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Dec 17, 2009

Bookshop rated it:

The book was published in the height of the Chinese-mania in America. It was the time when the likes of Joy Luck Club and Wild Swan were bestsellers. I thought it was another 'me-too' and never got to read it until now. This is the summary of what I think:

The good:
- her style of peppering the story with chinese proverbs (characters, pronunciation, translation);
- interesting peek of Shanghai in its glory straight from the person who lived that kind of life; and
- enga More...

0 comments like (17 people liked it)

Mar 12, 2009

Brent rated it:

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. " More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Sep 22, 2011

Chelsea rated it:

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 upon. She was constantly a victim to everyone in her family, and kept going back for more abuse. What happened to her as a child was 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 who isn't dependent upon them. I also found it strange that with how much she longed for a de More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 28, 2009

Terry rated it:

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...

2 comments like

Nov 01, 2008

Dorothea rated it:

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 More...

2 comments like (5 people liked it)

Mar 31, 2008

Melissa rated it:

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 More...

2 comments like (8 people liked it)

Apr 03, 2008

Laura rated it:

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 More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jun 07, 2008

Polly rated it:

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...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Apr 03, 2008

Danley rated it:

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...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 09, 2008

Amber rated it:

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...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jan 11, 2012

Charlotte rated it:

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 un More...

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Sep 18, 2011

Lily rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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May 18, 2011

Valarie rated it:

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...

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Apr 24, 2011

Christina rated it:

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 le More...

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Apr 19, 2011

Heejoo-isb rated it:

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...

1 comment like

Feb 23, 2011

Makoto-isb rated it:

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...

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Feb 23, 2011

Miaicegirl rated it:

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...

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Jan 26, 2011

Melissa rated it:

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 dau More...

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Dec 27, 2010

Ruth rated it:

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, lo More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 16, 2010

Laurie rated it:

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 the More...

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Sep 20, 2010

Grace rated it:

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 writ More...

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Aug 02, 2010

G rated it:

A truly touching read. Mah reminds us that China's "history" is truly very recent and that the many events in China's recent past link to the present, with international affects. Her 6 siblings, each have let her down at some point in her life.
Lydia- self-centered and backstabbing; very much like Niang herself...
Gregory- self-centered and treacherous
Edgar- violent and self-furfilling
James- Probably the worst letdown- apathy and emotional detachment. Although Jam More...

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Jul 30, 2010

Dana rated it:

Adeline Yeh Mah was the youngest of 5 children in an affluent Chinese family . Her mother died of complications from her birth in 1937. Soon afterwards her father re-married.

Adeline's stepmother or Niang was extemely domineering and high maintenance. Her natural children and particularly her son were first in her favour. Any of the children not bowing to her wishes were castigated. Adeline was sent to boarding school with instructions that the rest of the family were not to contact h More...

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May 12, 2010

Paula rated it:

‘Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots’ is the true story of Adeline Yen Mah (her birth name is Yen Jun-ling).

The story begins with a brief history of Adeline’s family, her Great Aunt, a strong, confident woman who rebels against foot binding as the girls surrounding her succumb to it, this shows the reader the strength of character which runs through certain members of Adeline’s family.

Adeline is the fifth child of her parents, shortly after her birth, Adeline’s mother d More...

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Mar 31, 2009

Caroline Nixon rated it:

This book is also by Adleline Yen Mah. It is not the same story as Chinese Cinderella, but it is alot like it. It tells the story of an unwanted Chinese daughter and how she lived her life. Yes, I know, it seems like Chinese Cinderella, but it is in more detail. It was also written after Chinese Cinderella and includes more of Adeline's life. This book made me realize how good I have it, and that there are kids out there who are treated very badly when we think that not being able to go to the m More...

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Mar 05, 2009

Chris rated it:

This memoir called Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah is a sad and depressing book about an unwanted child. Adeline takes you into her shoes when she was a little girl and softens the hardest parts of your heart with the tradegies. Sometimes things may not seem to be as good as they seem. As you read along you can witness the war between Adeline and life.
Adeline Yen Mah tells her experiences growing up as the last born child of her father's first marriage. She is later mistreated by her s More...

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Feb 14, 2009

Kirei rated it:

I really liked this book. It's the memoirs of a daughter of a wealthy family, spanning from from when she was born until the deaths of her father and step-mother. (Her mother died during the author's birth.)

If you are interested in Chinese culture and history, it's a great book to read. Interspersed throughout the book are Chinese proverbs and their English meanings--this was a nice touch. It is about a disfunctional family, so if that bothers you, don't read this book!

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May 18, 2011

Jim rated it:

This book is by no means a feel-good memoir in almost any sense, as the dominating character---the author's stepmother---is on a par with any evil character conjured in fables or by Disney. Few of the supporting cast are of much redeeming value as well, from the successful but weak father who lets his new wife control and destroy his family, to the siblings who scheme, plot, and connive. One aunt is a shining light of strong will and determination and kindness. The children each react to oppress More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Apr 11, 2008

Rachel rated it:

Ever wonder what it would be like to grow up as the unwanted daughter? In Chinese culture, where people are ranked by sex, social status, and order of birth, the main character finds herself on the bottom of every measuring stick. Learn how she overcomes feelings of worthlessness, abandonment, and rejection to triumph over a culture that tries to kill her spirit simply because she was born a girl, the unwanted daughter of her father's least favorite wife.

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Apr 01, 2010

Sami rated it:

All I can really say about this book is that it really opened my eyes. Not just to life in China during the 1940's and 50's, but how deeply the culture and traditions of China played such a huge part in ostracizing a little girl and her brothers and sisters from her step-family. Chinese Cinderella was one of the most moving memoirs I've ever read. I cried reading this book for the life that this little girl, obviously now a grown women, lead simply because of the circumstances of her birth.
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