Rating: 
Summary: Well-written, clear and complex, survival/struggle/transform
Review: Well-written, clear, concise, human inspiration of struggle to make sense of deeply negative family setting. Think about - clarity of childhood perception of the family situation v/v the emotional need to be loved and accepted. Can/could be debilitating, yet for some, ie Yen Mah, she found perseverence in herself and ability to not just survive, but to finally find a loving husband and a satisfying and challenging career. A breath of fresh air in light of the "blaming" theme prevalent in much of our society at this time. Still incredulous to me how she could still seek/anticipate any acceptance or love from Niang in the last 1/3-1/4 of the book. Human nature? How do we tick? Another observation from her story: the power of gifts that come our way-Aunt Baba-whose deep love and support were critical to Yen Mah's self-perception.
Rating: 
Summary: Mah is cursed with total recall, but she lacks insight.
Review: Memoirs are only intersting when the author shows some understanding of his life and the choices he has made. As a psychoanalyst, I kept waiting for some insight into why she was singled out as the family scapegoat. Unlike some of the other reviewers on-line, I do believe that she was treated particularly harshly by Niang and her father, but the reasons for it are somewhat obscure. (Although it seems to me, that several reviewers became so incensed with her, it might give us a clue as to how Niang felt about her.) I agree with the reviewer who suggested that Mah get some "serious therapy". Mah's repeated attempts to gain love and acceptance from her family is the classic case of "repetition compulsion" noted by Freud. She never stops hoping that she can get her parents to care about her, despite the evidence to the contrary. I believe she sees her filial devotion as entirely laudatory, rather than the manifestation of her neurosis. In all, this book can be read on one level as a case history without intervention!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful, sad, page turner.
Review: This book sent me to China to feel the plight of a sad little girl trapped in a terrible situation. A fast read that left me with tremendous appreciation for the lives others lead.
Rating: 
Summary: A touching but heartbreaking novel
Review: A really miserable story of an ever-migrating chinese women, seeking for love and recognition.
Rating:
Summary: Did I really read the whole thing????
Review: This book was so boring. It lacked detail and emotion. Furthermore, it was not about an unwanted Chinese daughter. This book was about a complete family being mistreated by a stepmother with mental problems and a spineless father. I lost respect for everyone in the family that kept in contact with Niang AND their father after the way they were treated. Horrible waste of my time - Why did I keep reading it? I guess I thought it would amount to more by the time I was finished. I was wrong.
Rating:
Summary: Tragic story of a lonely and exceptional little girl
Review: This heartbreaking autobiography reads like a novel in its detail and suspense. It scans the 20th century from China to the U.S. as it reveals the life of Adeline Yen Mah, youngest of five children and her younger more cherished step-brother and sister. Her mother died when she was born and her father's subsequent marriage to a young Eurasian women began a life time of persecution and intimidation for his first five children. In our child-loving culture today, it is hard to imagine treating children so harshly, but in Adeline's childhood, first in Shanghai and later in Hong Kong, we find the children fearful and obedient, their entire lives focused on pleasing their unloving parents. Adeline's intelligence and resilience of character and spirit helped her as she strove to be first in school and to distinguish herself. Ultimately, she became a successful physician, but even as an adult, she longed for the love and approval of her family. Her story is told with the backdrop of China in the 20th century as revolution overtook and changed society. Her family was cultured and wealthy--the epitome of what the revolution fought to overcome as decadent and worthless. Consequently, they escaped to Hong Kong where Adeline's father once again became a wealthy and successful businessman. This beautifully written work reveals the strength and weakness of the human spirit and gives the reader insight into the sensitive world of childhood that parents can make beautiful or disastrous.
Rating:
Summary: A story of a Chinese Family
Review: I purchase this book as a gift, but ended up reading it myself. I could never finish a book in such a short period of time. But this book was so riveting, I could not put this book away. This is a story Asian and non-Asian will understand and embrace. Adeline sheds light about her struggle to be loved and accepted by her own family. It is about sibling rivalry as well as the parents participation in it. It is also a story about a Chinese family we don't hear about. It is about face and not airing your dirty laundry out. I saw myself in Adeline childhood, as she was growing up and as an adult. She clearly describe to her audiance her family, culture and the events leading up to the cultural revolution and communist China. She was the golden child (but a girl) transplanted in a wealthy, but greedy family. In the end are lies and deception, but it is the Chinese way, the old societal way that originated in ancient China. When truth is revealed, then it becomes the treasure that release her bondage.
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Summary: Deserved to be one of the best-sellers.
Review: I am a computer aficionado and an occasional reader. I only finish the books that prevent me from putting them down. This autobiography happens to be one of which. Well written without convoluted prose, the story of the author's life with her family was narrated first-hand reflecting her most direct feelings and reactions over the mishaps that happened to her. It may be too subjective, or too biased in a sense that a large part of the story is told from her own perspective. But if all one wants is to read something human, truely from the heart without much distillation, why is there a need for objectiveness and analysis? After all this is a memoir, nothing but personal piece of writing. Particularly recommended for Chinese for the historical background of the book. Nothing racial here. :)
Rating: 
Summary: The voice was too whiny and self-centered.
Review: I read the first chapter in the book store. I would not have brought the book had I not been obligated to read it for my book club. In the beginning of the book I got a sense of someone with many resentments. Mah cries, complains and blames throughout the story. The largest failure of this story is we never hear anyone else's point of view. I know when I talk about my childhood with one of my siblings each of has a different perspective on the same incident. I understand the neglect Mah suffered, but she also had the complete support of her Aunt Baba and her Grandfather. She was lucky to have extended family she could trust. Many children don't. After her father finances her 11 years of study in England Mah simply returns to a demeaning job and living situation her father set up for her. Why? Mah never acknowledged the privileged wealth she grew up with. The fact that her parents did pay for her to go to medical school and before college they paid for her to go to a boarding school. From Mah's point of view they were getting rid of her. Maybe that is only half the truth. I think Mah could have learned from her step-sister, Susan. Cut your loses and move forward.
Rating:
Summary: Too accusing, too biased, too selfish...
Review: Mah's memior has a readable and exciting narrative, it has a simple language and her life was written in the most exquisite way possible - still she is way too biased and she either directly or indirectly accuses her siblings, her father, Niang, indeed everyone but herself. Though it looks like an interesting and hard life she seems to have had, it is somewhat IMPOSSIBLE to believe that her father and Niang were so incredibly mean only to her and not the others. I don't believe she was an angel right from the very beginning of her 'sad' life, the way she says she was very proud and she wouldn't ask Niang to give her the share for her school transport is incredible. It is in a way ridiculous to think any parent -step or real- would treat only one child this much differently and tolerate the others. Even if Adeline hadn't won the essay competetion, I am sure her father wouldn't have the heart not to allow her to go to England or some other country for her university education. Isn't it interesting that whatever Mah writes makes herself look the right and flawless person!? How come! How come everyone in your family and everyone you get to know in your life be so cruel and you always the perfect person!? Mah is too biased. Although I believe her first husband may have made mistakes, I am also sure there were lots of problems stemming from Adeline's side. If her Aunt Baba was her everything, and she loved her so much, why didn't she help her more after she was in a good situation economically later in her life? She is also greedy, she always detested her parents and accused her siblings and when her father died she immediately went to Hong Kong because the inheritance was the one thing she cared for. She blames her brothers and sisters and I can't imagine what they thought when they read this book. Maybe her brother in Canada should write the whole story from his point of view. It could be enjoyable the tell the differences. I can see so many faults in Mah's book, she should learn to be objective if she plans to write her life story.
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