Journal Entry 1 by Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa Finland on Friday, August 14, 2009

“[An] extraordinary story. . . . This memoir of sexual freedom is [both] a powerful political as well as literary statement.” —The New York Times OK

In Red Azalea, Anchee Min remembers with clarity and poignancy growing up during China’s Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). She experienced abject poverty, brutal physical hardship, first love, and loss, all during this extraordinary and terrifying period of China’s history. Despite her being subject to the exploitation and abuse of the oppressive and evil regime of Mao Tse-tung and his wife, Jiang Ching, Min’s memoir portrays an indomitable mind, body, and spirit that refuse to be crushed.

Edit: Note to myself: Send to ApoloniaX afterwards!
 

Journal Entry 2 by Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa Finland on Saturday, November 07, 2009

A fascinating, wonderful book!
These memoirs started with Min's childhood in Shanghai, then she was assigned to work in the farm in countryside. In "model farm" she learns obedience, hard work, and has to live in harsh conditions but she also finds the love of her life. Later Min gets a change to become a film star.
This story was moving, the language was beautiful. I enjoyed it very much!

Sending to ApoloniaX soon. 

Journal Entry 3 by ApoloniaX from Bremen, Bremen Germany on Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Journal Entry 4 by ApoloniaX from Bremen, Bremen Germany on Monday, November 30, 2009

Sometimes the story stretches a bit when I think the author should move on with what happened and at the same time I had the feeling she leaves a lot unsaid. But I think it's a very interesting account about life at one of those Maoist communal farms and then as an actress for Maoist propaganda films - Anchee Min's own biography. I'd certainly recommend it, especially if you're interested in Chinese history / the Cultural Revolution. 

Journal Entry 5 by ApoloniaX at Contemporary Asian Literature, Virtual Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, December 10, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (12/11/2009 UTC) at Contemporary Asian Literature, Virtual Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Journal Entry 6 by chucklesthescot from Paisley, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, December 17, 2009

Chosen from ApoloniaX's brilliant virtual bookbox. I've been looking forward to reading this book for ages so thanks for putting me top of the list! 

Journal Entry 7 by chucklesthescot at Paisley, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, April 10, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/12/2010 UTC) at Paisley, Scotland United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is travelling as part of ApoloniaX's bookrelay. Hope you enjoy it! 

Journal Entry 8 by Annimanni from Espoo, Uusimaa Finland on Monday, May 03, 2010

Thanks chuckles, the book's in Finland (again :D)! 

Journal Entry 9 by Annimanni at Espoo, Uusimaa Finland on Wednesday, October 06, 2010

At first I thought the language was clumsy, but then I got sucked into the story and forgot about the style for the most part. (What most bothered me about it was the dialogue: "she said," "he said," "she said," and so on. I also flinched every time she used the verb "to shit" :D). Anyway, as I said, the story was fascinating. I've read quite a number of accounts of life in Maoist China lately, but it's still shocking to me how little human life was worth in the country those days (and still is, the cause is just different these days). No wonder people became dehumanized too.

This book will now travel to megami-no-ushi in Canada, as part of ApoloniaX's East Asian VBB. 

Journal Entry 10 by megami-no-ushi at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Friday, October 15, 2010

it arrived in the mail today, thank you! I'm looking forward to reading this one though it's to mount TBR for the moment! 

Journal Entry 11 by megami-no-ushi at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, November 06, 2010

This was an interesting book, thanks for sharing!

I found Little Green's story particularly haunting as it shows how the communist party twisted ideals of gender equality to the enslavement of the people. I particularly hate the way they've twisted the idea of rape: turning consensual sex between two people who love each other into a mockery of female sexual subgugation or assault because the couple in question had broken party rules of comradely asexuality.  

Journal Entry 12 by megami-no-ushi at Joshua Tree Café, Edmonton Trail in Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, November 13, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (11/13/2010 UTC) at Joshua Tree Café, Edmonton Trail in Calgary, Alberta Canada

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Taking to the November meet up to see if anyone wants to read it, otherwise it's coming home with me again!

Calgary has an active group of BookCrossers that meet to swap books and discuss book crossing every second Saturday at 11am at the Joshua Tree Cafe on Edmonton Trail. We always love to meet new crossers, so please join us any time you like! 

Journal Entry 13 by Fracula at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, November 13, 2010

Picked this book up from the Calgary BookCrossing meet-up group today.

Years ago I read "Red China Blues: My long march from Mao to now", a Canadian ethnic Chinese woman's experience of the Cultural Revolution. This book stayed with me for a long time, so I am very interesting in reading the perspective from a National.

It's also thrilling to be entrusted with the contined journey of a book that has already travelled so far!

Thank you. 

Journal Entry 14 by Fracula at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (2/12/2011 UTC) at Calgary, Alberta Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

With BookCrossing I keep reading books I really don't want to read - and respecting the knowledge and insight that comes along with the process.

A very compelling story that makes me want to know more about the years that followed and how the Cultural Revolution is viewed in hindsight.

Will be taking this to the February BookCrossing Calgary Meet-up, to find a new reader. 

Journal Entry 15 by Eri-Cherry at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Sunday, February 13, 2011

Grabbed at Josuha Tree Cafe get together 

Journal Entry 16 by Eri-Cherry at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Friday, November 04, 2011

A very different, and oddly romantic & sexy, account of growing up in communist China. The writing is rough, but her life drew me in. So I found it hard to put down. I wish I knew more about where her life took her after the book ended.

Thanks for the read! 

Journal Entry 17 by Eri-Cherry at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, November 12, 2011

Released 6 mos ago (11/12/2011 UTC) at Calgary, Alberta Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Taken to get together at the Joshua Tree Cafe 

Journal Entry 18 by Eri-Cherry at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Saturday, November 12, 2011

Released 6 mos ago (11/12/2011 UTC) at Calgary, Alberta Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Taken to get together at the Joshua Tree Cafe 

Journal Entry 19 by sing-song at Calgary, Alberta Canada on Sunday, November 13, 2011

Picked up at the Nov. meeting.