Life and Death in Shanghai

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Summary: Well-written account of Cultural Revolution experiences
Review: This is a well-written account of a person from the Chinese elite who suffered severely during the Cultural Revolution and lost her daughter to its insanity. I read it after reading Geling Yan's "White Snake and Other Stories," several of them set in the Cultural Revolution, and see Joan Chen's film based on a story in the collection, "Xiu Xiu: The Sent-Down Girl." Books like Nien Cheng's give the necessary first-person, nonfiction background in order to understand some of the excellent fiction on the topic now coming out.

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Summary: A wonderful book about a woman's resilience.
Review: I enjoyed this book tremendously. The author spent six years in solitary confinement during the cultural revolution. Through her book, I gained a much deeper understanding of the Chinese. And a much greater appreciation for the United States.

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Summary: harrowing - a real testimony to human endurance
Review: this is one of the best books of nonfiction that I have ever read. The writing is fluid and eloquent. It is a testimony to her that she can write about something which was obviously so very humiliating and emotional for her. The death of an only child is something that not many people would be able to cope with on their own - she is a marvel - a true hero of international status.

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Summary: Beautifully written
Review: I actually read this for a Chinese history class 11 years ago, but it's stayed with me enough for me to be curious about reading its reviews here. Needless to say, I found it powerful and beautifully written. The story is an impressive combination of gripping storytelling and almost lyrical writing. I was lucky enough to hear Ms. Cheng some 10 years ago also, when she came to our school to speak about her experiences. A very gentle, softspoken, petite, and strong, strong woman.

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Summary: Wonderfully written, a book i'll never forget.
Review: "Life and Death in Shanghai" is a great and touching book about what happened to those during Mao's rule of China. I had to read it for an English class, and it really helped me learn a lot more about the Cultural Revolution and all that happened during the 50's in China. What makes this book even better is the fact that it was written by an actual survivor who spent many her years abroad, but decided to go back to China. It was depressing to hear of someone being put in solitary confinement just because they have different views on how the government was being ruled. Not to mention that she looses everything that she had before being imprisoned, and ended up with hardly anything or anyone to love. Just by reading the book, we can all imagine what one must have felt during this time of destruction, and hopefully learn from it. It's a good book to read if you want to learn more about the Cultural Revolution from a person who had traveled to all sorts of places in the world before ending up in prison.

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Summary: Intelligently written, overwhelmingly complete. Profound
Review: I was dumbfounded by the level of intelligence and fortitude with which the book was written. It communicated the injustice of the moaist era with a sheer weight of clear, unhampered critisism. It also brought you into the life of an incredible person, an instant hero of mine. Her openly expressed faith and dependence on God strnagely complimented her enormous personal integrity and strength of character. It is endearing without manipualtion, very human and frank. One of the best books I have ever read

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Summary: A powerful, gripping, unforgettable story .
Review: The best piece of non-fiction I've ever read. A harrowing tale of one woman's amazing courage and grace in what was truly a hell on earth. I read this book when it was first published and find myself re-reading it at least once a year. A masterful work.

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Summary: a forgotten treasure
Review: I can't wait to re-read this book. It has been a number of years since I last read it. At the time I read it I recommended it to everyone, unfortunatley I had forgotten the title until I came across it here. A wonderful book! I'll send another review after I've reread it!

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Summary: Nien Cheng's courage was truely honorable
Review: Life and death in Shanghai was a truely remarkable story about one woman's courage to stand up for her own rights as a human being. My heart ached over the loneliness she must have felt for not only the six and a half years she was in the detention home but for the loss of her only child. I have four children and to even try to imagine one of them brutally murdered sends chills over my whole body. I beleive Nien Cheng is truely an international hero.

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Summary: A astounding portrait of one woman's courage
Review: First time I heard about this book was many years ago from my mother. She told me that Nien Cheng is the mother to Meiping, her high school classmate who died during the culture revolution. Years later, I got this book and with lots of curiosity , I started to read. I couldn't stop until I finish reading the last word. This book is not only about life and death, but also about lies and truth, humiliation and integrity, unfairness and justice, above all, it is about our human being's very intimate feeling: love and hate. It is a gripping, poignant chronicle that everyone should read.