Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China in Around the World

Mar 12, 2013 Suzanne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: memoir, suzanne-s-chunkster-challenge, favorites, biography, non-fiction, boxall-s-1001-list

Jung Chang was one of the first Chinese to be able to study in the West during the 1970′s, when China was finally opening its doors. What lay in China’s past, behind those closed doors, is what is presented in Wild Swans. It is the story of Jung Chang’s life as well as the life of her mother and grandmother, but really it’s about what happened to China during and since World War II.

I have read many, many non-fiction and historical fiction books about China, but the scope and detail of this book, Jung Chang was one of the first Chinese to be able to study in the West during the 1970′s, when China was finally opening its doors. What lay in China’s past, behind those closed doors, is what is presented in Wild Swans. It is the story of Jung Chang’s life as well as the life of her mother and grandmother, but really it’s about what happened to China during and since World War II.

I have read many, many non-fiction and historical fiction books about China, but the scope and detail of this book, made me truly understand what happened politically as well as socially.

During the days of the Japanese occupation, Jung Chang’s grandmother had been sold as a concubine to a Warlord. Upon his death she was set free and eventually married a kindly old doctor, who adopted Jung Chang’s mother and treated her as his own. The story continues as the Kuomintang fought the Communists and the author’s parents ended up on the winning side. But really, there were no winners for China, as they soon found out. All their ideology ended up supporting was a powerful few, who used ignorance, fear and class hatred to remain in power. Eventually, during the Cultural Revolution, even Jung Chang’s parents (high-ranking Communist officials that they were) became enemies of the state.

This book is so powerful. I found myself being haunted by lines in this book:

It seemed there was no escape from the Communists’ approbation of moral principles and noble sentiments.

I wonder if people realize that the political parties in the United States currently use these same tactics? They do not allow room to discuss policy and it’s possible effects. They are dividing, claiming that love of country is on one side or caring for the poor is on the other. They pit the working class against the corporate world and claim that capitalism is evil.

What this book tells us is that history is important. It tells us that everyone must be allowed a voice, and it especially tells us that we should hold our freedoms dearly. ...more

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Feb 24, 2016 Mared Owen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, favourites-2010s

Fantastic. This book really did open my eyes to the horrors of 20th century China, despite having 'studied' the history for the past year. Reading this book helped deepen my understanding of the often unbelievably horrific events that took place in 20th century China. Above all, though, it was just an incredibly inspiring story of how people continued to persevere despite the many hardships they were forced to endure, as I'm sure every other review will also tell you.

[Also, I really need to pic ...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Rusalka rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: original-52-books-around-the-world, ylto-challenges, presents-to-me, own, asia, memoir, around-the-world, non-fiction, history, politics

This was one of those highly acclaimed and raved about books I had been meaning to read for a very long time. I was given it by my housemate who bought it at a garage sale down the road for 50 cents. He was very pleased with himself how little it cost. While appreciating the present, it was one of those occasions where you kinda didn't want to know how little was spent on you, no matter the bargain It has sat on my shelf since then, trying to lure me to read it to see if it was worth 50 cents.

Wa ...more

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Aug 23, 2021 Jo Reason rated it did not like it

Shelves: read-the-world, not-finished

Quote “I grew up taking hierarchy and privilege for granted”

I learnt a little about the beginnings of communism in China

Murder, torture, famine, violence, imprisonments, disappearances…. is this communism? Reading this book, which is a memoir rather than a novel, certainly makes you wonder what communism is.

Let me define communism according to britannica.com “Communism, political and economic doctrine that aims to replace private property and a profit-based economy with public ownership and co ...more

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