RED AZALEA: LIFE AND LOVE IN CHINA.

by Anchee Min | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: 0575058331 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Triggerfish of Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on 7/12/2007
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
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19 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Triggerfish from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, July 12, 2007
Synopsis
When Anchee Min left China in 1984 her knowledge of English was minimal. She tried to write this autobiography in her own tongue, but found it impossible. Only with the emotional freedom granted by a new language could she find her means of expression. This powerful and candid memoir immortalises her coming of age in the Red Guard, the harbouring of illicit love amidst a regime bent on human alienation and her recruitment from rural hard labour into Madame Mao's burgeoning movie industry.

I read this many years ago and can't remember much other than that i enjoyed it.

Journal Entry 2 by Triggerfish from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, July 12, 2007
European bookray.

Voveryte UK
Mysteriousmummy UK
bilbi France
quak Ger
iliotropio Belg
pinkydinky UK
wickedlazy UK
KiwiinEngland Eire
max9 UK
soffitta1 UK
brunton11 Uk
hippolein Finland
Pell Italy
Icila France
seethroughfaith Finland< book here DEC 08
End of my ray!

By participating you are agreeing to adhere to the following courteous GUIDELINES!

1) Everybody should leave a journal entry when receiving the book, after reading it and when they post it on!
2) PM the next person for a mailing address before you finish the book. If that person doesn't answer within 7 days MAX then let me know.
3) Aim to read the book within a month- other people want to read it too!
4) You can send the book via surface mail or airmail- that is completely up to you.
5) If you find you don't have the time to read it when it's your turn, please PM me and I'll move you to a later slot.
6) Enjoy.

Journal Entry 3 by Triggerfish from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Posted book to voveryte today. Hope you enjoy it!

Journal Entry 4 by voveryte from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, July 19, 2007
Received today! Look forward to reading this soon, though rings tend to come all at once! But I'll do my best!

Journal Entry 5 by voveryte from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, August 9, 2007
What a lovely book! Such a gripping story. I like the style of Anchee Min and will look for her books in future.

I sent the book to Mysteriousmummy yesterday.

ETA Aug14: I couldn't write a proper journal entry earlier, so here it is now. First of all, I liked Anchee Min writing and her attention to details. Some events seemed so incredible, but coming from a country which suffered from forced communism too (Lithuania), I can understand what kind influence it makes on people. I have read so little about China so far, and this was a good experience for me. Thanks Triggerfish for adding me to your ray after seeing this book on my wishlist! I've added it and other books by Anchee Min after reading her Empress Orchid.

Journal Entry 6 by mysteriousmummy from Shefford, Bedfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, August 10, 2007
Received as part of a book ring from voveryte, soon to be read

Journal Entry 7 by mysteriousmummy from Shefford, Bedfordshire United Kingdom on Friday, August 24, 2007
Absolutely excellent book, mind you I love most "chinesey" books, fabulous gripping writing style a real page turner. Off to the next bookringer bilbi in France (sodukugirl asked to be missed as she had the book from another source.

Sorry for the delay in sending off.

Journal Entry 8 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Monday, August 27, 2007
Received today !

You know, I'm presently in an Asian literature mood ;-)

I've already enjoyed Empress Orchid so this should be a good book !

Thanks for sharing \o/

Journal Entry 9 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Thursday, August 30, 2007
At times I even wondered if this was really a true story... It was so unbelievable a life !

Thanks for sharing this book.

I'm glad that others join this bookray. It is a MUST READ ;-)

Journal Entry 10 by quak from München, Bayern Germany on Monday, September 3, 2007
The book arrived savely today. Wonderful timing as I'm just finishing a book today :) Merci bien, bilbi! Thank you, Triggerfish, I'm already looking forward to reading the book.

How I liked it:
Until reading that book - I had not realized, how the people had lived in China, that the circumstances have really been so bad. It was really depressing to see how live was in China at that time (and possibly still is today in some parts?). The story is quite good, especially when you know it has been the life Anchee Min really lived.
I'm now definetly interested in reading more books about the live in China and Mao but also about how poeple live in other countries of the world.

Journal Entry 11 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Sunday, September 23, 2007
The Red Azalea has arrived safely in Brussels.
Thanks quak (for the lovely postcard as well)!

Journal Entry 12 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Friday, November 9, 2007
A unique, very touching true story.
On its way to pinkydinky. Happy reading!

Journal Entry 13 by pinkydinky on Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Arrived today.

Journal Entry 14 by pinkydinky on Sunday, December 9, 2007
This book was written from the heart. To see how Mao's China had control over innermost feelings was really interesting as it is something you do not think about.

Posted 15/12

Journal Entry 15 by wickedlazy from Wickford, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, December 20, 2007
Safely received, thanks

Journal Entry 16 by wickedlazy from Wickford, Essex United Kingdom on Saturday, December 29, 2007
It was OK...... some quite beautiful prose from Anchee Min, but it was a bit like eating a wonderful meal and feeling not quite satisfied at the end. I did learn alot about Red China and I had no idea of all the appalling stuff that went on, so it was interesting and informative in that respect.

Journal Entry 17 by wickedlazy from Wickford, Essex United Kingdom on Saturday, January 19, 2008
Posted today - sorry for the delay.

Journal Entry 18 by kiwiinengland from Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Monday, January 28, 2008
Arrived and on my Ring/ray pile of books to read...it's four books high at the moment, but I'll read as fast as possible. Thanks for starting this ring Triggerfish.

Journal Entry 19 by kiwiinengland from Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Monday, February 4, 2008
I enjoyed the subject and the writing style of this book.

It was intersting to see how the bonds of families and neighbours were broken to the point where people didn't trust each other. I imagine it would have been a very difficult situation to live in.

I will post to Max9 in the next couple of weeks.

Journal Entry 20 by kiwiinengland from Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Monday, February 11, 2008
Posted on 9th February 2008

Journal Entry 21 by MrsJennings from Plymouth, Devon United Kingdom on Thursday, February 14, 2008
Thanks this was in the valentine's post today.

Journal Entry 22 by MrsJennings from Plymouth, Devon United Kingdom on Saturday, March 8, 2008
Bit of a page turner. Interesting to learn a bit about life under Mao; I'd definitely like to read more about the Cultural Revolution. Ill send this off when I have soffitta1's address, thanks for sharing it.

Journal Entry 23 by MrsJennings from Plymouth, Devon United Kingdom on Saturday, March 8, 2008
Bit of a page turner. Interesting to learn a bit about life under Mao; I'd definitely like to read more about the Cultural Revolution. Ill send this off when I have soffitta1's address, thanks for sharing it.

Sent 19/03/08

Journal Entry 24 by soffitta1 from Ipswich, Suffolk United Kingdom on Saturday, March 22, 2008
Received this morning, managed to get to it before the dog savaged it! I have read 2 others of her books, so am looking forward to this more personal account.
Very different from her other books, I was really caught up in it. She survived a very difficult time in modern China's history, and I don't use the word survived lightly. Denouncements, working in the country, in the film industry, all the while trying not to fall foul of the often conflicting policies of the day.
Thanks for letting me take part.

Sent 28 March.

Journal Entry 25 by wingbrunton11wing from Chester, Cheshire United Kingdom on Monday, March 31, 2008
Arrived today :)

Journal Entry 26 by wingbrunton11wing from Chester, Cheshire United Kingdom on Monday, May 5, 2008
This is the first book I've read about Communist China. I found it fascinating but agree with a previous reader that it finished rather quickly leaving me wanting more.

I have hippolein's address so will get this book off to them tomorrow. Thanks all for sharing.

Journal Entry 27 by winghippoleinwing from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Friday, May 9, 2008
Book arrived safely in Finland today! thanks for sharing this.

Journal Entry 28 by Teddyke from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Saturday, June 14, 2008
Glad I got the oppurtunity to read this book (that actually came to my husband Hippolein via the ring), because I really liked it, interesting topic and very well written!

Journal Entry 29 by winghippoleinwing from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Saturday, June 14, 2008
Wonderful book about the life of a girl in China during Mao's time. Very poetic text, lot of feelings in there, tried to read it in peace instead of running through the text like I usualy have to do with ring-books...
Thanks a lot for sharing this Triggerfish!

Now trying to get the address of Pell in Italy (seems forgot to ask for that one earlier)

Journal Entry 30 by winghippoleinwing at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, June 15, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (6/15/2008 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is leaving tonight for Italy, hope Pell gets it soon.
Small surprise added as weight was too little for the envelop ;-)

Journal Entry 31 by Pell from Canino, Lazio Italy on Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Thank you Hippolein, book arrived safely today with 2 little surprises, thank you again, I have 2 other books on the go at the moment but will try to start asap. Looking forward to reading, which looks like a remarkable story.

Journal Entry 32 by Pell from Canino, Lazio Italy on Monday, August 4, 2008
I enjoyed this book very much, I love to read books about the Eastern Countries and this one was a very moving story. I am sorry it has taken me longer to read than usual, but my daughter was staying with me and wanted to read it too. She thought it was a remarkable story. I will post on as soon as I get the next addi

Journal Entry 33 by Pell from Canino, Lazio Italy on Monday, August 11, 2008
Posted off to Icilia in France today. Hope you enjoy it

Journal Entry 34 by wingIcilawing from Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Thursday, August 14, 2008
In my box yesterday. Safe but the enveloppe was open (problem with the staples, cello tape is safer ;) )

Thanks.

Journal Entry 35 by wingIcilawing from Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Monday, September 15, 2008
Very interesting. I'm amazed that people could travel to visit their relatives under these circumstances.

08/10/20 : on its way to seethroughfaith

Journal Entry 36 by seethroughfaith from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Tuesday, November 25, 2008
This book arrived today. Thank you. I loved the litle book mark started by onnimanni, signed by best friends and now Icila - that has a history of its own I think :)

I notice too that I'm the end of the ray - so I'll look and see if anyone is searching for the book and offer it to them - but it'll be a few weeks before I have time to pick up this well-read and a bit worn book.

ETA Triggerfish PMd me and she'll find others for the ray so I don't need to go looking ...


Journal Entry 37 by seethroughfaith from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Saturday, December 13, 2008
Once I started this ... well I couldn't put it down. At first I hadn't realised it's based on a true story. Dah!

I'm a bit ashamed to confess I knew very little about the so-called cultural revolution in China. (Not sure how biased this article is but I found it useful and interesting!)

This book is well written. I found it really interesting that on the backpage it says that Anchee Min (the author and narrative voice) tried to write it in her own mother tongue - but couldn't - because "only with the emotional freedom of a new language could she find hermeans of expression" ... that sums up how deep-rooted was the indoctrination of the Maoist thinking in China in the 1960s, because usually our emotions are best expressed in our own language. That that was stolen from millions makes me shudder.

I am at the end of this ray ... Triggerfish is looking for new participants and I'll also put out some feelers in Turku and elsewhere in Finland (maybe we'll get a little ring going here before it's sent overseas again)

Please note the book is in need of some basic repair.



Journal Entry 38 by Niksu from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Monday, December 22, 2008
The book is with me, the courier. It will go via hippolein to AgdaAgulina.

Funny coincidence; I was the courier two years ago at christmas time to another Red Azalea , then the book went from Helsinki to Turku, now the opposite way. I have Red Azalea in Finnish in my piles waiting to be read.

Journal Entry 39 by winghippoleinwing from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Book arrived back with me, to be passed on to AgdaAgulina tomorrow.
Nice to see the book again, sorry to see it that much damaged :-(

Journal Entry 40 by winghippoleinwing at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Sunday, January 18, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (1/18/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book is going after all by mail to Prague, as illness made it hard to get it on time to the right place (not to talk about weight restriction for luggage on the plane).
Hope it arrives fast and safely in the Czech Republic!

Journal Entry 41 by AgdaAgulina from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Monday, January 26, 2009
Red Azalea is in Prague - sorry for delayed journaling, the flue got me here, not in Finland. And it was really, really nice to get a package of books delivered home, while unable to go anywhere myself. Perfect timing, thank you very much hippolein!!

To be read soon... also it caught some other curious looks here, so maybe more readers on line for it.

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