Rating: 
Summary: Life and Death in Shanghai Book Review
Review: Life and Death in Shanghai is an excellent memoir written by Nien Cheng that truly captures the extreme conditions of life in communist China during the late 1960's. As a woman wrongly accused and incarcerated for capitalist involvement, she describes her bitter experience with remarkable detail. The chapters were lengthy but filled with so much description. Her story draws the reader in with memories of harsh struggles and physical abuse ultimately behind national chaos. Throughout her autobiography, Cheng exposes the reader to the corruption practiced by the Chinese government and the injustice imposed on many of the Chinese citizens. Life and Death in Shanghai provides the reader with a certainly significant point of view and a lasting impression of life in communist China.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent memoir of life in Communist China
Review: Nien Cheng's riveting account of life in communist China during Mao Zedong's malicious dictatorship is so unbelievable that it seems more like a book of fiction than an autobiography. Although the story becomes slightly tedious, especially during the second third of the book, it remains a powerful piece of literature. Cheng beautifully interweaves history and personal experience to create an edifying and poignant memoir. Throughout her fall from high society and almost seven years of solitary confinement, Cheng never compromised her principles. How Cheng was able to maintain her integrity and strong willpower remains a mystery. Cheng is one of the few Chinese authors who has had the experience to write about life in a Chinese detention house during the Cultural Revolution. She provides a unique but important account of a life few Westerners know. One of the most moving aspects of Cheng's autobiography is her relationship with her daughter. The intense love and compassion that Cheng felt for her daughter engulfs the heart of the reader. Everyone is the child of someone, and Cheng's story reminds the reader of the unconditional and passionate love only a mother can have for her child. Cheng has created a magnificent memoir that will continue to inspire and amaze readers. After reading this story, readers will feel compelled to examine themselves and may reevaluate just how much strength one person can have.
Rating: 
Summary: Clear reporting, no passion
Review: Nien Cheng reports clearly and factually, almost dispassionately. She clearly and courteously supplies all the background needed to follow her story. You really can come at this book with no knowledge of this period of Chinese history.
However for the blurb to say "a gripping, poignant chronicle" or "the powerful story..." is a bit much. She tells the account with excessive caution and detachment -- odd considering the circumstances. This isn't literature and it isn't gripping. It is not a story of Nien Cheng so much as an account of China. As she says near the end, throughout this period she changed "not one iota". Her final words sum up her attitude, "God knows how hard I tried to remain true to my country. But I failed utterly through no fault of my own."
It is also disappointing that her faith (early on she states that she is Christian) supplies her no comfort nor strength. If she relied on prayer at all she keeps it a secret from her readers.
Rating: 
Summary: Inspiring ......
Review: Although the book is rather depressing in some parts, it is extremely inspiring. Good read.
Rating:
Summary: I have been searching this book for over ten years!
Review: There is no need to put more words on how well written is this book. I just want to add that I first read a translated digest of this book from "Reader's Digest" Chinese edition over a decade ago. The Chinese translation of the book title was very different from its English Title. I find myself unable to forget this story after years has passed and have been searching for this book ever since. I am glad that I was finally able to learn it's English title and bought this book to read again. After a decade, the story is still as riveting and gripping as first time.
Rating:
Summary: I have been searching this book for ten years!
Review: There is no need to put more words on how well written this book is.
I just want to add that I first read a translated digest of this book from "Reader's Digest" Chinese edition over a decade ago. The Chinese translation of the book title was very different from its English Title. I find myself unable to forget this story after years has passed and have been searching for this book ever since. I am glad that I was finally able to learn it's English title and bought this book to read again. After a decade, the story is still as riveting and gripping as first time.
Rating:
Summary: Good book for those interested in cultural revolution
Review: I found this book an interesting account of one person's experience during Mao's cultural revolution. Mrs. Cheng writes in an impersonal tone which is all the more interesting considering the deprivations and loss of life during this time. She is obviously a very courageous woman. If you plan to travel to China, this book would provide interesting background material and would satisfy a Westerner's curiosity of what the Chinese suffered while under control of the Gang of Four.
Rating:
Summary: Life and Death in Shanghai
Review: I just want to add my voice of awesome approval to the already wonderful reviews of this absorbing book... I borrowed it from my sister, as she so highly recommended it...I admire the author of this book so much, her honesty, her steadfastness in the face of terrible torture and persecutiion, her intelligence, and her just plain GOODNESS, that I would like to wwrite a personal letter to her...Is she still living? How old is she by now...?If she is still living,where can I write to her? Yours very truly
Rating:
Summary: Nightmare of the Cultural Revolution
Review: Life and death in Shanghai is a terrific and very well written true story.Nien Cheng is truely one of the most courageous individuals I have ever read about.During China's cultural revolution when Mao Tze-tung was slowly losing his contral over the people his wife silently formed the red guards(made mostly of peasants and students)to prosecute Mao's enemies.Thousands of innocent people were imprisoned,tortured and murdered.As I read this book I found it hard to believe that so many people could be so violent and crazy.They were so brainwashed by the "cult of Mao"they couldn't think for themselves.Life and death in Shanghai starts with Nien Cheng being accused of being a British spy simply because she worked for Shell and her "background" was not in line with the Maoist.She was locked in solitary confinement for six and a half years.In jail she was beaten,humiliated,not given enough food and subject to a kind of torture that almost made her lose complete feeling in her hands.What makes this book stand out from other stories about the cultural revolution is that Nien Cheng never "confessed" her crime.When thousands of people of people were making false confessions under torure she refused.Even when it meant more suffering and jail time.The saddest thing about this book is when Nien is finally released from prison she learns her only daughter was beatened to death by red guards,because she would not denounce her mother.I felt like her struggle for justice was in vain,but as I read on I realized what a brave and extraordinary women she was. I recommend this book for to people who are interested in reading what it was like in prison during the cultural revolution.I also think readers who like books about ordinary women in terrible situations(like Betty Mahmoody's Not Without My Daughter)should read this book. I also recommend Jung Chang's Wild Swans which is more of an extended story of the cultural revolution and China.
Rating:
Summary: A compelling authbiography - it is a must read!
Review: Nien Cheng's experience during Mao's proleteriat revolution is shocking and her story telling is moving and phenominally informative. This was a tragic period in China and Ms. Cheng reveals how viciously Mao ruled China.
| 
