Falling Leaves: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter
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| Falling Leaves: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Riveting. A marvel of memory. Poignant proof of the human will to endure." —Amy Tan.
"Brilliant, compelling, and unforgettable. A heart-rending modern day Cinderella story set against the turbulence of 20th century China. Autobiography at its best." —Nien Chang, author of Life and Death in Shanghai. "Charged with emotion...A vivid portrait of the human capacity for meanness, malice—and love." —Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans. "Fascinating and heart-rending stuff...a harrowing story of emotional cruelty." —The Times of London International bestseller. The emotionally wrenching yet ultimately uplifting memoir of a Chinese woman struggling to win the love and acceptance of her family. In this compelling memoir that scaled bestseller lists in England, Australia, and Hong Kong, Adeline Yen Mah chronicles her painful childhood growing up in a wealthy yet abusive Chinese family. The unwanted daughter scorned by her family, young Adeline dreamed of freedom and independence, ultimately escaping to the West to launch a successful career in medicine. When Adeline's mother died giving birth to her, she was deemed bad luck and ostracized by her family. Then her father took a beautiful Eurasian bride and Adeline soon fell victim to the wrath of her stepmother. Treated as a pariah, she was shuttled off to boarding schools, bullied by her siblings, and deprived of the beautiful clothes and things given to the rest of the family. Moving from Shanghai and Hong Kong to London and the United States, Falling Leaves is an enthralling saga of a prosperous Chinese family set against a background of changing political times and the collision of East and West. Written in haunting prose, it evokes all the suspense and emotional force of a satisfying novel. |
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Snow White's stepmother looks like a pussycat compared to the monster under which Adeline Yen Mah suffered. The author's memoir of life in mainland China and--after the 1949 revolution--Hong Kong is a gruesome chronicle of nonstop emotional abuse from her wealthy father and his beautiful, cruel second wife. Chinese proverbs scattered throughout the text pithily covey the traditional world view that prompted Adeline's subservience. Had she not escaped to America, where she experienced a fulfilling medical career and a happy marriage, her story would be unbearable; instead, it's grimly fascinating: Falling Leaves is an Asian Mommie Dearest.
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| Reader Reviews 1 - 8 of 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Reader Reviews Below Sorted by Newest First | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10-06-08 | 5 | (NA) |
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This book was amazing! It was so heartbreaking, but it is a great read. I had to read this book for my Sociology class and it definitely gives me a new perspective on family life.
Thanks Adeline Yen Mah!!!! (Review Data Last Updated: 2008-11-15 04:10:39 EST)
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| 07-03-08 | 5 | (NA) |
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Although there are hundreds of reviews, I had to review this book because it had such an impact on me. I think this book is wonderful. It is a captivating story. I read it complete in one night, I just could not put it down!
Adeline is a beautiful story teller, with an exceptional eye for detail. Although I loved the book, there was a strange voice that would creep into the story. Almost as if there was a repressed part of herself that could not hide from this book: it is a young Adeline still hoping to be the apple of her father's eye; and for her family to appreciate, love and respect her. It is a sad story that shocks readers with the inhumanity that families can inflict on one of their own. It is still beautiful and hopeful, even in its most miserable moments. Highly recommend (Review Data Last Updated: 2008-10-06 05:54:18 EST)
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| 05-06-08 | 5 | (NA) |
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This book was beautifully written and gripping from the start. The reviewer who complained of Adeline's "whining" tone, is being unfair. I don't see her as whiny, but rather somewhat detached as she recounts the emptiness of her childhood. In fact, I want her to scream and kick and rebell, maybe even whine, yet she does none of that. Whining is even more emotion than I think she allows herself to feel. She endured a childhood with certain material wealth but vastly lacking in emotional wealth.
Adeline takes the emotional abuse because she knows nothing else. Her father is the true villain for caring more about his trophy wife than his own family's happiness. He is oblivious to his children's emotional needs. He disappoints more than the stepmom for choosing to abandon children that he chose to bring into the world. He manipulates and plays them one against the other for his own selfish desires. After long periods of thinking about this book, I've come to my own understanding of why she managed to salvage a happy life out of such a miserable upbringing. It is the very belief, albeit blatently false, that her family would one day accept her, that makes her continue to push for their love and not give up. Children are frequently unable to find fault with their loved ones. It is that very "innocence" that protected her from worse harm, the knowledge that acceptance would never, ever, be forthcoming. (Review Data Last Updated: 2008-07-04 04:34:59 EST)
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| 04-21-08 | 5 | (NA) |
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The heartbreaking story of an unwanted, abused, neglected child who never ceases to try and earn her family's affections. If you have ever experienced these feelings,no matter what your race, you will LOVE this book. It moved me to tears and I could not put it down once I started reading it.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-05-08 03:45:08 EST)
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| 03-30-08 | 5 | (NA) |
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Adeline Yen Mah, the youngest daughter of a prominent chinese businessman and his young half-chinese, half-french new wife, shows a poignant and vivid picture of life as a most unwanted Chinese daughter growing up during the cultural revolution in mid- 20th century China. Despite horrible mistreatment and abuse by her step-mother, Yen Mah slowly flourished from a sad, quiet girl to a successful physician living in the United States because of the love and encourgement of one unempowered Aunt. A heartwrenching read, this autobiography is proof that even when 'bad things happen to good people', knowing one has done the 'right thing' is priceless indeed.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-04-23 03:41:13 EST)
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| 03-30-08 | 1 | (NA) |
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...with that whine? Self serving, whiney, horrible. I just don't get it. No comparison to anything by Frank McCort, Amy Tan or anyone like them.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-04-23 03:41:13 EST)
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| 01-07-08 | 5 | (NA) |
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this book is well written, and didn't take me too long to get through. mah retells her fascinating story, and includes descriptions of the events in China at that time (the Communist take-over). it is a sad story of family relations gone bad as she tries desperately for her family to come together.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-04-23 03:41:13 EST)
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| 12-16-07 | 5 | (NA) |
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book about Adeline and her life. I read The Concubine's Children right before this book and this book is written far better. I couldn't wait to have a moment to read what was going to happen next. It's a great insight into Chinese culture and highly recommended for all to read, especially women. I will keep this book so my daughter can read it when she is older.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-12-31 03:57:19 EST)
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