I'm always reading two books at the same time (at least). Typically one is non-fiction - my study, or work book - and the other is fiction - my fun book. I haven't been posting on here about my "fun" books. As much as I enjoy them and would recommend many of them to others I decided not to "review" them for you.
Then I read this book. By the time I was halfway through it I knew I was going to post on here for you. In fact, it took a lot of self-control to get to the end of the book before I posted.
As far back as I can remember I've had a passion for China. I love all things Asian, but am especially passionate about China. I saw this book on the book shelves and it drew me. I read the entire author's note right there in the bookstore and decided I needed to read this book. My son and I are doing SonLight's Core 5 - Eastern Hemisphere Cultures, and joy of all joys, we are studying China, the perfect time to read this book.
This is an amazing biography, not just of one woman's life in China, but three generations in China. Her Grandmother, the concubine of a warlord, her mother, involved in the rise of the communist party, and herself, raised during the height of Mao's power. Yes, the writing was excellent. Yes, the subject was intriguing (I love biographies and reading about other people's experiences). But what made me love this book so much was the way she was so open and honest about the politics of her country. I'd never heard anything about the Communist regime from anyone who had lived under it. I had no idea the kind of things the Chinese have been subjected to (like ripping up grass because plants were "burgeois" - I can't even imagine). More than that though, I was equally moved by her account of China's upheaval before the Communists were in power.
If you and your kids are studying China, read this book. If you are passionate about China, read this book. If you love a good biography, read this book. They just reprinted it (it was first printed in 1995) because she's just released an Autobiography on Mao - guess what's on my list to get from the library next.