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63rd out of 856 books
—
1,223 voters
Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter
Born in 1937 in a port city a thousand miles north of Shanghai, Adeline Yen Mah was the youngest child of an affluent Chinese family who enjoyed rare privileges during a time of political and cultural upheaval. But wealth and position could not shield Adeline from a childhood of appalling emotional abuse at the hands of a cruel and manipulative Eurasian stepmother. Determi...more
Paperback, 280 pages
Published
April 6th 1999
by Broadway
(first published March 5th 1997)
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I half liked this book. I didn't like how Adeline made herself out to be this perfect little angel who gave to everyone and just kept getting shit on. She was constantly a victim to everyone in her family, yet kept going back for more abuse. The things that happened to her as a child were sad and horrible, but I don't understand why you would ever purposely keep going back to a family who despised you as an adult when she wasn't dependent upon them. I also found it strange that she longed for a...more
This book is a look at a culture and a country. It was also a look at a family and relationships that just didn't work for any of the children but especially for one young girl, Adeline Yen Mah. Her respect for and commitment to be part of a family offered an insight into the culture. Her relationships with her siblings as a young girl and later as a successful women added a dimension to the cruelty she suffered from both of her parents.
This Chinese proverb described her life. "When leaves fall...more
This Chinese proverb described her life. "When leaves fall...more
I suppose I should say SPOILER ALERT since I mention some plot points ahead. I enjoyed about 75% of this book; after a while the haggling over her father's will and stepmother's will and the details of the never-ending dramas with her siblings got a tiny bit tiresome. Everyone is so abusive that you wonder why she keeps going back for more, but, then, isn't that always the way? It's easier to see when you're outside of the situation. The most poignant part of the book to me is when her brother f...more
This memoir of an unwanted Chinese daughter failed to fully gain my sympathy for its author. Adeline Yen Mah was born in 1937 to a wealthy family in Tianjin. Her mother died shortly thereafter and her father married a woman who would become Adeline's wicked stepmother.
When the family moved to Shanghai, Adeline was forced to endure the hideousness of her straight Chinese hair when she longed for a "perm" like the stylish westerns had. She and her brothers were forced to walk nearly three miles t...more
When the family moved to Shanghai, Adeline was forced to endure the hideousness of her straight Chinese hair when she longed for a "perm" like the stylish westerns had. She and her brothers were forced to walk nearly three miles t...more
I really didn't like this book. About 1/3 of the way through, I thought to myself, "Why do I care about this person." I even asked out loud a couple of nights later why I was reading the book. To which my husband replied, "Then don't read it." But, not one to stop a book half-way through, I continued on. I hoped that eventually I would come to understand why I should care about the author. At the end though, I still didn't. Sure, she had a crap childhood. For that, I give her pity. Her step moth...more
I was excited to read this book. Now that I'm finished, I'm a little flummoxed as to my reaction. So I review it through two different lenses. Whenever I read memoirs, I look at them in terms of "this is someone's life story, it's not going to fit a traditional book story narrative" and then I do think of it in terms of a standard narrative. Memoirs are a unique mix of these perspectives.
First, as a memoir, it's excellent. Her recall of detail, clearly aided by her siblings' memory and supplemen...more
First, as a memoir, it's excellent. Her recall of detail, clearly aided by her siblings' memory and supplemen...more
Falling leaves is the second book I read from Adeline Yan Mah, which is a connecting story to The Chinese Cinderella. Since I read The Chinese Cinderella first so the Falling Leaves doesnt seem as interesting. I got pretty bored at the beginning so I strongly recommend readers to read this book before the other. The first half of the book discuesses how Adeline was teased by her siblings because after few days of her birth, her mother pass away. Which her rich father got another wife that is ha...more
I picked this book out because I thought there could have been some connections I could have made with it, considering my heritage is also Chinese. This book was however a book that didn't quite capture any essence of true culture. It was more of a narrative about how the protagonist's childhood was horrid and negative. A majority of the book was insignificant and I didn't really understand why I was reading this book. It didn't make a lot of sense to me. It was a book that, in ways, asked for p...more
Jul 09, 2008
Amber Karnes
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in Chinese culture, those who like memoirs
You know those books you can't put down? This was one of em for me. I was mesmerized by the cruelty the author was subjected to by her own family in this quite depressing account of a child's life, and somehow I still left with a positive impression. She didn't slam her family or say anything hurtful about them (which they MORE than deserved), she just presented her memories and the memories of her siblings as laid out facts. This is what happened to me. She's more courageous than I would have b...more
This book is very concisely written - the author's, and her large family's lives' stories condensed down to around 300 pages. I therefore found the narrative fluid and highly interesting, with no boring bits at all. It is so concisely written that phrases from the book still stand out in my memory. It was a very enjoyable read.
What I liked most of all was the highly conservative nature of the main character Adeline , which is so rare to find in these cross-cultural stories. She is loyal and dev...more
What I liked most of all was the highly conservative nature of the main character Adeline , which is so rare to find in these cross-cultural stories. She is loyal and dev...more
We were forced to read this for our sophomore year literature class and at first, I thought it was okay. I mean, her writing was good but a part of me felt like the first few chapters felt distant, and as much as I tried to sympathize with her, I really couldn't because there was this lack of honesty and emotion. However, I started to REALLY dislike this book when suddenly young Adeline (SPOILERS) grows up and becomes this successful doctor, which I really liked because it felt like a big "HA HA...more
This is a bio with a particularly brutal twist. It's not a "pretty" book. It's a narrative of a viciously dysfunctional family. For those who don't know Chinese culture, it's also a pretty authentic look at the old hierarchy of family relationships.
The nauseating/insane character of Niang, a truly Machiavellian monster of a stepmother, pervades the story, deforming family life. Adeline's innocent and understandably bewildered blundering through her early life is bad enough, but the story gets e...more
The nauseating/insane character of Niang, a truly Machiavellian monster of a stepmother, pervades the story, deforming family life. Adeline's innocent and understandably bewildered blundering through her early life is bad enough, but the story gets e...more
I seem to like books about the plight of Chinese women, good and bad. However, this one disappointed me. This is the autobiography of a girl who was treated very badly by her father and stepmother after her father remarried. The title infers that her problem stems from being Chinese and a girl. In fact, it has little to do with her gender or origin. It's a dysfunctional family story and it could be set anywhere. It's simply the usual tale of the first family being rejected in favor of the second...more
I so wanted to like this book but I found myself trapped by the main horrible theme of how Adeline, the author, was continuously shunned and abused by her parents (especially by her stepmother) as well as by most of her siblings. Born in 1937, the book is simultaeously a tale of a dispictable family as well as a chronology of the drastic cultural and political events which affected China and Hong Kong throughout the 20th century. My displeasure with the novel mainly centers on the authors inhere...more
There is too much time spent in this book going over trivial knowledge and bits which are irrelevant to the story. I did enjoy the backstory (primarily of her aunt and how her aunt opened a bank) but the later on chapters about Hong Kong, Communism, etc etc was irrelevant. Compared to this, the trials of Adeline's childhood is much ignored. She focuses only on a few events of her childhood - the duck, seeing her stepmother beat her little sister, what her brothers did with the orange juice, etc....more
I started with Chinese Cinderella and fell in love with Adeline and her resilience. Falling Leaves is the adult version of the novel, and gives you an in depth explanation of everything. To endure so much apathy from your own siblings, a stiff stepmother& and greedy spineless father is so sad; it's a wonder she didn't rebel against them in a more destructive manner- the same way teenagers do, today.
The novel is beautiful, heartbreaking, and engulfs you as if you are just a painting on the w...more
The novel is beautiful, heartbreaking, and engulfs you as if you are just a painting on the w...more
Falling Leaves is the tale of not only a family and its dysfunctions but the recounting of the hardships China endured in the early 1900s to mid-1900s.
To those that have never suffered abuse in any form over long periods of time, Adeline's testaments of cruelty and injustice might seem excessive and one-sided. Readers have to remember this was an age when Chinese daughters were unwanted and had their lives planned for them with less say than male children. Not only that, but the author carried a...more
To those that have never suffered abuse in any form over long periods of time, Adeline's testaments of cruelty and injustice might seem excessive and one-sided. Readers have to remember this was an age when Chinese daughters were unwanted and had their lives planned for them with less say than male children. Not only that, but the author carried a...more
The cover picture here, says it all - a shy little girl left on the edges, peeking in. In 1937 Shanghai, Adeline's birth resulted in her mother's death. You may have heard that the Chinese are not real "big" on girl children anyway, and Adeline (Jun-ling) was the fifth child, second daughter.
I found the book fascinating - the look at pre-Communist China, at Grand Aunt who founded the Shanghai Women's Bank in 1924, at the interweaving of Chinese and British culture, at the intimate view of the C...more
I found the book fascinating - the look at pre-Communist China, at Grand Aunt who founded the Shanghai Women's Bank in 1924, at the interweaving of Chinese and British culture, at the intimate view of the C...more
I couldn't put down this book, but it was utterly, utterly depressing. I mentioned that to a friend, who glanced at it and said, "Uh, did you see the subtitle? What did you think it was going to be?" Touché. The few moments of respite from wanting to cry were when Mah put in Chinese history for context, which worked well, was helpful, and as I said, let me breathe for a moment before I inevitably wanted to go back in time and adopt this poor creature.
And that was the thing that got me - at least...more
And that was the thing that got me - at least...more
Although well-written, this was a very difficult book to read. Mah provides a valuable, unflinching firsthand account of life in a particular time and place that is long gone.
I guess when we read memoirs, we hope to learn someone's secrets--their private experience of the world, an understanding of lessons learned--and to gain wisdom from their triumph over circumstances.
As troubling as her relentless documentation of the family's unbearable cruelty towards her, her unending longing for affirma...more
I guess when we read memoirs, we hope to learn someone's secrets--their private experience of the world, an understanding of lessons learned--and to gain wisdom from their triumph over circumstances.
As troubling as her relentless documentation of the family's unbearable cruelty towards her, her unending longing for affirma...more
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I was very surprised by how disappointing this book turned out to be. While Yen Mah's childhood was certainly sad, it was hardly unique. Even in her own family, the other children frequently felt unwanted, and the author never even stops her rant of self-pity to offer up a little empathy for her siblings. If Adeline Yen Mah was my friend, I'd be very interested to hear her story, but as it is, this is just not memoir material. How many other children, especially girls from Confucian family backg...more
By: Adeline Yen Mah pages:278
Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah is the story of Adeline's childhood and how she overcame many obstacles that she faced. The story is set in China and thats where it's set foor half of the book. The other half is set in America when Adeline moves there when she is an adult. Starting of from when she was born, Adeline's mom died a few days after her birth. To Adeline's father, this was a sign that she was an unwanted child. With nothing left for her after her mother...more
Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah is the story of Adeline's childhood and how she overcame many obstacles that she faced. The story is set in China and thats where it's set foor half of the book. The other half is set in America when Adeline moves there when she is an adult. Starting of from when she was born, Adeline's mom died a few days after her birth. To Adeline's father, this was a sign that she was an unwanted child. With nothing left for her after her mother...more
I like this book even though I am totally not interested in something related to history. This book, Falling leaves, is the true story of the author, Adeline Yen Mah, who was born in north-east China. She was the fifth child and unfortunately, her mother died while giving birth to her. As a result of that, her father doesn’t like her and this makes her to be eager for love from father. Her father marries a French-Chinese woman and all children suffer from the stepmother’s cruel words and actions...more
Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah is an autobiography, illustrating the author’s hardship in her childhood. Ever since Adeline’s stepsister came into her family home, her childhood seemed to shatter. She was unwanted by her father and step-mother and was bullied by her older siblings. Adeline’s only guidance was her Aunt Baba, Ye Ye (grandfather) and occasionally her older brother James. The reason why she was unwanted was because of her mother’s death by giving birth to Adeline, therefore she w...more
Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah is an autobiography, illustrating the author's hardship in her childhood. Ever since Adeline's stepsister came into her family home, her childhood seemed to shatter. She was unwanted by her father and step-mother and was bullied by her older siblings. Adeline’s only guidance was her Aunt Baba, Ye Ye (grandfather) and occasionally her older brother James. The reason why she was unwanted was because of her mother’s death by giving birth to Adeline, therefore she w...more
To preface, let me say that I have read "Chinese Cinderella" by the same author which is essentially the same book, just written for a younger audience. Another difference in the two is that "Chinese Cinderella" ends when Adeline (the author) goes off to college. "Falling Leaves" however, ends in the late 1990's when she has grown up and is a middle aged woman.
This is an autobiographical book and details teh life of Adeline Yen Mah, an unwanted Chinese daughter. The early part of the book descri...more
This is an autobiographical book and details teh life of Adeline Yen Mah, an unwanted Chinese daughter. The early part of the book descri...more
I don't like to be negative about stories like this--hard childhoods. As a book, it is okay. Well written, some good descriptions. The author is about the same age as my mother, and this gave a context for me. She grew up as a miserable rich girl in Hong Kong. Read it yourself if you want to.
My negative point of view is that I find children who keep chasing their parents' love and approval annoying. This is nothing against Ms. Yen Mah, she really survived a lot of rejection, lousy marriage, etc....more
My negative point of view is that I find children who keep chasing their parents' love and approval annoying. This is nothing against Ms. Yen Mah, she really survived a lot of rejection, lousy marriage, etc....more
It was sort of compelling, and yet, at the same time, sort of embarrassingly awkward. Like the writer needed to tell how bad she had it as a child in order to avenge herself emotionally, against her deceased father and stepmother, as well as those other crazy family members who failed to do right by her when they finally had the chance. Maybe the embarrassing part is that she seems to be trying to toot her own horn a lot.
I have to admit, as dysfunctional family memoirs go (and is there any ot...more
I have to admit, as dysfunctional family memoirs go (and is there any ot...more
It seems like any book that reflects what women in China went through just prior to, during and for a time after the Chinese Cultural Revolution is going to be more disheartening than anything. This book was more, and it is one of those books that must be written and read. Despite a truly challenging upbringing in a home where she isn't loved, Mah spins her tale with a thread of hope pulled through the entire length.
The reason why I marked it as 2 stars instead of higher is the writing style. M...more
The reason why I marked it as 2 stars instead of higher is the writing style. M...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falling Leaves | 6 | 73 | Nov 03, 2012 01:40pm | |
| Coughy Clutch: Dec book discussion | 4 | 4 | Jan 13, 2012 07:11am |
Adeline Yen Mah (Chinese: Yen Jun-ling; Pinyin: Mǎ Yán Jūnlíng; Yale (Cantonese): ma5 yim4 gwan1 ling4) (official birthday 30th November 1937, however real birthday not known, this is in fact her father's birthday) is a Chinese-American author and physician. She grew up in Tianjin, Shanghai and Hong Kong with an older sister, Lydia; three older brothers, Gregory, Edgar and James and a younger half...more
More about Adeline Yen Mah...
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“Don't trust anyone. Be a cold fish. I hurt no one. And no one can hurt me.”
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