Grandmother Had No Name

by Alice Murong Pu Lin

The author tells the stories of her female relatives in China and explains how conditions there for women have changed

220 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Emily Eymundson · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I would have liked to have given this book 3 stars, the final chapter was sort of the final blow for me. The first third of the book reads nicely, is informative, and relays the unique histories of China and Taiwan succinctly and concisely, yet personally and poetically. However, the tone changes in the latter half of the book and seems entirely disconnected from the beginning. I do think this writer should have approached this work as a series of essays, or have it split into 2 novellas, so the reader isn’t whiplashed by the sudden shift.

[Barbara Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't quite sure what kind of book the author was writing. On one level it was autobiography but her story was interspersed with broad brushes of generalised comment on feminism (Chinese style as well as western), as well as dollops of politics and history. I was confused as to what I, as a reader, was expected to take away from what she had written.

[genepula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this makes me believe that men deserves nothing in this world and only few of them are not dumb.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was an eye opener. Read it because I saw an angry-looking young Chinese woman reading it. Much obliged to her.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit amateurish, this book is a thoughtful look at growing up in China in about my time period.