by Liang Heng, Judith Shapiro
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Product Description
An autobiography of a young Chinese man whose childhood and adolescence were spent in Mao's China during the Cultural Revolution.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 This fellow writes almost as well as Chinese women!, 2008-08-22
This book, published in 1980, is a superbly-told personal account of one family's terrible break-up and sufferings in Changsha, China during the Cultural Revolution. The writer is a boy, later a young man, accused of belonging to a "Rightist", "Capitalist Roader" family (mother an official with the local police; father working on local newspaper). The whole family winds up scattered, with the usual misery of labor camps, "sent-down" people in the equivalent of Soviet gulags, working with "the peasants".
I really enjoyed reading this book during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, to remind myself that China was, and still is, very much under Communist dictatorship rule, in spite of incredible progress economically. The writing is straightforward and well-organized, and it reminded me of the very fine writing coming out now across the English-speaking press from the Chinese women who'd spent painful youths in the same period there. It seems rather rare that the men describe their time there and then, not exactly as if they've tried to forget it - no, more that they either hadn't the talent to write, or were too busy, or became busy and/or successful in order to drown out the memories of the past.
Finally it became clear to me that perhaps there was some masterful editting involved, and then I realized that a teacher, his own American wife, had co-written this fantastic account of Chinese anguish and cultural destruction.
No wonder! Alles klar, Ms. Shapiro! You did a great job interviewing!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
A view from the ground up., 2008-06-27
This was an excellent book that showed the effects of the 'Cultural Revolution' from the perspective of individuals. The book does not cover the movements in an overall view but keeps with the viewpoint of the individual. I think it would help to have a basic understanding of Chinese history during this era, to fully appreciate what is going on in this more detailed and finer viewpoint. Liang learns of the contradictions in this "socialist" society. He does not demonize the Chinese people but shows how they struggled in creating a new society. There are many powerful images of his personal relationships. The main theme I picked up on was how misguided policies fostered a corrupt culture that was exploited on the ground level, often by people who thought that they were doing what was best for their country.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Inspiring, 2008-04-07
This book is what "Catcher in the Rye" is to adolescents in America...and for all backgrounds, its THE novel to read. its so real and current and applicable to one's own life. I feel the struggles of Liang Heng and his family. Its told in a way thats enjoyable yet saddening. His loneliness becomes the reader's loneliness. I read this book while going through a hard time in my life. After reading his story, I had all the strength and willpower to "struggle" as if somehow through my struggle I would build charascter and be better for it. I appreciate this book for all it is, says and the reality it created for me. Thank You Liang Heng
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
 Such a dramatic life story keeps the mundane details in perspective. , 2006-06-16
A long and, at times, stressful read, but worth every beautiful word.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Accurate, personal account of modern Chinese history, 2006-02-20
Liang Heng's memoir accounts his experiences living in the second half of the 20th century. This book belongs in the category of "Wound Literature," books written post-1976 about the Cultural Revolution. While an enormous body of Wound Literature exists, Liang's is unique for the Western reader because it represents the perspective of a man. The book is a quick read and it does a good job of critically examining history but leaves out polemic politics.
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