Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter

by Adeline Yen Mah | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: 0140265988 Global Overview for this book
Registered by peggysmum of Kambah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on 7/5/2005
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This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
7 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by peggysmum from Kambah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Tuesday, July 5, 2005
Synopsis
This is a Chinese woman's story of how she suffered appalling emotional deprivation and rejection by her family as a child growing up in China and Hong Kong in the 40s and 50s, and of its consequences in her adult life, above which she rose to make a happy marriage and become an extremely successful doctor and business woman in the USA. It's also a story about Hong Kong: of middle-class life at the time of the European concessions and thereafter. The text shows how east connects with west and offers an insight into a particular kind of chinese life.

Journal Entry 2 by peggysmum from Kambah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Tuesday, July 5, 2005
It's a ray:

bookfairy65 (Yass, NSW)
amberC (Darwin, NT)
buggyhare (Brisbane, Qld)
kalasue (Perth, WA)<----

puppymummy (Melbourne, Vic) - at the end
...

Journal Entry 3 by bookfairy65 from Yass, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Got this book today from peggysmum when we met for lunch. Thanks peggysmum, I'm looking forward to reading this one.

Journal Entry 4 by bookfairy65 from Yass, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, July 9, 2005
Just finished reading this book this morning. The first 100 pages or so are a brief summary of Adeline's childhood as told in the story 'Chinese Cinderella'. After that it pretty well goes on to tell what happened to Adeline in her adult life.

Basically, for a variety of reasons, I think Adeline ended up coming off best out of all her brothers and sisters, although some people may interpret things differently than I do.

I believe Adeline's father was a spineless man who was ultimately responsible for the mess the Yen family ended up being. He never stood up for his children to Niang, a trait I find deplorable. I don't hold much respect for most of Adeline's siblings either, I guess they are a product of their upbringing. I'm glad Adeline was able to rise above her upbringing and end up where she is today. It would be interesting though to hear some of her siblings versions of the family's life.

******************Just a quick mention that I actually have 'Chinese Cinderella' currently running as a bookray. This book is a more detailed account of Adeline's childhood. If you wish to join this bookray, please send me a PM. ****************

I will get this in the post to amberC tommorrow.

Journal Entry 5 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Wednesday, July 27, 2005
arrived safely in the mail today. i have had an influx of rings in the past couple of weeks. this is 6th on the list. i will read it ASAP

Journal Entry 6 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Tuesday, August 9, 2005
A wonderful story of triumph over a turbulent life and an appalling family to find success and a "heaven made union". The parts about life in China during the Cultural Revolution were interesting.

to be posted to buggyhare tomorrow.

Journal Entry 7 by buggyhare from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Monday, August 15, 2005
Received today! Have a few other books waiting, but can't wait to get to this one!


Journal Entry 8 by buggyhare from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Thursday, December 22, 2005
Oh no! I'm so sorry I held up this ray for so long - I'm a bad, bad person!

But I'm so thrilled I had the opportunity to read this fabulous book! I 'enjoyed' reading Chinese Cinderella, and was hoping to find that Adeline had a happier adult life after her miserable childhood... and eventually she got there, I suppose. I enjoyed reading about Chinese culture and history, as well as about Adeline's life. Her attitude toward her parents and siblings was interesting - especially after being mistreated by all of them for all her life. It would be interesting to find out about Niang's childhood - what was her problem?!

I'll send this on as soon as I have an address. Thanks again for the ray, peggysmum, and apologies again for keeping it for way too long!


Journal Entry 9 by buggyhare from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Friday, December 23, 2005
Posted to kalasue today - enjoy!

Journal Entry 10 by kalasue from Kalamunda, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Received today and am looking forward to reading this - thanks peggysmum for the opportunity. I have read many books about China over the years and never get bored with it. Did a degree in Chinese (Mandarin) many years ago and may be going to work there in the next year or two...

Journal Entry 11 by kalasue from Kalamunda, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, January 17, 2006
This book was not at all what I expected but I found it fascinating. A family with such academic and business ability, but with very few members with any moral fibre at all. As someone else has said, I would love to hear the points of view of Adeline's siblings. I do wonder what would have happened had they all stayed in China - would the loss of their money and home have brought them closer? I doubt it.

To be posted to puppymummy tomorrow...

Journal Entry 12 by puppymummy from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Monday, January 23, 2006
Received safely, another one to look forward to!

Journal Entry 13 by puppymummy from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Saturday, May 27, 2006
I waited to read this one until after I had read 'Chinese Cinderella', which in retrospect was a mistake. I preferred the version of her childhood that was more detailed, the summary in here was a bit of a let-down after reading 'Chinese Cinderella'.
However, the books are brilliant. It is very hard to read about the difficult life she had, and that it continued as well - I don't understand the cruelty within that family at all. I particularly appreciated the opportunity to read about the effects of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the death of Mao and downfall of Madame Mao and the resulting changes in China. While I had read about the political changes, it is much more interesting to read about the changes from the point of view of a Chinese citizen. In the last month I have read these two books and 'Mao's Last Dancer', so with the amount of Chinese reading I have done I will be able to cook great chicken and corn soup any minute now.....
Still waiting.....
Maybe not :)

Journal Entry 14 by puppymummy at Kaleidoscope Cafe OBCZ in Brunswick, Victoria Australia on Saturday, June 3, 2006

Released 17 yrs ago (6/3/2006 UTC) at Kaleidoscope Cafe OBCZ in Brunswick, Victoria Australia

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To be released at brunch

Journal Entry 15 by leeny37 from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Sunday, June 4, 2006
Well, taking just one book simply isn't an option, so I picked this one up too! It seems like all previous journallers have enjoyed it, I'm sure I will too.

Released 16 yrs ago (9/26/2007 UTC) at Post office: Mailed to moocher in RABCK, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

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Released via BookMooch.com.

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