I’m on a roll of reading good books! Don’t you love that when it happens?
A few weeks ago I finished “Demon Copperhead” and I asked for book ideas HERE.
I got a good list, plus got more ideas from my friends who share books during our monthly lunch. Also, my dear friend from Santa Barbara calls me whenever she finishes a book she loves.
So why did I like “Daughter’s of Shandong?” I am a fan of books about China and the dramatic changes when Mao took over. It’s both frightening and fascinating how evil people can be to each other. “Red Scarf Girl” is one such book which is a YA autobiography by Ji-li Jiang. It’s about her life during the Cultural Revolution as a child. It’s another book I recommend as well as books by Lisa See.
It’s hard to fathom in our comfortable, easy lives how the characters in “Daughters of Shandong” survived so much hardship. Here’s the text from Amazon:
In 1948, civil war ravages the Chinese countryside, but in rural Shandong, the wealthy, landowning Angs are more concerned with their lack of an heir. Hai is the eldest of four girls and spends her days looking after her sisters. Headstrong Di, who is just a year younger, learns to hide in plain sight, and their mother—abused by the family for failing to birth a boy—finds her own small acts of rebellion in the kitchen. As the Communist army closes in on their town, the rest of the prosperous household flees, leaving behind the girls and their mother because they view them as useless mouths to feed.
Without an Ang male to punish, the land-seizing cadres choose Hai, as the eldest child, to stand trial for her family’s crimes. She barely survives their brutality. Realizing the worst is yet to come, the women plan their escape. Starving and penniless but resourceful, they forge travel permits and embark on a thousand-mile journey to confront the family that abandoned them.
From the countryside to the bustling city of Qingdao, and onward to British Hong Kong and eventually Taiwan, they witness the changing tide of a nation and the plight of multitudes caught in the wake of revolution. But with the loss of their home and the life they’ve known also comes new freedom—to take hold of their fate, to shake free of the bonds of their gender, and to claim their own story.
Told in assured, evocative prose, with impeccably drawn characters, Daughters of Shandong is a hopeful, powerful story about the resilience of women in war; the enduring love between mothers, daughters, and sisters; and the sacrifices made to lift up future generations.
At the end of the book is an author’s note that really touched me. It added so much depth to the entire novel. This is a debut novel and the author is so talented. Here’s bit about the author from Amazon:
About the author
Eve J. Chung is a Taiwanese American lawyer and women’s human rights specialist. She has worked on a range of issues, including torture, sexual violence, contemporary forms of slavery, and discriminatory legislation. Her writing is inspired by social justice movements, and the continued struggle for equality and fundamental freedoms worldwide. She currently lives in New York with her husband, two children, and two dogs.
Have you read “Daughter of Shandong? If so what was your opinion of it?
How about “Red Scarf Girl or books by Lisa See?
I haven’t read any of these books. And my kindle is not letting me buy any books 🙁
I’m sorry. Maybe later on?
Yes, I need to chat with Amazon help.
👍🏼
I recently read something by Lisa see. Very good stuff
I think I have read every one of her books. She amazing.
I’m reading a book of essays called Congratulations the best is over. I think it’s quite good
Thanks for the book suggestion. I’ll put it on my list!
Also, if you like Amor Towles try his short story collection Table for Two. I’m loving it
I have never read Amor Towles. I will look into it.
First off, run don’t walk to read Gentleman in Moscow.
Okay! Thanks for the advice. I’m finishing up a book today and will look for it.
New to me! Thanks, Elizabeth! 🥰
It’s very good. I heard about it from someone in our WP community, but I don’t remember who.
Wow – what an intense plot. I love when I’m on a good book streak. Thank you for sharing this one with us, Elizabeth!
It’s well worth the read!
Intense, but sounds interesting. I’ll have to check this out Elizabeth. Thanks.
It was so good. But the amount of struggle they had was so hard. Then the author’s note tells you it’s based on her family’s story.
Have not read any of those. This one sounds quite worth the time.
It was excellent. So are Lisa See’s books and “Red Scarf Girl.” It opens your eyes to a life we have never seen in the USA.
Thanks for sharing your great review, Elizabeth! It’s always good to find new books.
Thanks! I really enjoyed it although it was difficult to read about all the pain they went through.
I’ve read a couple of Lisa See’s novels but wasn’t familiar with Eve Chung. I don’t know much about the history of the Cultural Revolution, so this looks like a great read!
It was really good. Also if you want to find out about the Cultural Revolution, read “Red Scarf Girl” from a young student who became part of the movement. It’s a first hand account.
I’ve not read any of these books, but boy, does this sound heartbreaking. You’re right, we can read these retellings from our very comfortable lives.
I’m in the middle of Barbara Kingsolver’s Poison-wood Bible. I believe I read this many years ago, but forgot the details. It is really good—have you read it?
The only Kingsolver book I’ve read was Demon Copperhead. That was this year. It was amazing.