashion. I didn’t know how to finish it , but I wanted to heap it soon onto the other books read and unread; I was obsessed with the other new books I had splurged on. I was almost cross-eyed at the figures and facts I could grasp no more , tearing my hair until I could let out a deep breath. Wild swans. To see what your friends thought of this book, Read Life and Death in Shanghai (Nien Cheng). She began harbouring communists, handing out leaflets, organising protests, all at great personal risk. I believe this book grants us a view of what it is like to live in a Godless society. Yet, again, an incident such as this is told with little flourish and it does not even take up a whole page in an near-700 page book. We bought this book before a trip to Beijing in 2005, but Amazon was particularly slow with their delivery and it arrived just a couple of days before our departure. reading this book made me so angry at times (for example when the people are told to pull up every blade of grass, or to hand over all their iron ware even their cooking pots). It was to the general of one of these warlords, influential enough to play a role in the overthrow of a Chinese President, that Yu-Fang was offered by her father as a concubine. Odense Tourism; Odense Hotels; Bed and Breakfast Odense; Odense Holiday Rentals; Odense Holiday Packages; Flights to Odense; Odense Restaurants; Odense Attractions There, I trudged along. I am not normally a lover on non-fiction, but lately I have read such compelling reads. What I found most noticeable about this book was its style, or rather, its lack of any. I want to tell everyone about it.”. In my Goodreads main group I have already seen a number of reviews of this, so its hard to recap. Goodreads | Amazon Cover Rating: 7 out of 10. In addition, I just don't like to read "sad" books, and my husband had told me some of the more tragic events in the book, so I chose not to read it. In fact, if we are saying a memoir can have themes, the theme of this last third of the book is of the author’s relationship with Mao. And the events are extraordinary. Whatever my impressions of her second book may be when I read it, Wild Swans will certainly make a shortlist for choosing my favourite non-fiction book. But it was not just Chang’s father who put the party first. And pardon me for my crappy English. This book for many years ahead will be invaluable to anyone wishing to understand the turmoil that China went through in the 20th century. For my third review of Week of Reviews I chose Wild Swans by Jessica Spotswood. Please read this before you decide to review this book. No other book ever managed to achieve that. We don’t normally talk of non-fiction books having ‘themes’, but every author is probably going to be selective of which events to include and how to explain them and every reader is going to notice some patterns over others. Chang writes very matter-of-factly about the events of her family history with no embellishment or poetry. This gave Jung Chang the opportunity to leave China to study abroad, becoming the first person from the People’s Republic of China to earn a doctorate from a British university. Not to mention that they were now facing a national tidal wave of fervour which promised to swamp any individual coolheadedness. It was partly because many people like my father spoke up that in February 1948 the Communist leadership issued urgent instructions to stop the violent excesses. review of another edition. Any book title on this topic to share, please ? Jung Chang (simplified Chinese: 张戎; traditional Chinese: 張戎; pinyin: Zhāng Róng; Wade-Giles: Chang Jung, born March 25, 1952 in Yibin, Sichuan) is a Chinese-born British writer now living in London, best known for her family autobiography Wild Swans, selling over 10 million copies worldwide but banned in mainland China. My father’s devotion to communism was absolute: he felt he had to speak the same language in private, even to his wife, that he did in public. Thick. ( Heavy sigh) Finally, I was done . Through them we have a front row seat to the events and can appreciate them, understand what they meant, at a very personal level. At first I did not want to voice my opinion of this book since it cut so near to the bone and was such a profound shock to read in 1993. I want the review to reflect my own reading experience, not the viewpoint of others. She felt that his loyalty was not primarily to her and that he always seemed to side with his comrades against her. The 2003 Introduction is added, in which she aims to write about "how the Chinese really felt" during the twentieth century through experiences of her grandmother, her mother, and herself. My knowledge of China is just starting to grow but I have a lot of books on China nearing the top of my TBR piles. After what my father did, the locals thought the Communists were marvellous. Especially interesting are the changing lives of women across three generations, which depict notions of beauty, concubinage, and foot-binding then community activism, and ultimately university education and study abroad. Chang's grandmother, Yu-fang, had her feet bound at age two and in 1924 was sold a As an older teen, she voluntarily becomes a Red Guard. We sell - Fashion, Lifestyle, Homeware, Accessories, Bags, Beauty, Books, Perfume. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The original incarnation of The Wild Swans lasted until 1982, issuing one single. My husband began reading the book on the plane (and even though the book is banned in China, our bags weren't searched so our copy made it into the country without any problem), but didn't finish it until well after we'd returned home. No fanciful prose here. I've come to "Wild Swans" late, learning of it only recently from a friend who lived in China awhile teaching English. Review: Wild Swans. Though, for a time, they lived a life or relative privilege, due to Wang Yu’s high rank, the growing influence of Mao in post-revolution China would bring devastation, depression and disillusionment.
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