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Journey across the Four Seas: A Chinese Woman's Search for Home
This is a true and touching story of one Chinese woman’s search for home. It is also an inspiring book about human yearning for a better life. To escape poverty, Flora Li fought her way through the education system and became one of the few women to get into the prestigious Hong Kong University. When the Japanese invaded, she fled to unoccupied China, where she met her future husband, the son of China’s finance minister (later deputy prime minister).
She thought she had found the ideal husband, but soon discovered that he suffered from emotional disorders caused by family conflicts and the wars he had grown up in. Whenever he had a breakdown, Flora would move the family to another city, from Shanghai to Nanking to Hong Kong to Bangkok to Taipei and finally across the four seas to the U.S. Throughout her migrations, Flora kept her sight on one goal—providing her children with the best possible education.
Author of a thriller, Nightfall in Mogadishu, Veronica Li grew up mostly in Hong Kong and moved to the U.S. with her parents at fifteen. She has a B.A. in English from University of California, Berkeley and a master’s in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University. Li was a journalist for seven years, working for the Asian Wall Street Journal and other news organizations. She later joined the World Bank, for which she traveled extensively and got her inspiration for her novel and other writings. See photos of Veronica Li and her mother in book events.
She thought she had found the ideal husband, but soon discovered that he suffered from emotional disorders caused by family conflicts and the wars he had grown up in. Whenever he had a breakdown, Flora would move the family to another city, from Shanghai to Nanking to Hong Kong to Bangkok to Taipei and finally across the four seas to the U.S. Throughout her migrations, Flora kept her sight on one goal—providing her children with the best possible education.
Author of a thriller, Nightfall in Mogadishu, Veronica Li grew up mostly in Hong Kong and moved to the U.S. with her parents at fifteen. She has a B.A. in English from University of California, Berkeley and a master’s in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University. Li was a journalist for seven years, working for the Asian Wall Street Journal and other news organizations. She later joined the World Bank, for which she traveled extensively and got her inspiration for her novel and other writings. See photos of Veronica Li and her mother in book events.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2006
246 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Li
5 books159 followersI'm the author of two books: Journey Across the Four Seas and Nightfall in Mogadishu.
I write to understand the puzzles of my life, and it has turned out that what puzzles me puzzles other people as well.
My biggest puzzle was my mother. Like a dutiful Chinese daughter, I took my ailing parents into my home. My father was quirky as usual, no puzzle there, but my beautiful, saintly mother astonished me with her devilish behavior. I wondered who this stranger was. Fortunately, she loved to tell stories about her life. So I sat her down and recorded her stories. A fascinating tale unfolded. I can now say I understand my mother and love her for who she was. The title of the book, Journey Across the Four Seas, is the journey she took to bring her children to the Gold Mountain, also called America.
My other big puzzle was my job. I was the World Bank's loan officer for Somalia shortly before the country collapsed. At the time, the west was pouring money into Somalia to reward it for defecting from the Soviet camp. The investments were also to help the country develop into a modern state. Despite these efforts, the Somali government crumbled and the country plunged back into the Dark Ages. I wanted to understand what had gone wrong. After researching into Somali history and culture, I wove them into a spy thriller called Nightfall in Mogadishu.
I was born in Thailand, grew up mostly in Hong Kong and immigrated to the U.S. at fifteen. I have a B.A. in English from University of California, Berkeley and a master's in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University. I was also a journalist for the Asian Wall Street Journal and other news organizations. I now live in Northern Virginia with my husband.
I write to understand the puzzles of my life, and it has turned out that what puzzles me puzzles other people as well.
My biggest puzzle was my mother. Like a dutiful Chinese daughter, I took my ailing parents into my home. My father was quirky as usual, no puzzle there, but my beautiful, saintly mother astonished me with her devilish behavior. I wondered who this stranger was. Fortunately, she loved to tell stories about her life. So I sat her down and recorded her stories. A fascinating tale unfolded. I can now say I understand my mother and love her for who she was. The title of the book, Journey Across the Four Seas, is the journey she took to bring her children to the Gold Mountain, also called America.
My other big puzzle was my job. I was the World Bank's loan officer for Somalia shortly before the country collapsed. At the time, the west was pouring money into Somalia to reward it for defecting from the Soviet camp. The investments were also to help the country develop into a modern state. Despite these efforts, the Somali government crumbled and the country plunged back into the Dark Ages. I wanted to understand what had gone wrong. After researching into Somali history and culture, I wove them into a spy thriller called Nightfall in Mogadishu.
I was born in Thailand, grew up mostly in Hong Kong and immigrated to the U.S. at fifteen. I have a B.A. in English from University of California, Berkeley and a master's in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University. I was also a journalist for the Asian Wall Street Journal and other news organizations. I now live in Northern Virginia with my husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
January 25, 2020
Veronica Li writes clearly and enjoyably for her mum, Flora Li, an enterprising and strategic lady who grows up in Hong Kong but ultimately settles in the US.
She shares a frank account (1921 - 1967) as dictated to her of Flora Li’s struggles through the challenges of the loss of a parent, poverty, TB, war, displacement both physically and mentally, undiagnosed mental health issues, and emigration, against a background of tumultuous times.
She would uproot herself to live in Chungking, Bangkok, Shanghai, Nangking, Taiwan, and a return to Hong Kong before emigrating to the US in 1967 to secure her children’s education. It’s not just about money, but peace of mind and a happy home.
Of greatest interest to me was her flee to Chungking after the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. You will see that she was lucky to have had friends and family who got her past critical times in her life, and a network of friends and contacts she had maintained and knew how to tap. Not everyone would have the tenacity or smarts to survive as she did. A story worth reading!
She shares a frank account (1921 - 1967) as dictated to her of Flora Li’s struggles through the challenges of the loss of a parent, poverty, TB, war, displacement both physically and mentally, undiagnosed mental health issues, and emigration, against a background of tumultuous times.
She would uproot herself to live in Chungking, Bangkok, Shanghai, Nangking, Taiwan, and a return to Hong Kong before emigrating to the US in 1967 to secure her children’s education. It’s not just about money, but peace of mind and a happy home.
Of greatest interest to me was her flee to Chungking after the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. You will see that she was lucky to have had friends and family who got her past critical times in her life, and a network of friends and contacts she had maintained and knew how to tap. Not everyone would have the tenacity or smarts to survive as she did. A story worth reading!
June 20, 2020
The story that Flora Li tells is one reflective of the tumultuous times experienced by China during the latter half of the twentieth century. Flora's life touches on living in the British Colony of Hong Kong, escaping to Mainland China during the second Sino-Japanese war, becoming part of the Chinese diaspora living in Bangkok (and America later on), and marrying into a family with strong (Taiwanese) Nationalist government ties.
As a female of the times, she lives her life through a mixture of feminist and traditional ideals. She realizes at a young age that as a female, she must become educated so she can be independent (Ironically, it is her education that catapults her to the attention of her future father-in-law). But once married, she devotes her life to raising her children and making sure that they are set for life while managing her relationships with her troubled husband and complex in-law relations.
Being able to hear Flora's story first-hand enabled me to understand how she navigated the conflicting nature of modern and traditional ideals. This particularly struck a chord when she recounted her relationship with her husband. You come to understand how and why she was able to forgive and forge ahead when many would have called it quits and asked for a divorce. Many other reviewers talked about her 'tiger mother' mentality; a lot of Flora's background and experiences contributes to why she values education so much to the point of being a tiger mother.
The experience of reading the book is enjoyable, though I felt that it was not impactful. This is my second time reading the book, and before reading the book again, I'd totally forgotten what the book was about. I'd suggest adding photos and visuals to help the reader get into the story a little more and to understand how 'epic' Flora's story really is.
As a female of the times, she lives her life through a mixture of feminist and traditional ideals. She realizes at a young age that as a female, she must become educated so she can be independent (Ironically, it is her education that catapults her to the attention of her future father-in-law). But once married, she devotes her life to raising her children and making sure that they are set for life while managing her relationships with her troubled husband and complex in-law relations.
Being able to hear Flora's story first-hand enabled me to understand how she navigated the conflicting nature of modern and traditional ideals. This particularly struck a chord when she recounted her relationship with her husband. You come to understand how and why she was able to forgive and forge ahead when many would have called it quits and asked for a divorce. Many other reviewers talked about her 'tiger mother' mentality; a lot of Flora's background and experiences contributes to why she values education so much to the point of being a tiger mother.
The experience of reading the book is enjoyable, though I felt that it was not impactful. This is my second time reading the book, and before reading the book again, I'd totally forgotten what the book was about. I'd suggest adding photos and visuals to help the reader get into the story a little more and to understand how 'epic' Flora's story really is.
May 24, 2013
A pretty good memoir of China/Hong Kong through the mid-20th Century. The story is actually the author's mother, who recorded her stories on audiotape. I found I liked her a little less as she got older--she really becomes a Tiger Mother, though I can certainly understand why, given the extremely competitive nature of Hong Kong schools. Still, I found her a little less likeable when she lost some of her vulnerability. Also found myself wanting to shout at her at times: "Get out of Mainland China, NOW!"
July 23, 2011
“The decision was the toughest I’d ever faced. The choice was between my husband and my son. If I moved to Taiwan, I could save one but ruin the other. … My only consolation was that I was abandoning him to a good home. Thus, with a heavy heart I left Patrick behind and flew with my four other children to Taipei. It was the summer of 1963.” Pg. 263.
How much would you sacrifice for your children? Most people would do everything. But would you do it at the expense of breaking up your family. In Journey Across the Four Seas by Veronica Li, the question of how much you’re willing to do for your children is at the heart of the book. The author’s mother Li-Shing-Ying (Flora) was a cut above the rest.
In 1920s Hong Kong, Flora’s family is struggling in the aftermath of her father’s death. Education for girls is considered taboo. It’s better to gain knowledge from the older women in the family. They know things, and can warn you of danger ahead. It’s knowledge that boys aren’t privy to.
“Even in a society where men are supreme, the advantages of being a girl, especially the only girl, outweighed the disadvantages. For one, Mother loved me the most. … A daughter has another advantage – access to information. While my brothers walked around in a fog, I always had an older woman to light my way.”
I think this something that every woman can relate. Think of the times you sit around the kitchen table with your mother, grandmothers, aunts, and cousins. You have a language to yourself that men just don’t understand. Flora was also more aware of the family’s struggles than her brothers. Her mother pawned her jewelry to keep the family afloat.
Something that was a little foreign to me was Flora’s mother. Her reactions to some things are something my U.S.-born brain can’t relate to. Flora’s tears were considered bad luck, and her mother thought she brought bad luck to the family. It’s a totally different generation and culture, so it’s hard for me to grasp why a mother would blame a child for a family tragedy.
Against all odds, Flora was able to continue her education all the way to Hong Kong University – a very prestigious school. While reading the book, you get the sense that education is a big source of pride – not just for the parents but for the entire family. If you don’t do well, it’s not just your failure it’s the extended family as well.
Marrying an unstable husband and having four of her five in five years would stress anyone, but Flora still wanted her children to have the best education possible. Which is why leaving Patrick behind was such a tough choice. That drive for a top education didn’t stop when the family moved to the U.S.
The story is told to Veronica over series of tapes, each chapter is tape in Flora’s very rich life. Reading this, I think you learn not to take things for granted. The older generations went through a lot to get us where we are, something we often forget.
Rating: Superb
Notes: I received a copy of the book from the author Veronica Li in exchange for an honest review. Also, I'm currently on vacation. Outside of scheduled reviews my postings will be infrequent. Normal posting will resume a week from Monday. Thanks!!
How much would you sacrifice for your children? Most people would do everything. But would you do it at the expense of breaking up your family. In Journey Across the Four Seas by Veronica Li, the question of how much you’re willing to do for your children is at the heart of the book. The author’s mother Li-Shing-Ying (Flora) was a cut above the rest.
In 1920s Hong Kong, Flora’s family is struggling in the aftermath of her father’s death. Education for girls is considered taboo. It’s better to gain knowledge from the older women in the family. They know things, and can warn you of danger ahead. It’s knowledge that boys aren’t privy to.
“Even in a society where men are supreme, the advantages of being a girl, especially the only girl, outweighed the disadvantages. For one, Mother loved me the most. … A daughter has another advantage – access to information. While my brothers walked around in a fog, I always had an older woman to light my way.”
I think this something that every woman can relate. Think of the times you sit around the kitchen table with your mother, grandmothers, aunts, and cousins. You have a language to yourself that men just don’t understand. Flora was also more aware of the family’s struggles than her brothers. Her mother pawned her jewelry to keep the family afloat.
Something that was a little foreign to me was Flora’s mother. Her reactions to some things are something my U.S.-born brain can’t relate to. Flora’s tears were considered bad luck, and her mother thought she brought bad luck to the family. It’s a totally different generation and culture, so it’s hard for me to grasp why a mother would blame a child for a family tragedy.
Against all odds, Flora was able to continue her education all the way to Hong Kong University – a very prestigious school. While reading the book, you get the sense that education is a big source of pride – not just for the parents but for the entire family. If you don’t do well, it’s not just your failure it’s the extended family as well.
Marrying an unstable husband and having four of her five in five years would stress anyone, but Flora still wanted her children to have the best education possible. Which is why leaving Patrick behind was such a tough choice. That drive for a top education didn’t stop when the family moved to the U.S.
The story is told to Veronica over series of tapes, each chapter is tape in Flora’s very rich life. Reading this, I think you learn not to take things for granted. The older generations went through a lot to get us where we are, something we often forget.
Rating: Superb
Notes: I received a copy of the book from the author Veronica Li in exchange for an honest review. Also, I'm currently on vacation. Outside of scheduled reviews my postings will be infrequent. Normal posting will resume a week from Monday. Thanks!!
April 29, 2011
This is the perfect Mother’s Day book. It’s lovingly written by a daughter about her mother’s life. It shows what a woman would do to hold the family together in spite of wars, revolutions and her husband’s mental problems. She never loses sight of her goal, which is to give her children the best opportunities for their future. This Chinese mother story holds true for mothers everywhere.
July 11, 2014
Interesting topic and time period - but the memoir is about a woman who just became totally unlikable. I didn't enjoy reading about why the writer is always right.
October 25, 2011
I. Loved. This. Book. This is the true story of Flora Li, the author's daughter. Flora is a really amazing person. She moved all over Asia before coming to the United States. All the while, she takes care of her family and makes sure that all of her children are able to meet their full potential. I definitely found myself rooting for Flora as she faces some of the hardships in her life. Veronica Li, Flora's daughter and the author of the book, had the amazing foresight to have her mother, a fabulous storyteller in her own right, make tapes to talk about her life. I know that after my grandma passed away, I really, really found myself wishing that I would have done something like taping my grandma's story. I still remember them, of course, but they'd be so much better if I could still hear my grandma tell them somehow.
Through Flora's narration, we get a great taste of what life was like in Asia during some of our world's greatest turning points. In a way, Flora seemed to come almost before her time. She's strong and realizes how important education is for herself and for her children. The book is incredibly engaging and I was definitely sad when it ended.
Bottom line: AHHH! You all just need to read this book!
Through Flora's narration, we get a great taste of what life was like in Asia during some of our world's greatest turning points. In a way, Flora seemed to come almost before her time. She's strong and realizes how important education is for herself and for her children. The book is incredibly engaging and I was definitely sad when it ended.
Bottom line: AHHH! You all just need to read this book!
August 2, 2011
Journey Across the Four Seas is about Veronica Li's mother. Flora Li was living in Hong Kong in 1941. It is a few weeks before the bombing of Pearl Harbor and Flora Li is attending Hong Kong University without a care in the world. Then, rumors started about the Japanese invading Hong Kong and how they killed hundreds of thousands of people in China and also made rape a common event.
Flora has very light skin and is very beautiful. However, after the war breaks out, her family rubs her with soy sauce to make her skin darker and try to make her uglier so there won't be a chance of her being raped. After some time though, Flora finds the need to escape to a part of China that isn't being run over by the Japanese. She starts school again and has her first crush. The romance doesn't make it though and while she will always feel something for her first crush she is a much better person and moves on.
This is really an amazing book and I learned a lot about China that I had never learned. Flora Li was a very strong woman who would do anything for her five children. It is a must read, especially if you love history like I do!
Flora has very light skin and is very beautiful. However, after the war breaks out, her family rubs her with soy sauce to make her skin darker and try to make her uglier so there won't be a chance of her being raped. After some time though, Flora finds the need to escape to a part of China that isn't being run over by the Japanese. She starts school again and has her first crush. The romance doesn't make it though and while she will always feel something for her first crush she is a much better person and moves on.
This is really an amazing book and I learned a lot about China that I had never learned. Flora Li was a very strong woman who would do anything for her five children. It is a must read, especially if you love history like I do!
May 14, 2012
When Veronica Li’s aging parents came to live with her, she was reminded of her mother Flora’s love for telling stories about her life, and how much she enjoyed listening to them. Li started taping the stories and, once arranged chronologically, was left with the material for this biography.
I’ll often read something because it looks interesting and end up serendipitously filling gaps in my knowledge that I hadn’t anticipated. In this instance, through the story of one woman, I received keen insight into the culture of Hong Kong and China, as well as the history of both throughout most of the 1900s. As Flora’s fortunes rose and fell, I was able to compare and contrast not only the differences between financial stratas within Chinese society, but also the similarities and differences to the U.S. and to what I know of other countries and cultures. If you find such things as interesting as I do, Journey Across the Four Seas should be on your reading list.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
I’ll often read something because it looks interesting and end up serendipitously filling gaps in my knowledge that I hadn’t anticipated. In this instance, through the story of one woman, I received keen insight into the culture of Hong Kong and China, as well as the history of both throughout most of the 1900s. As Flora’s fortunes rose and fell, I was able to compare and contrast not only the differences between financial stratas within Chinese society, but also the similarities and differences to the U.S. and to what I know of other countries and cultures. If you find such things as interesting as I do, Journey Across the Four Seas should be on your reading list.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
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June 20, 2013When Veronica Li's aging parents came to live with her, she recorded her mother's story in her native Cantonese, and translated it for us. Flora's life spanned most of the 20th century. Born in Hong Kong in 1918, she emigrated to the USA in 1967. Between those years, she lived in poverty and in wealth; attained a college degree; fled the Japanese invasion; married securely but unhappily; moved many times as her husband lost jobs; had four children; worked; stayed at home to be a traditional, dutiful Chinese wife; suffered bouts of depression; and never gave up her determination to make a better life for her children.
Admirable as the strength of her will was, it was the glimpse into Chinese culture that sets her memoir apart. Li lived in such different places, both geographically and socio-economically, and she takes her readers there with her, whether its a Catholic girls school in Hong Kong or a sleazy nightclub in Thailand.
Admirable as the strength of her will was, it was the glimpse into Chinese culture that sets her memoir apart. Li lived in such different places, both geographically and socio-economically, and she takes her readers there with her, whether its a Catholic girls school in Hong Kong or a sleazy nightclub in Thailand.
May 26, 2016
Life Goes in War Time
This life journey, preserved in a journal is a jewel. Veronica Li gives us the story of her mother's life during wartime in China. She shows us how the regular parts of life go on: education, room, board, marriage, children. Her mother was a strong person because she survived the normal and abnormal parts of her life in a common way, by never giving up. This story connects to everyone's life and the credit goes to both of these women.
This life journey, preserved in a journal is a jewel. Veronica Li gives us the story of her mother's life during wartime in China. She shows us how the regular parts of life go on: education, room, board, marriage, children. Her mother was a strong person because she survived the normal and abnormal parts of her life in a common way, by never giving up. This story connects to everyone's life and the credit goes to both of these women.
May 27, 2013
This was a fascinating journal about a Chinese woman's life. It is all the more interesting because it is true. Although she ends up in the United States, this book is about her life in Hong Kong, Thailand and Taiwan. I really couldn't put it down once I started it!
March 11, 2014
Success in survival.
An interesting story of a parent's struggle and survival to educate her children and honor her husband too. Good insight into Asia in turbulent times.
An interesting story of a parent's struggle and survival to educate her children and honor her husband too. Good insight into Asia in turbulent times.
July 28, 2011
Journey Across the Four Seas - A Chinese Woman's Search for Home by Veronica Li is a wonderfully done look at the life of the author's mother, Flora Li. The story opens a few weeks before the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor and declare war on the USA and on England. Flora Li was living in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong (1941) when war broke out and there were immediate rumors of a Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. The citizens knew of the horrible way the Japanese had treated the citizens of Nanking, China killing 100,000s of thousands of unarmed soldiers and civilians. They also made rape a terror tactic of the war. They knew Hong Kong had no army ready to defend it and they would be captured.
Veronica Li does a wonderful job of recreating the atmosphere of Hong Kong in 1941. Her mother was a student at Hong Kong University and did not really have a care in the world. Flora Li had light skin, a very attractive feature, and was considered quite pretty. Once this was a great source of joy and pride to her family. Now her female relatives rub soy sauce all over her face and arms to make her appear darker and ugly in the hopes she could avoid being raped or sent to a Japanese Army brothel. In time she realizes she needs to escape Hong Kong for the parts of China that are not controlled by the Japanese. As the story progresses I saw how much connections, family first then school and regional ties determined to a large extent who survived and who did not, who prospered, and who married who.
This is not an all dark book. I really enjoyed seeing Flora's joy in finding her old co-students and fellow Cantonese in a remote part of China. With the help of some new and old friends she starts school. We learn of her first crush, a tall handsome young man destined for the military. The romance does not endure and Flora Li moves on a wiser young woman. She will always, I think, kind of pine for the one that got away (but that is just because she never married him-if she had there would have been other issues).
There is a lot in Journey Across the Four Seas - A Chinese Woman's Search for Home. We see life inside the household of an affluent business man's house. We get to travel to Bangkok with the now married and pregnant Flora Li after the war. She made what seems on the surface to be a good marriage (to a body builder-it was interesting to learn about body building magazines and contests in China in the 1950s or so). I learned of the great reverence in which Chiang Kai-Shek and his wife were held and I felt a real sense of impending disaster. I saw the great regard in which Chinese of the time held The USA and most dreamed of immigrating there. In many cases the husband would go first and sometimes live there alone for years sending all he can back home.
The book showed me a lot about the life of women and girls in China in the 1940s and beyond. Boys were very much favored by parents, in a way that in fact in many cases ended up making them weaker than they could have been as men. Girls were some how raised to be tougher than boys even though they were expected to embody total femininity. There is a lot wisdom and social history compressed in these beautifully written lines:
"A daughter has another advantage—access to information. While my brothers walked around in a fog, I always had an older woman to light my way. Sometimes she was Mother, other times she was Sam-Koo or some other mahjong auntie. One of them would warn me of the hazards ahead. My brothers, however, had no idea of the disasters that hit them, either before or after. The unique position I had as the only daughter would greatly influence the next stage of my life".
There is a lot more in this book than I have conveyed. I think anyone interested in 20th century Chinese history would really enjoy it. It is a very positive uplifting book I greatly enjoyed.
I commend Veronica Li for having written such a wise and beautiful tribute to her mother.
I endorse this book without reservation and will, I hope, soon read her book based on her time in Somali.
Veronica Li does a wonderful job of recreating the atmosphere of Hong Kong in 1941. Her mother was a student at Hong Kong University and did not really have a care in the world. Flora Li had light skin, a very attractive feature, and was considered quite pretty. Once this was a great source of joy and pride to her family. Now her female relatives rub soy sauce all over her face and arms to make her appear darker and ugly in the hopes she could avoid being raped or sent to a Japanese Army brothel. In time she realizes she needs to escape Hong Kong for the parts of China that are not controlled by the Japanese. As the story progresses I saw how much connections, family first then school and regional ties determined to a large extent who survived and who did not, who prospered, and who married who.
This is not an all dark book. I really enjoyed seeing Flora's joy in finding her old co-students and fellow Cantonese in a remote part of China. With the help of some new and old friends she starts school. We learn of her first crush, a tall handsome young man destined for the military. The romance does not endure and Flora Li moves on a wiser young woman. She will always, I think, kind of pine for the one that got away (but that is just because she never married him-if she had there would have been other issues).
There is a lot in Journey Across the Four Seas - A Chinese Woman's Search for Home. We see life inside the household of an affluent business man's house. We get to travel to Bangkok with the now married and pregnant Flora Li after the war. She made what seems on the surface to be a good marriage (to a body builder-it was interesting to learn about body building magazines and contests in China in the 1950s or so). I learned of the great reverence in which Chiang Kai-Shek and his wife were held and I felt a real sense of impending disaster. I saw the great regard in which Chinese of the time held The USA and most dreamed of immigrating there. In many cases the husband would go first and sometimes live there alone for years sending all he can back home.
The book showed me a lot about the life of women and girls in China in the 1940s and beyond. Boys were very much favored by parents, in a way that in fact in many cases ended up making them weaker than they could have been as men. Girls were some how raised to be tougher than boys even though they were expected to embody total femininity. There is a lot wisdom and social history compressed in these beautifully written lines:
"A daughter has another advantage—access to information. While my brothers walked around in a fog, I always had an older woman to light my way. Sometimes she was Mother, other times she was Sam-Koo or some other mahjong auntie. One of them would warn me of the hazards ahead. My brothers, however, had no idea of the disasters that hit them, either before or after. The unique position I had as the only daughter would greatly influence the next stage of my life".
There is a lot more in this book than I have conveyed. I think anyone interested in 20th century Chinese history would really enjoy it. It is a very positive uplifting book I greatly enjoyed.
I commend Veronica Li for having written such a wise and beautiful tribute to her mother.
I endorse this book without reservation and will, I hope, soon read her book based on her time in Somali.
March 31, 2012
MY REVIEW
Veronica e-mailed me to request that I read and review this book, and I have to say a large Thankyou to Veronica because I thoroughly enjoyed reading this account of her families life and how the history of China affected each of them. Flora had to undertake many arduous journeys to finally find a safe place to call home for herself and her family, she had to make some very difficult decisions.
I enjoyed reading the intricacies of how the Chinese family worked. The way Veronica's grandfather, Lo Bak, had married two sisters and at different times during the conflicts within China the two sisters and their families actually lived under the same roof! At certain times Veronica's mother even lived under the same roof too in the middle of all the inter family politics! Flora Li (Veronica's mother) had a hard life, her own mother was particularly hard on her and seemed to blame Flora Li for everything that went wrong in her own life. Flora did have help at certain times when she desperately needed it from her Brother Kin.
I loved reading of Flora Li's attempts to better herself with an education and that helped you understand why she was so determined that her children should all have an excellent education. Flora had to work extremely hard and endure many hardships to get her children into the "right" schools etc.
I also loved that her children had English and Chinese names. I enjoyed reading the meanings of the Chinese names. Flora's own full name was Li, Shing-Ying. Flora's father-in-law got the privilege of giving his Grandchildren their Chinese names, Flora gave them their English names. You will have to read the book for the meanings of the Chinese names, I do not want to give away such a lovely part of the book. I also love the Chines culture of looking after their elders/parents, it is a very respectful culture. The parts of the culture I didn't like was the way Flora had to accept her husbands drinking and paying to dance with girls at night clubs.
Flora's eldest daughter was named Agnes and her Chinese name, Man-Kuk. the Eldest son was Patrick, Kin-Yip. Second Son was Joseph or Tai-Loi. Flora's second daughter was called Veronica or Tai-Ying and she is the person that has put together this beautiful book. Finally Flora's third daughter was Christina or Kum-Lun.
So did I enjoy the book?Yes, I loved reading of Flora's ups and downs along with the ups and downs of china too and how they affected Flora and her life and family. So would I recommend the book? Yes I would, especially to those who love memoirs and those interested in China and it's history too.
Available from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk £1.93 on kindle
Veronica e-mailed me to request that I read and review this book, and I have to say a large Thankyou to Veronica because I thoroughly enjoyed reading this account of her families life and how the history of China affected each of them. Flora had to undertake many arduous journeys to finally find a safe place to call home for herself and her family, she had to make some very difficult decisions.
I enjoyed reading the intricacies of how the Chinese family worked. The way Veronica's grandfather, Lo Bak, had married two sisters and at different times during the conflicts within China the two sisters and their families actually lived under the same roof! At certain times Veronica's mother even lived under the same roof too in the middle of all the inter family politics! Flora Li (Veronica's mother) had a hard life, her own mother was particularly hard on her and seemed to blame Flora Li for everything that went wrong in her own life. Flora did have help at certain times when she desperately needed it from her Brother Kin.
I loved reading of Flora Li's attempts to better herself with an education and that helped you understand why she was so determined that her children should all have an excellent education. Flora had to work extremely hard and endure many hardships to get her children into the "right" schools etc.
I also loved that her children had English and Chinese names. I enjoyed reading the meanings of the Chinese names. Flora's own full name was Li, Shing-Ying. Flora's father-in-law got the privilege of giving his Grandchildren their Chinese names, Flora gave them their English names. You will have to read the book for the meanings of the Chinese names, I do not want to give away such a lovely part of the book. I also love the Chines culture of looking after their elders/parents, it is a very respectful culture. The parts of the culture I didn't like was the way Flora had to accept her husbands drinking and paying to dance with girls at night clubs.
Flora's eldest daughter was named Agnes and her Chinese name, Man-Kuk. the Eldest son was Patrick, Kin-Yip. Second Son was Joseph or Tai-Loi. Flora's second daughter was called Veronica or Tai-Ying and she is the person that has put together this beautiful book. Finally Flora's third daughter was Christina or Kum-Lun.
So did I enjoy the book?Yes, I loved reading of Flora's ups and downs along with the ups and downs of china too and how they affected Flora and her life and family. So would I recommend the book? Yes I would, especially to those who love memoirs and those interested in China and it's history too.
Available from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk £1.93 on kindle
May 30, 2012
I rarely read memoirs or biography books. This book was presented to me by the author and I thank her for allowing me to read and review her book. I enjoyed every page of it, as I journeyed with her mother Flora Li through 1941 China and became a part of her world through the great storytelling found in this book.
Journey Across the Four Seas is a book about a woman who struggled through poverty, war, seperation, diease, failed love and came through with strength and perserverance. Although she goes through alot of hardships, the mood of the book is not sad. Flora's strength and her ability to fight through it all comes through in every line.
This is a book that even people who normally don't read memoirs will enjoy.
The story is of a young woman, Flora Li, who overcomes poverty and the social pressure to find her place in the world. Flora Li is someone we can easily relate to as a friend, mother, grandmother, and sister. Her struggles and triumph is something we see in our own families, and in every generation and every cultural background.
We follow her from childhood to motherhood...hardship to triumph. Against all odds, she continued her education all the way to Hong Kong University during the time the Japanese invaded China. For fear of what the Japanese were doing to the Chinese, Flora escaped Hong Kong for remote locations in China not controlled by the Japanese, and that is when the journey begins....
Beautifully written from a daughters point of view (but narrated in Flora's point of view) about her mothers journey in life.
I highly recommend this book!
Journey Across the Four Seas is a book about a woman who struggled through poverty, war, seperation, diease, failed love and came through with strength and perserverance. Although she goes through alot of hardships, the mood of the book is not sad. Flora's strength and her ability to fight through it all comes through in every line.
This is a book that even people who normally don't read memoirs will enjoy.
The story is of a young woman, Flora Li, who overcomes poverty and the social pressure to find her place in the world. Flora Li is someone we can easily relate to as a friend, mother, grandmother, and sister. Her struggles and triumph is something we see in our own families, and in every generation and every cultural background.
We follow her from childhood to motherhood...hardship to triumph. Against all odds, she continued her education all the way to Hong Kong University during the time the Japanese invaded China. For fear of what the Japanese were doing to the Chinese, Flora escaped Hong Kong for remote locations in China not controlled by the Japanese, and that is when the journey begins....
Beautifully written from a daughters point of view (but narrated in Flora's point of view) about her mothers journey in life.
I highly recommend this book!
March 1, 2012
Flora Li was born in Hong Kong, lost her father at an early age, and fought against society and family alike for her right to a good education. Her life story spans China's invasion by the Japanese, and the subsequent civil war with the communists - and through marriage to the son of Chiang Kai-Shek's deputy prime minister, she finds herself unwittingly thrust into the heart of national politics.
The first part of the book tells of childhood hardships and extended families; connections which will prove invaluable when the war starts. Indeed, the impression from this book is that almost everyone in China has relatives in every town. This all takes place before the "one child policy" - in Flora's world, a man isn't even limited to one wife! Then war makes Flora a refugee, and she has to leave her hard-won place at Hong Kong university to look for safety in mainland China.
Once she is married, Flora dedicates herself only to her family, throughout the chaos which carries her across China, to Thailand and Taiwan, and finally America. She feels she has wasted her education, spending her life instead as a refugee and then as wife and mother, and her enduring commitment is to give her five children every chance she never had.
This is a fascinating autobiography (or possibly a biography, as it's technically written by the subject's daughter, based on her mother's stories), and gives a number of insights into a turbulent period of Chinese history.
The first part of the book tells of childhood hardships and extended families; connections which will prove invaluable when the war starts. Indeed, the impression from this book is that almost everyone in China has relatives in every town. This all takes place before the "one child policy" - in Flora's world, a man isn't even limited to one wife! Then war makes Flora a refugee, and she has to leave her hard-won place at Hong Kong university to look for safety in mainland China.
Once she is married, Flora dedicates herself only to her family, throughout the chaos which carries her across China, to Thailand and Taiwan, and finally America. She feels she has wasted her education, spending her life instead as a refugee and then as wife and mother, and her enduring commitment is to give her five children every chance she never had.
This is a fascinating autobiography (or possibly a biography, as it's technically written by the subject's daughter, based on her mother's stories), and gives a number of insights into a turbulent period of Chinese history.
September 12, 2011
More than just your average memoir Journey Across The Four Seas reads like an adventure story that will touch you in many ways. Written down by Veronica Li the book takes the reader through decades of her Chinese mother's life up until the moment she leaves for America, thus taking the journey referred to in the title.
This book is so multifaceted it's hard to summarize it in just a few lines. Trying to escape poverty through education and wanting the same for her own children later on, Flora Li has been through war, illness, family conflicts, and a less than perfect marriage. Admittedly I was a bit skeptic at first because you can never be sure who you are actually listening to when a person is telling someone else's life story. Though I soon found myself immersed in the clear voice of the author's mother which made the read a delight. The pace of the story unfolding is just as perfect as the sense for atmosphere for the time (early/mid 20th century) and not to forget the vivid description of characters and settings. If there is one thing I ended up missing it's actually to learn more about the time Flora spent in America, though I'm aware the book ended here on purpose.
Highly recommended even for those who dread memoirs! And certainly a must-read for anyone who's interested in Chinese history.
In short: A wonderful memoir that reads like an epic journey!
This book is so multifaceted it's hard to summarize it in just a few lines. Trying to escape poverty through education and wanting the same for her own children later on, Flora Li has been through war, illness, family conflicts, and a less than perfect marriage. Admittedly I was a bit skeptic at first because you can never be sure who you are actually listening to when a person is telling someone else's life story. Though I soon found myself immersed in the clear voice of the author's mother which made the read a delight. The pace of the story unfolding is just as perfect as the sense for atmosphere for the time (early/mid 20th century) and not to forget the vivid description of characters and settings. If there is one thing I ended up missing it's actually to learn more about the time Flora spent in America, though I'm aware the book ended here on purpose.
Highly recommended even for those who dread memoirs! And certainly a must-read for anyone who's interested in Chinese history.
In short: A wonderful memoir that reads like an epic journey!
October 29, 2018
Veronica Li sat down with her mother and recorded her life story - one of great hardships, perseverance, and the occasional triumph - after discovering that her mother dreamed of writing. Instead of regular chapter numbers, the chapters are listed as "tape 1", "tape 2", etc to reflect this.
Her mother weaves a tale that began before World War 2 and continues to her move to America in the 1960's from China. She braves childhood poverty, a harsh mother, a father's death, disease, and war to achieve an education for herself and her own children.
While I admire her pertinacity and felt compelled to read the whole book, I felt that the chapters were a bit long making finding good stopping points a little difficult. But, the story is coherent and easy to follow.
I did learn about China's recent political history and how impacted the culture. I also enjoyed her vivid descriptions. For example, at one point, the author describes a man that is a "wrinkled man who looked like a piece of laundry that had shrunk in hot water."
Be sure to stick around for that author's epilogue to find out what happened with her parents! All-in-all, it was a good read but I wouldn't add it to my list of favorite books.
Her mother weaves a tale that began before World War 2 and continues to her move to America in the 1960's from China. She braves childhood poverty, a harsh mother, a father's death, disease, and war to achieve an education for herself and her own children.
While I admire her pertinacity and felt compelled to read the whole book, I felt that the chapters were a bit long making finding good stopping points a little difficult. But, the story is coherent and easy to follow.
I did learn about China's recent political history and how impacted the culture. I also enjoyed her vivid descriptions. For example, at one point, the author describes a man that is a "wrinkled man who looked like a piece of laundry that had shrunk in hot water."
Be sure to stick around for that author's epilogue to find out what happened with her parents! All-in-all, it was a good read but I wouldn't add it to my list of favorite books.
March 17, 2011
This is an engaging story of a young woman who overcomes poverty and the social constrictions of her generation to find her place in the world. Li, who writes in her mother's voice, presents a charming and very human narrator, someone we can easily relate to as a friend, mother, grandmother, and sister. In clear and concise prose, she effortlessly draws us into Flora's world, exploring the universal themes common to people of all generations and cultural backgrounds: war, illness, family conflicts, poverty, etc.
This book is a must read for anyone interested in the personal stories of the courageous people who lived in China during World War II. You will not be able to put this book down. It's like an Amy Tan novel without the ridiculous melodrama. It's one woman's account of Tiger Mothering (without the abuse!). And it's now available on Kindle for only $4.99!
This book is a must read for anyone interested in the personal stories of the courageous people who lived in China during World War II. You will not be able to put this book down. It's like an Amy Tan novel without the ridiculous melodrama. It's one woman's account of Tiger Mothering (without the abuse!). And it's now available on Kindle for only $4.99!
September 7, 2022
Flora Li had wanted to write since she was a young girl. She said her experiences would inspire novels…
Now, thanks to her daughter Veronica, Flora’s experiences have been published. And what an inspiration they are. More gripping than Wild Swans, Flora’s journey is one of hardship, illness, and war, but also one of joy, love and hope. Veronica has painstakingly transcribed and translated tapes which her mother made in her native Cantonese to produce this incredible memoir.
Flora’s recollection is such that even after over 80 years, you can see the incredible landscapes as she treks across China ahead of the invading Japanese army and you can feel her pain, battling the loss of her beloved father at aged three and making her own way in a dangerous world as a refugee.
This memoir should truly inspire novels as great as those Flora read in her childhood.
Now, thanks to her daughter Veronica, Flora’s experiences have been published. And what an inspiration they are. More gripping than Wild Swans, Flora’s journey is one of hardship, illness, and war, but also one of joy, love and hope. Veronica has painstakingly transcribed and translated tapes which her mother made in her native Cantonese to produce this incredible memoir.
Flora’s recollection is such that even after over 80 years, you can see the incredible landscapes as she treks across China ahead of the invading Japanese army and you can feel her pain, battling the loss of her beloved father at aged three and making her own way in a dangerous world as a refugee.
This memoir should truly inspire novels as great as those Flora read in her childhood.
July 4, 2022
What a remarkable memoir this is. Veronica Li has done a great job in writing the incredible story of her mother’s life and her determination to do whatever it takes to ensure all her children had the best education. I learned a great deal about the Chinese culture at that time, so very different from that of the Western World. Her mother was born in 1918 and eventually emigrated to the USA in 1967. She lived through extremely turbulent times following the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong during WW2, and the rise of the Chinese Communist Party. She enjoyed wealth and also extreme poverty. What a life she had! No wonder the author wanted to pay tribute to such a strong and determined lady.
Chinese Culture, so very d
Chinese Culture, so very d
November 24, 2011
This book is lovingly wrote from a daughters point of view about her mothers journey in life. This is something many families don't do anymore. This is a true story of Flora Li, A chinese woman's search for home from Asia to America, whilst looking after her children and bringing them up to the best of her ability.
Throughout the book I learned a lot about China stuff I would have probably never known but am now thankful to know. I struggled at first to get into the story and really listen to the storyteller but it soon came through and really grabbed my attention. The charcacters were so vivid, th scenes too.
Amazing read even for those that aren't that keen on memoirs!
Throughout the book I learned a lot about China stuff I would have probably never known but am now thankful to know. I struggled at first to get into the story and really listen to the storyteller but it soon came through and really grabbed my attention. The charcacters were so vivid, th scenes too.
Amazing read even for those that aren't that keen on memoirs!
June 24, 2013
This is the true story of a Chinese woman's life through China through the 1940's to the 1970s. This book resonated with me because of my own Chinese heritage. This woman, Flora was the mother of 5 children and was a wonderful storyteller. Flora was not a timid Chinese woman kowtowing to her husband, she was strong and her family has benefitted from her strength, surviving war and poverty. She was university educated which was a rarity for women in my mother's generation. The book is from her point of view as she is telling her daughter Veronica the story of her life. If you enjoy Chinese culture and memoirs, this is a good one to read.
February 5, 2014
Wonderful, often stranger than life tale of a family's adventures and trials in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and eventually the United States. It was very interesting to me, as a non-Chinese, to read of the extreme dedication and devotion of a Chinese mother to her (many) children. It would have been interesting to know more about how each of the children also saw the series of trials, but I know that it would not have fit in with the theme of the book.
September 19, 2016
Good piece of Chinese history
This is a story of a feminist in Chinese culture, fighting for a better future for herself and her children against an oppressive, patriarchal system laced with marked tradition. Added is the burden of living with a spouse also suffering in his own way while dealing with chronic untreated mental illness that is far too common, an experience universal in far too many families of every culture. The story is educational and inspiring.
This is a story of a feminist in Chinese culture, fighting for a better future for herself and her children against an oppressive, patriarchal system laced with marked tradition. Added is the burden of living with a spouse also suffering in his own way while dealing with chronic untreated mental illness that is far too common, an experience universal in far too many families of every culture. The story is educational and inspiring.
August 14, 2014
A little bit different perspective of China before and during Mao's reign coming from someone who lived in Hong Kong. She and so many others had their lives turned upside down during that time. It always amazes me to see the determination of people to overcome the obstacles that are placed before them. Dictators may rant and destroy, but they cannot destroy the human desire to prosper.
November 2, 2015
An Inspiration to women everywhere.
I chose this book because women everywhere struggle especially Chinese women. The things Flora did for her family were inspiring. I was amazed at the children's accomplishments in the end. I also enjoyed the family pictures inserted here and there.
I chose this book because women everywhere struggle especially Chinese women. The things Flora did for her family were inspiring. I was amazed at the children's accomplishments in the end. I also enjoyed the family pictures inserted here and there.
June 16, 2017
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants reassurance that, though life is hard, there are people in this world who are an inspiration to keep the dream alive. This is a beautiful true story about overcoming the odds.
It's just an amazing story of endurance in the face of adversity. I'd recommend it for readers, 17 and above.
It's just an amazing story of endurance in the face of adversity. I'd recommend it for readers, 17 and above.
November 20, 2017
Perseverance, hope and faith.
Story is an inspiration to all women what they can do given the strength and will. Too many women depend too much on only what their husbands want regardless whether it is in the best interest of the family or even if it brings ruin to the family. Truly a remarkable women whose children and husband should be truly proud.
Story is an inspiration to all women what they can do given the strength and will. Too many women depend too much on only what their husbands want regardless whether it is in the best interest of the family or even if it brings ruin to the family. Truly a remarkable women whose children and husband should be truly proud.
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