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Summary: Riveting Book
Review: Amazing story of an amazing woman. It gives an eye-opening perspective of real hardship in life and how strong the human spirit can be. Also, informative historical account of the Cultural Revolution from the perspective of a victim.
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Summary: Dignity that we take for granted
Review: I was required to read this book 3 years ago for my freshman English class in college. Though I'm a hideous procrastinator, I managed to read this book twice before the due date, and have read it again with my husband. A book will very rarely get this 5 star rating from me; but here it is.Nien Cheng writes about spending years in solitary confinement during the Cultural Revolution in China. She could most likely end her suffering by signing a confession that she is a "running dog of the imperialists!" But she has dignity, and she knows that she has done nothing wrong. As an American, I am granted freedom of speech at a level that the people in the book probably could not have dreamed of. I also believe that Nien Cheng has a level of endurance that I could not muster. The title of the seminar I had to read this for was "Chance vs. Choice," and though, sadly, we never actually TALKED about chance and choice in the seminar, I can see the two themes thoughout this entire book. Nien Cheng had always had a choice, whether it seemed like it or not, and she continually chose to exercise that right to chose.
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Summary: The Very Best Memoir of the Cultural Revolution
Review: There is now an almost overwhelming amount of personal accounts of life during Mao's Cultural Revolution. The tales of atrocities and abuses are many, but this is a particularly extraordinary memoir, in my opinion the best of the lot. Nien Cheng suffered enormously, and her book recounts her persecution in amazing detail. She had more than 6 years to recall every degrading and unjust incident, and it is remarkably all here. Yet it is never for a moment boring or tedious. She writes beautifully and appreciatively of the tasty snack her cook gave her the day she went to be screamed at by an auditorium full of Red Guards. It is this extraordinary attention to simple goodness and the author's triumphant but humble survival that sets this book apart. Someone said to me, "oh, I could never buy that book. I couldn't stand the pain." My friend was mistaken. Nien Cheng's book is about pain, but not defeat. To be sure, it is about the hellish consequences of a society gone mad, but her own clear conscience reigns supreme. It is a quite beautiful story of the triumph of the human spirit. Outstanding.
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Summary: MUST READ book
Review: this book is certainly most touching. it explains about the hardships during china's communism. this is a MUST REAd!
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Summary: One of the most touching and extraordinary books!
Review: This book is an auto-biography of an extraordinary woman and of her stories. I recommend this book to all readers!
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Summary: Life And Death In Shanghai
Review: Nien Cheng's Life And Death In Shanghai definitely changed the way I view the privilege of having been born and raised in this country. I'll never take this life for granted again. One thing that really impressed me was the fact that when I wrote to her expressing my admiration, she hand wrote a beautiful letter in return. That was ten years ago and the letter still sits in her book on my shelf.
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Summary: A Truly Brilliant Memior
Review: Nien Cheng's novel is greatest autobiography that I have ever read. Since reading this novel over 10 years ago, I am still moved by the God given courage this incredible woman posseses. Few individuals could have endured the cruelities bestowed upon her by the sick political turmoil of Cultural Revolutionary China. Despite deaths, torture and unthinkable isolation her spirit endured. I love to meet Ms. Cheng. I understand that she's now an American citizen and lives in Washington, DC. I would feel humbled and blessed at occasion. By all means read this book.....you will gain more than you could ever imagine.
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Summary: live and die in Shanghai
Review: I have bought this book at least 5 years ago, I never got around to it until 6 months ago...It makes me appreciate what I have, where I live and really stop sweating the small stuff...She is a couragous woman and a great writer. Her strength can move mountain.....
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Summary: Must read!
Review: Nien Cheng gave a vivid picture of how life was, during the Cultural Revolution, especially for a person with foreign links like her. She proved to us that with persistence, courage, we can overcome anything we set our mind to. I would also recommend is "Son of the Revolution" by Liang Heng who gave a "Red Guard"'s point of view of the Cultural Revolution and also Jung Chang's "Wild Swans".
Rating:
Summary: Life and Death in Shanghai
Review: A must read for overseas Chinese. I travel back to China very often, and can see and believe the tales told in this book. Communism has changed the Chinese culture permanenetly, and this book gave an indepth account of the transformation. The mainland Chinese would be very different if there was no Mao or communism. It is amazing how the author could write with such clarity and impartiality after the ordeal she was put through.
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