The Diary of Ma Yan: The Struggles and Hopes of a Chinese Schoolgirl
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • what is this book about
  • A very touching story
  • Excellent read
  • An eye opening look at life in rural China.
  • The Diary of Ma Yan
The Diary of Ma Yan: The Struggles and Hopes of a Chinese Schoolgirl
Ma Yan , and Pierre Haski
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060764961
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Book Description

Wednesday, November 7

My father gave me and my brother a little money. My stomach is all twisted up with hunger, but I don't want to spend the money on anything as frivolous as food. Because it's money my parents earn with their sweat and blood.

I have to study well so that I won't ever again be tortured by hunger. . . .

In a drought-stricken corner of rural China, an education can be the difference between a life of crushing poverty and the chance for a better future. But money is scarce, and the low wages paid for backbreaking work aren't always enough to pay school fees.

Ma Yan's heart-wrenching, honest diary chronicles her struggle to escape hardship and bring prosperity to her family through her persistent, sometimes desperate, attempts to continue her schooling.

First published in France in 2002, the diary of ma yan created an outpouring of support for this courageous teenager and others like her -- support that led to the creation of an international organization dedicated to helping these children . . . all because of one ordinary girl's extraordinary diary.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars what is this book about.......2007-03-14

this book is about a girl's strugels to go to school and how she had her dream of going to school she wrote a letter to her mom saying that she wanted to go school because she didnt wanted to stay home and work she wanted to go to school

5 out of 5 stars A very touching story.......2007-01-28

I loved this story because of Ma Yan's spirit. This is the true story of Ma Yan who stuggles to stay in school in spite of her families severe poverty. She does not give up no matter what obstacles she faces.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent read.......2007-01-09

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am only sorry that more of her diary did not survive. Ma Yan proves herself an articulate young woman. And this book will make you appreciate Americans' access to education and opportunity.

5 out of 5 stars An eye opening look at life in rural China........2006-06-27

I enjoyed this book, though it is painful to read about the poverty and hunger Ma Yan and her family experienced. As mom to a daughter from China, I can't help but wonder if my daughter's life would have been similar, had she not been adopted.

This book was also very hopeful, as Ma Yan's diary brings her some fame and brings world attention and help to her family and schoolmates.

5 out of 5 stars The Diary of Ma Yan.......2005-09-16

I came to find out about this book by listening to an NPR interview of the French journalist who originally was given the diaries by Ma Yan's Mother. His interview was so moving that I ordered the book from Amazon. Ma Yan was writing about her life in a village where no foreigners had been in more then 60 years. I have since given this book as a gift to several girls and boys of Ma Yan's age (12-13-14) so that they can read first hand what it's like for kids their age in a remote part of our World.
This book is a lesson for all ages. Well worth reading.
Hapa Girl: A Memoir
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Hapa Girl
  • self-centered drama
  • Fiction?
  • A compelling, unusual story
  • Wonderful Love Story of the Struggles of A Multi-Ethnic Family In Rural America
Hapa Girl: A Memoir
May-lee Chai
Manufacturer: Temple University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 159213615X

Book Description

In the mid-1960s, Winberg Chai, a young academic and the son of Chinese immigrants, married an Irish-American artist. In Hapa Girl ("hapa" is Hawaiian for "mixed") their daughter tells the story of this loving family as they moved from Southern California to New York to a South Dakota farm by the 1980s. In their new Midwestern home, the family finds itself the object of unwelcome attention, which swiftly escalates to violence. The Chais are suddenly socially isolated and barely able to cope with the tension that arises from daily incidents of racial animosity, including random acts of cruelty.

May-lee Chai's memoir ends in China, where she arrives just in time to witness a riot and demonstrations. Here she realizes that the rural Americans' "fears of change, of economic uncertainty, of racial anxiety, of the unknowable future compared to the known past were the same as China's. And I realized finally that it had not been my fault."

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Hapa Girl .......2007-10-11

I could not put this book down... it was alive and witty and just plain filled with love of this girls family her mother played a very inportant part in this girls life , maylee since has lost her mother to breast cancer . the story was so wonderful deplicting how a family with different racial backgrounds . Maylee is outspoken and make the book come alife to me . thanks you for the wonderful story of part of my family.. always aunt susan

2 out of 5 stars self-centered drama.......2007-09-11

I am sure that Ms. Chai earned an A+ in creative writing class for her novel. I was in school with the author and her brother for a couple of years. In fact, I had my senior pictures taken at her mother's studio. She did a nice job and was a fun lady. I knew she was married to a Chinese man. I couldn't have cared less. It made no difference to me. I am sure that I speak for most of us in town. We had plenty going on in our own lives to get too worked up about someone elses ethnic background. There is no question that most of us were of European descent. With the Univ of SD in town, we were exposed to other cultures. It wasn't like we were the United Nations, but we were far from the 'dueling banjos' of "Deliverance." There are a few bad apples in our town-- like any town on the planet. It is certainly humbling to read of her experience in our town. The violence in the halls at school, locking all the doors to the school, attractive girls opting to get poor grades to date the cool guys, etc. Her creative juices got the best of her. Hopefully, this spiteful piece of half-truths/ fiction was therapeutic or lucrative for the author.

1 out of 5 stars Fiction?.......2007-06-16

I grew up in the town depicted in Ms. Chai's book. Vermillion is NOT a town of racial bigotry. We are a typical midwestern town with typical midwestern people. I would caution the reader: This book is, at best, 98 percent fiction. Specifically, I feel I need to address the scene regarding the suicide of a young high school boy. The events regarding this incident are totally false. Yes, the young man commited suicide; this event was devastating for his family and friends. For Ms. Chai to portray a suicide based upon information she receieved from her mother (who wasn't even living in Vermillion at the time), is completely unprofessional.

If you want to explore the issue of racism and bigotry in the midwest, I suggest you look for another, more credible source.

4 out of 5 stars A compelling, unusual story.......2007-06-13

I found Hapa Girl to be a compelling story told by an engaging writer. The book just flew by, to the point where I wished it were a little longer. I liked that she told her personal story in the context of her family's history and of American history. Although I've read books about biracial families, immigrants, and small-town racial bigotry before, this story is still unusual and fresh. While she is a talented story teller, my only criticism is that the memoir's narrative arc is inconsistent, and the emphasis seemed to shift throughout the book. I think a longer version to fill in some of the blanks would remedy that.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Love Story of the Struggles of A Multi-Ethnic Family In Rural America.......2007-04-25

I really found Hapa Girl to be an extremely moving memoir. I related
to so many of the issues this book describes. And I entirely disagree
with the reviewer who said this was *bitter.* I thought the writing was
funny and uplifting despite the many sad episodes that the family had
to endure. Perhaps the reviewer has never had to personally face
prejudice. But if you've been judged by your appearance or faced
bigotry and violence, or even if you simply oppose bigotry, I think
this memoir will resonate with you! I thought the writing was wonderful
and will recommend this to my friends and family. This is a story about
love ultimately triumphing over evil!*

Another one of my favorite book from this author is The Girl from Purple Mountain: Love, Honor, War, and One Family's Journey from China to America
Chinese Cinderella: The true story of an unwanted daughter
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Was it that bad?
  • I could not put it down
  • Chinese Cinderella
  • Great book for a pre-teen
  • Amazing Efforts
Chinese Cinderella: The true story of an unwanted daughter
Adeline Yen Mah
Manufacturer: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385327072
Release Date: 1999-09-07

Amazon.com

Chinese Cinderella is the perfect title for Adeline Yen Mah's compelling autobiography in which, like the fairy-tale maiden, her childhood was ruled by a cruel stepmother. "Fifth Younger Sister" or "Wu Mei," as Yen Mah was called, is only an infant when her father remarries after her mother's death. As the youngest of her five siblings, Wu Mei suffers the worst at the hands of her stepmother Niang. She is denied carfare, frequently forgotten at school at the end of the day, and whipped for daring to attend a classmate's birthday party against Niang's wishes. Her father even forgets the spelling of her name when filling out her school enrollment record. In her loneliness, Wu Mei turns to books for company: "I was alone with my beloved books. What bliss! To be left in peace with Cordelia, Regan, Gonoril, and Lear himself--characters more real than my family... What happiness! What comfort!" Even though Wu Mei is repeatedly moved up to grades above those of her peers, it is only when she wins an international play-writing contest in high school that her father finally takes notice and grants her wish to attend college in England. Despite her parent's heartbreaking neglect, she eventually becomes a doctor and realizes her dream of being a writer.

Teens, with their passionate convictions and strong sense of fair play, will be immediately enveloped in the gross injustice of Adeline Yen Mah's story. A complete glossary, historical notes on the state of Chinese society and politics during Yen Mah's childhood, and the legend of the original Chinese Cinderella round out this stirring testimony to the strength of human character and the power of education. (Ages 10 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

A riveting memoir of a girl's painful coming-of-age in a wealthy Chinese family during the 1940s.

A Chinese proverb says, "Falling leaves return to their roots." In Chinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her painful childhood and her ultimate triumph and courage in the face of despair. Adeline's affluent, powerful family considers her bad luck after her mother dies giving birth to her. Life does not get any easier when her father remarries. She and her siblings are subjected to the disdain of her stepmother, while her stepbrother and stepsister are spoiled. Although Adeline wins prizes at school, they are not enough to compensate for what she really yearns for -- the love and understanding of her family.

Following the success of the critically acclaimed adult bestseller Falling Leaves, this memoir is a moving telling of the classic Cinderella story, with Adeline Yen Mah providing her own courageous voice.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Was it that bad?.......2007-07-24

This is a better written book than Falling Leaves, the author's first book. It detailed the childhood of the unwanted daughter with better mix of "good and bad" and less bitterness came through the book.

While I shared the pain of being rejected and unaccepted by her parents, the author should appreciate and be thankful of what she had....loving Grandparents, Aunt Baba and good education which was the foundation of her success.

Think about tens and thousands of unwanted daughters in China who are abandoned by their parents daily.....they don't know who their parents are and have no sightline of their basic needs. The chance of being sent to prestige schools and study oversea is nil...I bet those unwanted daughters will trade the author's place at a heartbeat.

5 out of 5 stars I could not put it down.......2007-07-02

I simply could not put this book down. I was absorbed the entire time. A story of miraculous courage and triumph, it reminds its readers that the love of human relationships is essential in this life, for without it one does not have much. I am excited to order it as a classroom novel for my 7th grade reading class!!! It is truly worth one's time.

5 out of 5 stars Chinese Cinderella.......2007-05-19

Have you ever felt like you were unwanted? Have you have felt hated like nobody likes or wants you? Well if you know this felling you would have close ties to this book. Also for the record Adeline Yen Mah has felt like that since she was born. So I haven't thought that it couldn't get worse because it really can get worse.
The book is a biography of her life while she was in China. The book covers most of her life but it is more of her childhood not her most recent life. It describes the sadness that Adeline has been through. It in the first chapter It says everyone hated her because three days after she was born her mother came down with a high fever and died two weeks after she was born. So she never got to now her real mother. Her father remarries and all his children didn't like her but they were forced to call her niang (which in Chinese means mother) which none of them think of her as their real mother they all didn't like her. Her stepmother always abused her and never liked her she only liked the kids that she had gave life to. So she always abused her younger and older siblings.
I actually could compare this book a little to my own life. I haven't felt as unwanted or as hated as she has. I also haven't been abused like she has. I haven't actually really been abused all that much. But I have felt unwanted before. I haven't been abused like had been I haven't ever been abused that much.
Over all I would give this book a 10 out of 10. It only has 200 pages altogether so it won't take you a very long time. It is a very good read. It would take you maybe a weekend or two to read it. That is why I gave it a 10 out of 10.
I would recommend this book to anyone but it would be more of an adult book. It has way too much sadness for a young child. Also if it for an adult one of them people that are always happy and peppy and think that nothing can ever happen too them. It will be a real eye opener because they will realize it could really happen to them. So then they won't be going around saying "my life can't get any worse".

5 out of 5 stars Great book for a pre-teen.......2007-04-24

I picked up this book the other week for my 12-year-old daughter after browsing thru the bookstores for something outta the norm for her. I bought it solely on the back-cover synopsis -- mine being an only child and doted on for the most part. I kind of expected her to glance at the cover and half-heartedly browse thru it. I was so wrong! She read it in a few days! She's always been into books -- but of her own choosing: Harry Potter and/or Lemony Snickett, fantasies and the like. After she put it down each night, she would tell me a bit about what she just read. Believe me, she's NEVER done that before. She said it truly was a cinderella story, and wondered why no one would help the little girl more. She showed alot of empathy for Adeline as a child. What I think I'm trying to convey is that it is a book written to touch the soul of the young reader -- something the author succeeded so well at.

4 out of 5 stars Amazing Efforts.......2007-03-29

I strongly recommend the book Chinese Cinderella to people who do not mind a book that might make them cry. This book was a page-turner because while reading it, you just have to find out what happens next. Anyone with a strong heart will enjoy this book because it is so amazing what this little girl went through. While reading this book, there were some parts I felt like I was about to break down and cry, but there were others where I wanted to meet Adeline Yen Mah and congratulate her for her amazing efforts.
Amy Tan
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Amy Tan
    Charles J. Shields
    Manufacturer: Tandem Library
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: School & Library Binding

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    ASIN: 0613508599
    Autobiography of a Chinese Girl
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • A look back on history in the making
    Autobiography of a Chinese Girl
    Ping-Ying Hsieh
    Manufacturer: Pandora Pr
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    ChineseChinese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0863580521

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars A look back on history in the making.......2000-11-07

    The Autobiography of a Chinese Girl is a translation of the memoirs of a young girl in China during the first half of the 20th century. Min Kon, who later changed her name to Hsieh Ping-Ying, wrote a first-hand memoir of her experiences in her youth. She also wrote other versions of her memoirs emphasizing different parts of her life. Her autobiography is written in the form of a coherent narrative, separated into five parts following the major stages of her life. Each part if divided into several chapters to clearly outline the major events and influences in her life. This coherent narrative is approximately 216 pages long and covers her early childhood through her schooling, her army life, her imprisonment at home, and then her pursuit of a freedom. In this vivid tale, we follow the development of the personality of resistance to the traditional Chinese culture in the early part of the 20th century. The story starts with Min Kon's childhood in a small village where she is confined to the life of a girl in traditional Chinese society at a time when many of these traditions, such as arranged marriage and footbinding, were already becoming outdated. Her rebel spirit is evident in her actions as a child and her modern ideas shine through in her desire to break the traditional mold. After resisting the pressures of her family, she is allowed to attend school. Despite her brilliant academic record, Min Kon often finds herself leading student movements. Her behavior causes her to change schools frequently until she quits to join the revolutionary communist army in 1926. Min Kon joins a military school where she is immediately expelled and rejoins under the new name of Hsieh Ping-Ying. In this autobiography, the themes of rebellion and resistance are most prominent. Hsieh Ping-Ying demonstrates her rebellious spirit through her endless pursuit of freedom from traditional Chinese culture and the place in society imposed upon her. She is not willing to conform or watch history be made. She not only incessantly resists her parents wishes, but also rebels against the politics and oppression of the people of China at that time. Not only does she fight for her own sense of equality, but also that of the entire population. Min Kon is a symbol of the oppression of women of her generation and those who came before her. Although she was more fortunate than most, her plight is representative of her period, while painting a picture of the political movements which took place. In this dynamic, touching story, she demonstrates the personal desire, motivation, and persistence needed to achieve her dream of freedom. This book is an excellent example of the transitional and unstable culture and politics of the time. Written through the eyes of a young girl from the country limits the scope of the story, but allows the reader to grasp how Chinese culture was transforming as history was taking place through a clear, yet limited view. This story is both captivating and enlightening in its narration of the passion of resistance at a turning point in Chinese history. Tsui Chi's translation has kept the spirit of Min Kon's passion alive to pass on to readers throughout the world. Infused with endless desire and motivation, Min Kon's story presents a striking account of the developments affecting the population of China during the early 20th century, which is both useful in the classroom and for personal enrichment. This book is a perfect choice for anyone interested in women's rights, Chinese history, or the place of women in Chinese culture.
    Autobiography of a Chinese Girl
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Autobiography of a Chinese Girl
      Hsieh Ping Ying
      Manufacturer: George Allen & Unwin
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      ChineseChinese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
      ASIN: B000QRFYW6
      AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CHINESE GIRL.
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CHINESE GIRL.

        Manufacturer: George Allen & Unwin
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

        ChineseChinese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
        ASIN: B000HGWTVA
        Autobiography of a Chinese Girl: A Genuine Autobiography (Kegan Paul Travellers Series)
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Autobiography of a Chinese Girl: A Genuine Autobiography (Kegan Paul Travellers Series)
          Ato Quayson
          Manufacturer: Kegan Paul
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Hardcover

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          ASIN: 0710310412

          Book Description

          The emergence of the New Chinese Woman and the New China were inextricably linked in history as they are in this autobiography set in the revolutionary 1920's. The author's life was one of struggle. She fought against the tyranny of her mother in the home and an arranged marriage, against the warlords in the fields, and against the Kuomintang when they split with the Communists. Above all she fought against the Chinese traditions of valuing boys far above girls, and of consigning unmarried women to limbo. The romantic idealism of the revolution in its early days, the iniquities of the old family system it overthrew, the passionate friendships of the young girl soldiers, and the personal sacrifices involved in creating the new order are brought vividly to life in this touching and thought-provoking book. Written in the 'new realism' style of the period, this is an important work of its time and place, and a significant contribution to women's writing and history generally. The volume begins with a detailed account of the development of early revolutionary Chinese politics and literature.

          Empress of China: Wu Ze Tian
          Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
          • A rare find
          • Lovely book for children
          Empress of China: Wu Ze Tian
          Cheng-An Chiang
          Manufacturer: Victory Press
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Hardcover

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          ASIN: 1878217321

          Book Description

          A beautiful young nun with skin as smooth as silk and a face as lovely as a spring flower silently cooked and cleaned all day at Gan Ye Buddhist Temple. Every evening she joined the other nuns in chanting sutras.

          Who would believe that this delicate young nun was destined to become Emperor of China - the only female emperor in more than 5,000 years of Chinese history.

          Wu Ze Tian held power for almost half a century during the Tang Dynasty (618- 907 AD), a period of prospertiy and cultural achievement in China.

          Customer Reviews:

          4 out of 5 stars A rare find.......2001-09-03

          A children's book in English (bilingual, actually) on a the only Chinese female emperor in history. This book definitely breaks stereotypes of passive Asian females. Great book for young students, especially with the lavish pictures. But I would also love to see an adult version of this book.

          4 out of 5 stars Lovely book for children.......2000-05-30

          This delightful book on the only woman who served as empress in her own right in China (the later, famous Empress Dowager ruled behind her son and nephews, only) is well written and nicely illustrated. It is, however, a children's book, which I was not expecting when I ordered it. I would say that it would make a delightful gift for a young person, but it is light on information for any interested scholar.
          The Girl from Purple Mountain : Love, Honor, War, and One Family's Journey from China to America
          Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
          • A good read!
          • Not Bad, Not Great - Just OK
          • Redeeming the Past: A Father and Daughter Remember
          • A Brillant family memoir
          • Previous reviewers were ignorant.
          The Girl from Purple Mountain : Love, Honor, War, and One Family's Journey from China to America
          May-lee Chai , and Winberg Chai
          Manufacturer: Thomas Dunne Books
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Hardcover

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          ASIN: 0312268084

          Book Description

          The Girl from Purple Mountain is a true story of love, betrayal, and healing set against the shifting tides of 20th century China. It begins with a mystery: The Chai family matriarch, Ruth Mei-en Tsao Chai, dies unexpectedly and her grieving husband discovers that she had secretly arranged to be buried alone-rather than in the shared plots they had purchased together years ago. Faced with this inexplicable situation, he decides that if he cannot lie next to his bride in death, he will buy a plot on the outskirts of her mausoleum and act as her guardian for all eternity. Such is his great love for his wife.For many years, Ruth's family remained shocked by her decision and could not begin to fathom her motivations. Over time, they would fully understand her extraordinary story. Ruth was born in China at the beginning of the 20th century, during the reign of the last emperor. Educated by American missionaries, she was one of the first women admitted into a Chinese university, during an era when most Chinese women were illiterate and had bound feet. She would defy tradition and refuse to marry the man her family had chosen for her, instead choosing his younger brother as her husband. Later, as the Japanese Army advanced across China during World War II, her foresight and quick thinking kept her family alive as she, her husband, and their three sons were forced to flee from city to city. In war-torn Chungking, she was Lady Mountbatten's interpreter as the Allies struggled to help China. After the war, the Chais immigrated to the U.S. to what seemed, until Ruth's death, a happier and more peaceful life.In this extraordinary and moving family epic, Ruth's first-born son, Winberg, and his daughter May-lee explore family history to reconstruct her life as they seek to understand her fateful decision. As Winberg writes: "It is my duty to try to understand my mother, to seek answers. To ignore the past is too much like forgetting....I hope my memories are enough to fulfill a son's obligations."AUTHORBIO: WINBERG CHAI was born in Shanghai. He received his Ph.D. from New York University, and later became the first Asian American vice president of a state university. The author of more than twenty books on China, he is currently a political science professor at the University of Wyoming.Daughter of Winberg Chai, MAY-LEE CHAI is the author of the novel My Lucky Face. Her short stories have been published in various publications, including Seventeen, the North American Review, and the Missouri Review. A former reporter for the Associated Press, she has also taught creative writing at San Francisco State University and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Chai has Master's degrees from Yale University and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

          Customer Reviews:

          5 out of 5 stars A good read!.......2004-05-18

          There isn't much mystery to the plot, nor it explicitly explained why Ruth changed her burial decision. However, it's packed with Chinese culture, details of what life was like in China, the political movements, etc.. I recommend this book strongly to any one who would like to learn more of the Chinese culture/history, specially to the ABCs (America born Chinese).

          3 out of 5 stars Not Bad, Not Great - Just OK.......2004-02-21

          This book is not a page turner. However, there was just enough there that I wanted to read it to the end. Get some closure, perhaps.

          I understand some of the criticism directed at this book. There are parts of it where the authors are simply making up events, but at least they outright tell you so; e.g., "Here is how I imagine my grandmother's suitor." I didn't find this irritating or annoying. Just awkward, for a biographical piece.

          I was disappointed that there wasn't more to the "mystery." No climactic ending - for better or worse. In the end, this woman who had already left her husband twice, left him one final time because she could not overcome her bitterness and jealousies. She started as a modern Chinese woman full of spirit and energy, but ended up being someone old and spiteful. Someone who would hold a 30-40 year grudge. Someone who would disown her own son. How sad.

          5 out of 5 stars Redeeming the Past: A Father and Daughter Remember.......2003-11-28

          I had real reservations about this book. A woman who would go out of her way to make sure she was not buried next to her husband seemed to me to be less than worthy of my time. I didn't like her. I want to read about someone with whom I can form some identity. I looked at this book several times at the bookstore and passed it up. Then a friend handed it to me and told me to read it.

          I have always said that some of the best books I have read have come as an interruption to what I was "supposed" to be reading. This book is one of them. The introduction on the dust jacket describes a woman who makes a secret arrangement to be buried alone in a mausoleum. The book seeks to understand and explain this unusual behavior. But I didn't want to understand. I am tired of caring why strange people do strange things. Such an act seemed unheroic. But something completely unexpected happened to me as I read this book. I was prepared to hear an elaborate excuse by the writer for why her grandmother did what she did. I had concluded that I could never identify with such a person. But I was completely unprepared for the extent to which I identified with the writer herself.

          We are worlds apart. Literally. She grew up in America. I was born in Tokyo, and I grew up in the northern part of Japan. My parents were American missionaries, who went to Japan as volunteers after World War II. My grandparents came from Norway. I do not look Japanese. Not at all. Throughout my childhood, I was always a foreigner. Gaijin. Nevertheless, I am a child of Asia.

          When my parents took me to America at the age of 13, I had serious misgivings about that new country. We moved to a small town in Minnesota, about as far removed as it is possible to be (both culturally and geographically) from the place that had been my home. I forgot Japanese. But through all the years I have lived in America, I have never forgotten the strange feeling I had when I came to that small Midwestern town and tried to fit into a world where I knew nothing about anything, even though I was a native speaker of English.

          This book is about a woman who hated her father, and the ripple effect that this bitterness had over three generations. But it is written by a woman who loved her father, and with whom, in spite of clear generational differences, she was able to collaborate on a book about, of all things, relationships.

          The book is written by May-lee with her father, Winberg. It is about Ruth and Charles-her grandparents, his parents. Charles adores his wife, but he is forever the unfortunate recipient of the unresolved rage she feels for her father. In that sense, Charles is a pathetic figure. He really can't do anything right. But, Ruth, of course, is more pathetic. She epitomizes in every way the Biblical injunction, "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled (Hebrews 12:15)." The whole book reverberates with the effect this root of bitterness has on the whole family.

          But there is a unique redemptive quality to this book that took me quite by surprise. You see, in writing the story of her grandmother, especially in writing this story with her father, May-lee "redeems" her grandmother, because she displays all the qualities that I can now imagine Ruth probably had and would have displayed if she had not been so eaten up with hatred for her father. The cover of the book shows a picture of Ruth and Charles at the time of their marriage. But I wasn't paying attention. Somehow I had it that this was a picture of the father-daughter team that wrote the book. So, as I was reading this book, I thought the pretty lady on the cover was the author. For me, Ruth became May-lee, and Charles became Winberg. At least for awhile. Then I caught on. But the initial impression never left. In a very real sense, May-lee became what her grandmother, unbound, would have been. And there is tremendous power in the way she gently prods her father to recover his past. It's all very unusual-you see, even though the book is not really supposed to be about May-lee herself, she becomes, in writing the book, the heroine of the story.

          This is a book with heart. Read it. Then give it to someone else. Make this world a better place by reading, and encouraging others to read what will surely be one of the most life-enriching books you have encountered.

          4 out of 5 stars A Brillant family memoir.......2003-03-24

          Winberg Chai' mother, Ruth Mei-en Tsao Chai, died unexpectedly. He then found out that his mother had secretly arranged to be buried alone, instead of in the share plots that his father had purchased years ago. Winbery then felt that, as Ruth's first-born son, he has the obligation to explore the family history to reconstruct his mother's life and to seek the answer of his mother's fateful decision. This book is about Winberg's family history and memoir. He finished this book with the help of his daughter, May-Lee Chai. I read some book reviews before I picked up this book at the library. I disagreed that this book is full of "fictionalized events." I think this book provides very good discussion about family history and its roots. It is an enjoyable reading. I like it.

          5 out of 5 stars Previous reviewers were ignorant........2003-02-25

          Just because you cannot comprehend anyone having a hard life, doesn't mean you have to discredit the authors of this wonderful book. I am currently taking a course in Asian Political Cultures from Winberg Chai at the University of Wyoming, and I find him to be an incredible source of inspiration. Read this book and ignore anything the previous reviewers, or the critic from the New York Times have said.

          Books:

          1. The Essential Neruda: Selected Poems
          2. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)
          3. The General and the Jaguar: Pershing's Hunt for Pancho Villa: A True Story of Revolution & Revenge
          4. The Labyrinth of Solitude: The Other Mexico, Return to the Labyrinth of Solitude, Mexico and the United States, the Philanthropic Ogre
          5. The Last Puritan: A Memoir in the Form of a Novel
          6. The Mindful Brain: Reflection and Attunement in the Cultivation of Well-Being
          7. The Reluctant Mr. Darwin: An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution (Great Discoveries)
          8. The Road from Coorain
          9. The Shadow Lines: A Novel
          10. The Soft Addiction Solution

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