Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter
16 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by peggysmum from Kambah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Friday, April 22, 2005
When Adeline Yen mah's mother died giving birth to her, the family considered Adeline bad luck and she was made to feel unwanted all her life. "Chinese Cinderella" is the story of her struggle for acceptance and how she overcame the odds to prove her worth.
Journal Entry 2 by peggysmum from Kambah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Friday, April 22, 2005
reserved for bookfairy65
Thanks so much for this, peggysmum. One to cross off my wishlist!
I really enjoyed reading this story, Adeline is such a courageous little girl. It is good to know that despite the adversity of her childhood, she went on to accomplish great things in her life.
Thanks so much peggysmum for giving this book to me. I am now going to have to keep an eye out for Adeline Yen's other novel 'Falling Leaves'.
As soon as I finished reading this book my ten year old daughter picked it up and said "I think I might like to read this book" and took off to her bedroom with it. I think there could be a lesson in there for most of today's ten year olds, to realise that not every child has a life as good as their own. Knowing her, she will be finished with it in a few days and I think I'll send it out as a bookray when she's done with it.
Thanks so much peggysmum for giving this book to me. I am now going to have to keep an eye out for Adeline Yen's other novel 'Falling Leaves'.
As soon as I finished reading this book my ten year old daughter picked it up and said "I think I might like to read this book" and took off to her bedroom with it. I think there could be a lesson in there for most of today's ten year olds, to realise that not every child has a life as good as their own. Knowing her, she will be finished with it in a few days and I think I'll send it out as a bookray when she's done with it.
This is being sent out as a ray.* Please journal the book as soon as you receive it, and again once you've read it.
* Please forward the book to the next person on the list as soon as possible once you've finished with it. (within four weeks if possible)
The list so far (subject to change):
1) amberC (Darwin)
2) sally906 (Darwin)
3) Tasamina (Sth Aust.)
4) buggyhare (Brisbane)
5) fleebo (Sydney)
6) Pixette (Sydney)
7) gabbysmum (Brisbane)
8) aleonblue (Brisbane)
9) crystaljade (Qld)
10) puppymummy (Melbourne)
11) minibink (ACT)
12) kylieoz (NSW)<=== book is here
13) ...
14) ...
15) ...
*NB - Just a quick note to let readers know that peggysmum is now running a bookray for "Falling Leaves" by the same author.
This was a really good book, except it was really sad. I didn't like 'Niang'. I wished that Adeline could have stayed with Aunt Baba.
I'll give this back to Mum now, so she can start the bookray.
I'll give this back to Mum now, so she can start the bookray.
I've got this back from my daughter now, so time to start this book on it's journey. Off to amberC this afternoon!
received safely in the mail today. it looks interesting. it is 4th on the pile.
a sad story. i couldn't believe that her father didn't know her name or birthday.
i would like to read the next book she wrote, Falling Leaves, about the rest of her life.
to be given to sally at the meet-up next Saturday
i would like to read the next book she wrote, Falling Leaves, about the rest of her life.
to be given to sally at the meet-up next Saturday
AmberC passed it on to me today at our meet-up - have three in front of it - bt will get it on the road by the four week deadline :)
Easy to read - what a tormented childhood - I cried when I read about PLT.
I have Tasamina's address - will mail it off to her in the next couple of days
I have Tasamina's address - will mail it off to her in the next couple of days
Journal Entry 12 by sally906 at post office to a fellow bookcrosser in to a fellow bookcrosser, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Friday, July 29, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (7/29/2005 UTC) at post office to a fellow bookcrosser in to a fellow bookcrosser, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed to Tasamina today
Mailed to Tasamina today
Thank you, it arrived today and I will read it as soon as I can (there are a couple ahead of it).
Thank you peggysmum and bookfairy65 for the opportunity to read Chinese Cinderella.I had previously read Falling Leaves so much of the story was familiar but that did not detract at all. If given the opportunity I recommend reading this one first as Falling Leaves continues past the first 14 years of Adeline's life. Such a sad childhood!
Posted to buggyhare today
Posted to buggyhare today
Arrived today, thanks Tasamina! I have a few other books to read first but I hope to get to it soon!
Oops, I didn't get to this book soon! Apologies for holding up the ray for so long!
Thanks for much for this ray - I really enjoyed this beautiful and touching book, and can't wait to start reading "Falling Leaves"! It's hard to believe that "the evil stepmother" isn't just a character from fairy tales. I hope I find that Adeline's life improves after her school years.
Will send on to fleebo ASAP. Thanks again bookfaury65 for the bookray!
Thanks for much for this ray - I really enjoyed this beautiful and touching book, and can't wait to start reading "Falling Leaves"! It's hard to believe that "the evil stepmother" isn't just a character from fairy tales. I hope I find that Adeline's life improves after her school years.
Will send on to fleebo ASAP. Thanks again bookfaury65 for the bookray!
Posted to fleebo this morning - enjoy!
Received safely today. Thank you very much. I have a few books in the stack ahead of it - I may even lend this book to a fast reader while I get through the others, if that's okay. Shouldn't take too long.
I pinched it from Fleebo for a day or two, and now I need to hunt up the Falling Leaves bookray. The writing style is a little simplistic, but the story is heart-rending. The only thing I couldn't work out is why everyone hated her so much. I can understand some of the reasons, but what was Niang's story? She was treated so much worse than the other children that she must have been a real threat to the step-mother in some way. Back to you now Fleebo.
I read a few chapters of this book and couldn't get into it. At first I thought that it was a bad translation, but on checking I could see that it isn't a translation at all: just a really inappropriately childish style. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I didn't think that this was supposed to be a children's book.
Thanks for the ray, nonetheless! This book will continue its journey as soon as I hear back from Pixette.
Thanks for the ray, nonetheless! This book will continue its journey as soon as I hear back from Pixette.
Picked this up from my postbox today. Thanks Fleebo for sending it on and for the postcard inside too.
Reading the journal entries there seems to be mixed opinions although all agree it is sad.
I have another book to read first but will get to this shortly I hope.
Reading the journal entries there seems to be mixed opinions although all agree it is sad.
I have another book to read first but will get to this shortly I hope.
I'm afraid I agree with Fleebo the writing style is just too childish and simplistic. I'm afraid I can't finish it either.
It is a very sad story though and seems quite factual. I think it would be a very important work for anyone with Chinese ancestry. It gives an insight into the power hierarchy of a traditional household and the subsequent worthlessness of daughters - particularly step-daughters. The book was well named.
I suspect I know what Niang's story was. She was probably ill-used as a child by the alpha-female in her household. Therefore when she gets to position of being the alpha-female she rules harshly to punish everyone for her suffering and rewarding those who bow to her elevated position.
I will send this on to Gabbysmum shortly.
It is a very sad story though and seems quite factual. I think it would be a very important work for anyone with Chinese ancestry. It gives an insight into the power hierarchy of a traditional household and the subsequent worthlessness of daughters - particularly step-daughters. The book was well named.
I suspect I know what Niang's story was. She was probably ill-used as a child by the alpha-female in her household. Therefore when she gets to position of being the alpha-female she rules harshly to punish everyone for her suffering and rewarding those who bow to her elevated position.
I will send this on to Gabbysmum shortly.
Journal Entry 23 by 
Pixette
at Postal Release in -- Controlled Release, New South Wales Australia on Monday, November 28, 2005
Pixette at Postal Release in -- Controlled Release, New South Wales Australia on Monday, November 28, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (11/28/2005 UTC) at Postal Release in -- Controlled Release, New South Wales Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
To be posted to Gabbysmum
To be posted to Gabbysmum
Just arrived today cant wait to read it but I have one in front of it that Iam halfway through so i will have to wait *sob*
Journal Entry 25 by gabbysmum at Bookring in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (2/14/2006 UTC) at Bookring in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Iam so sorry that I have this book for so long,I didnt realise I still had it.It has finally been sent on its way.Again Iam sorry.
Iam so sorry that I have this book for so long,I didnt realise I still had it.It has finally been sent on its way.Again Iam sorry.
Received this book in my mailbox today - thanks gabbysmum. Will add it to the ever growing pile of bookrings and bookrays (why do they always come at one!)
A really interesting read which has inspired me to read the authro's fuller biography - "Falling Leaves". I particularly enjoyed the "Chinese Cinderella" stroy at the end of the book. Thanks to all for sharing this book.
The book arrived safely. I can't wait to get to it, have a couple of others to read first though.
I find it very easy to believe that the "evil stepmother" isn't just in fairy tales. I had one that made me jealous of Snow White...at least hers just wanted to kill her, mine wanted to make me suffer for years on end! I have a feeling this book may be very easy for me to relate to, and very hard to read in places. I'll let you all know.
I find it very easy to believe that the "evil stepmother" isn't just in fairy tales. I had one that made me jealous of Snow White...at least hers just wanted to kill her, mine wanted to make me suffer for years on end! I have a feeling this book may be very easy for me to relate to, and very hard to read in places. I'll let you all know.
Yes, it was easy for me to relate to Adeline. I felt much the same way for many years. Now I'd lie to read her other book, Falling leaves.
Will get this posted to puppymummy ASAP
Will get this posted to puppymummy ASAP
Posted 13 April.
I've been looking forward to this one! As always there are a couple of others ahead, but Falling Leaves is already here so I might allow myself to play with the order slightly...
Doesn't look like a fun read, but interesting.
Doesn't look like a fun read, but interesting.
What a heart-wrenching story. I simply do not understand why adults need to act like this - and I also think that Adeline has done incredibly well to cope as well as she did. I wonder to what extent the support of her school helped?
SPOILER
And I also wonder how her classmates coped with her sudden withdrawal from school?
Will be posted to the next in line tomorrow.
SPOILER
And I also wonder how her classmates coped with her sudden withdrawal from school?
Will be posted to the next in line tomorrow.
Journal Entry 33 by minibink from Chisholm, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Friday, May 26, 2006
Received in the Mail today
Yay my first bookray/ring book !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yay my first bookray/ring book !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Journal Entry 34 by minibink from Chisholm, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Wednesday, June 21, 2006
I really enjoyed this book and although some other bookcrossers said it was a bit too childish for them, I found it easy to read (probably because i am a child). I really really didn't like Niang..... sometimes i felt like jumping into the book and slapping her right into next week. Aunt Baba sounds alot like my Aunt (Binkatron16).... the nicest person in this world. Sometimes in this book i was thinking......... what did adeline ever do to deserve that ?.
I have a mail address and i will send the book onto Kylieoz soon.
I have a mail address and i will send the book onto Kylieoz soon.
Journal Entry 35 by minibink from Chisholm, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Sunday, June 25, 2006
Posted 26/06/06
Arrived today, thanks :)
I liked the way the book was written, was easy reading although it was sad. I too wanted to slap Niang and hoped she would be left with her Aunt.
Thanks for sharing it peggysmum and bookfairy65
Thanks for sharing it peggysmum and bookfairy65
