Reviews (77)

anonymous
This book is amazing! I honestly can't speak highly enough about it. I heard Brother Yun preach last night, and he is completely authentic, real and in love with Jesus. Mostly what strikes me is that hearing the life story of this man makes me realize that God is all-powerful and trustworthy, and a victorious Christian life is possible!

The Heavenly Man
Read it in one day. I couldn't put it down. I had to stop half way through and pray about my spiritual life! I'm buying 10 copies for all the men I know who are serious about their relationship with Jesus Christ. It is like reading the book of Acts but it took place in the last quarter century. I checked to see if anyone could verify some of the incredible miracles mentioned in the book and found statements from people who are closest to Brother Yun and vouch for his integrity. The author checked with witnesses of the events to confirm their accuracy. God help us get as serious as Brother Yun about our relationship with Christ Jesus!

The Heavenly Man
If you feel that you are complaining too much about your life you need to read this book because you will find nothing in your life to complain about. This book is really life changing, it made me examine my own life. AWESOME BOOK, couldnt put it down. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. General    3. Missions & Missionary Work    4. Religion    5. Religious    6. Biography & Autobiography / Religious   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (166)

Highly recommended autobiography
Chinese Cinderella is a heart-wrenching and sorrowful tale of a young girl growing up in a classic Cinderella setting. Treated harshly by her step-mother and ignored by her father, Adeline's life seems doomed to perpetual sadness. Every time something arrives to lighten up her life, it is taken away from her. She has to deal with loneliness and despair, but throughout the story she never gives up hope, that someday, somehow, things will get better.

The Best Book I've Ever Read!!!
I first read this book when I was in the 3rd grade. It was a fantastic true story (I'm mostly all about fantasy) that I enjoyed reading. I have read that book at least once a year every year since it was published. Each time I'm drawn into her world and remember how blessed my life is.

Great memoir
Adeline theoretically should have everything she wants in life- her father is very wealthy, she is able to attend prestigious college schools and afford an education, and she is extremely intelligent, remaining at the top of her class through the years of her youth.While she presents the fa?ade of having a happy family life, however, she is the despised child of a large family.Her mother passed away as a result of her birth, causing her father and four older siblings to blame her for their mother's death, considering her unlucky and barely a member of the family.When Adeline's father remarries, life continues to deteriorate- she, as well as the rest of her siblings, are scorned by their step-mother, who favors her own two children highly.Adeline struggles first to find acceptance in her family, and later to at least escape her family by putting her brilliant mind to work, immersing herself in her schoolwork so she will one day be able to support herself and her aunt, who is her only faithful friend.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    3. Biography & Autobiography - Ethnic    4. Biography & Autobiography - General    5. California    6. Children's 12-Up - Biography / Autobiography    7. Children's Books/Young Adult Biography    8. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    9. Chinese Americans    10. Family - Stepfamilies    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Juvenile literature    13. People & Places - United States - Asian American    14. Women physicians    15. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / General   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (161)

A Driveling Story of Self Pity
Despite my profound love of literature, I could not bring myself to enjoy "The Woman Warrior".The monotonous writing style as well as the bland anecdotes did nothing but block me off from being immersed from the story.I felt myself yawning everytime I had to start a new chapter, and would have been estatic when I finished the book had I contained the energy to feel in such a way.I closed the book feeling drained, bored, tired, and unfulfilled.And if that was what I was aiming for while I read, I wouldn't enjoy the skill at all.

Not a must-read, but a should-read
As a student of literature, I have had to read Kingston's "No Name Woman" numerous times as it is widely anthologized. This story represents the first of five sections in "The Woman Warrior."
Amazing
I just finished reading this book as a requirement for my research in Folklore and Mythology class. At first, I wasn't exactly thrilled at the opportunity to read it, for I'm sure that anyone can relate with the pains that go with required reading. However, I was truly blown away.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. California    6. Chinese Americans    7. Ethnic Cultures - General    8. General    9. History    10. Minority Studies - Ethnic American    11. Social life and customs    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Biography: general    14. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Editorial Review

Snow White's stepmother looks like a pussycat compared to the monster under which Adeline Yen Mah suffered. The author's memoir of life in mainland China and--after the 1949 revolution--Hong Kong is a gruesome chronicle of nonstop emotional abuse from her wealthy father and his beautiful, cruel second wife. Chinese proverbs scattered throughout the text pithily covey the traditional world view that prompted Adeline's subservience. Had she not escaped to America, where she experienced a fulfilling medical career and a happy marriage, her story would be unbearable; instead, it's grimly fascinating: Read more

Reviews (320)

Falling leaves return to their roots.
Adeline Yen Mah was born in a well-placed, moneyed Chinese family prominent in the elite of Shanghai and later on in booming Hong Kong. Her mother died shortly after her birth, and she was always blamed for her death. Her father then married Niang, a beautiful Eurasian who is evil (particularly to Adeline), but nonetheless a formidable force in the Yen household.
Do some people just like abuse?
It is difficult to feel sorry for this woman.
Falling Leaves
This book was very interesting and a easy read. I love the fact that the author conveyed historic events. I would say that she could have went into to more details about her life with her second husband. How did the latter events affect her marriage and family? I would love to read about what has happened since the death of the stepmother. Good Book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1937-    2. Asia - China    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. California    8. China    9. Chinese Americans    10. Ethnic Cultures - General    11. General    12. Mah, Adeline Yen,    13. Social life and customs    14. Women    15. Women physicians    16. Biography & Autobiography / General    17. Mah, Adeline Yen   

Editorial Review

Now a writer living in New York, Da Chen describes his youth in mainland China with engaging humor and affecting warmth. It's often a harrowing tale: born in 1962, Chen was the grandson of a landlord, which rendered his entire family pariahs during the Cultural Revolution. And though initially an excellent student, he was ostracized in school and told he could never attend college. He responded by making friends with a group of young thugs who drank, smoked, and gambled but were kind to him. After Mao died in 1976, the budding juvenile delinquent discovered that higher education might be available to him after all. Chen worked hard to make up for years of neglected studies, and his memoir closes with a jubilant scene as he and his brother Jin are both accepted into college; for his suffering family, "thirty years of humiliation had suddenly come to an end." Chen's lucid yet emotional prose unsparingly portrays a topsy-turvy society where unfairness reigns and the rules are arbitrarily changed without warning, but his zest for life and sharp eye for character make even the most awful moments grimly funny. This is no saga of victimization, but a thrilling account of an ordeal that fosters spiritual growth. Readers will cheer Chen's triumph over daunting odds. Read more

Reviews (62)

A very entertaining memoir
Chen Da's bestselling COLORS OF THE MOUNTAIN is one of the more entertaining memoirs I've run across in recent years.
Mountain Of Life
Da Chen's rendition of memories etched within his heart is very descriptive. I especially like this passage:
Interesting book
I enjoyed reading the book.I praise the author for his hard work and his motivation to improve himself and his life.I do agree with another reader that the author very often patted himself on the back, which I have concluded that it's a weakness of a person who had a difficult life.
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Subjects:  1. 1962-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Chen, Da,    6. Childhood and youth    7. China    8. China - History - 20th Century    9. Chinese Americans    10. General    11. Biography & Autobiography / General    12. Chen, Da   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (59)

Major Disagreements
While I realize that many readers enjoy approaching a topic through the author's personal experiences, people like myself will find much of this book self indulgent.
Great informative book with heart and facts about adopting in China.
This book is very easy to read if you are thinking of adopting or are adopting from China.It is full of information on chinese culture, the adoption process, and what may happen after you get back home.Some parts brought tears to my eyes, but I am a bit sappy.I would recommend this book to people adopting, thinking of adopting from China, or those who have already adopted.It really gives a lot of information on Chinese history and why so many little baby girls are abandoned shortly after birth.My heart goes out to all the lost daughters and I hope they are all given the chance to find a forever family.

ten thousand stars
This is one of those rare books that I can't praise highly enough.I won't summarize it because others have done so.
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Subjects:  1. Abandoned children    2. Adoption    3. Asia - China    4. Children's Studies    5. China    6. Chinese    7. Family & Relationships    8. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    9. Family/Marriage    10. Minority Studies - General    11. Orphanages    12. Sociology    13. United States    14. Women's Studies - General    15. Biography: general    16. Family & Relationships / Adoption    17. Women's studies   

Reviews (22)

Fascinating
This is a most interesting book.I am 75 years old and grew up in Los Angeles, visiting Chinatownmany times, and knew nothing of the people who lived there, so it was particularly interesting to me.I have read other books by Lisa See and find her to be an excellent writer.I highly recommend this book, especially to people interested in the history of California.

Skip this one but enjoy her others...
I absolutely loved two of Lisa See's other novels: "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" and "Dragon Bones" and recommend both of them highly - she is an incredibly talented writer.
Even After A Couple of Years, A Memorable Read
It has been a couple of years since I read this book, but it lives on in my memory as one of the best I've ever read. I took up an interest in Chinese history several years ago, when starting the process to adopt my first daughter from China. Now I read of nothing else. On Gold Mountain was an interesting, entertaining and highly informative relative to the drivers and experience of the Chinese as they came to and struggled to thrive in the United States. I've loaned this book to friends who now also share my passion for Chinese history and have stashed it away for both my daughters (both from China) to read when they are old enough. I've just also finished See's "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" (excellent) and am moving on to "Flower Net". And next year, when we are in Southern California, I plan to visit the See's Chinese antiques business. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asians In The U.S.    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. California    7. Chinese Americans    8. Family    9. Historical - General    10. Seay family    11. See, Lisa    12. United States - 19th Century    13. United States - 20th Century    14. Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Reviews (7)

Anne Frank of China
Feather in the Storm is to Asia in our time what the Diary of Anne Frank is to Europe in World War II. Emily Wu's autobiographical tale of a little girl caught up helplessly in the chaos of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution in China is both heart breaking and inspiring.This is the sort of beautifully composed prose that breaks your heart and then, in the end, encourages you to have hope for the future.Emily Wu is a survivor of an incredibly cruel government and society.Thank goodness she has provided this testament so that those who were lost will not be forgotten and that those who were responsible will also not be forgotten.

View of China Usually Hidden from Americans
Feather in the Storm provided me with a stunning insights of life in China during the Cultural Revolution. Emily Wu's recounts through both her memories and extensive research the turbulent and often terrifying lost childhood she experienced.The story is powerful, heartbreaking, a testimony to man's inhumanity to man, and ultimately a tribute to the human spirit that holds out for hope and a future.
A story both heartbreaking and uplifting
This book was a revelation to me. It moved me as few other books I have read have, and from the moment I began reading it I could not put it down. Emily Wu's story is a poignant and compelling memoir that describes in intimate detail the impact that China's Cultural Revolution had on her, as a young girl, and on her family. In a beautifully written narrative, Wu tells of the ongoing humiliation, horror and abuse that she and those she loved endured over a period of nineteen years. The book provides insight into the terrible human tragedy and cost inflicted on millions of Chinese, and especially children, by Chairman Mao's so-called Great Leap Forward. But Emily's story is more than that. It is also an unforgettable testament to the human spirit and the will to survive. This is a tale of courage that will affect and inspire everyone who reads it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Authors, Chinese    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. China    5. Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Personal narratives    11. Political Ideologies - Communism & Socialism    12. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (17)

Narcissistic Drivel
I very much enjoy books about China, but I could not stomach Ms. Lu's stunning narcissism. This woman needs to see a psychiatrist before she inflicts herself on anyone else. Do not encourage her self-obsession by buying her book.

Recounts her long struggle
When the author was three years old her family was forced to leave their middle-class life in the city, relocating to an improvised coal mining village to be 're-educated' thanks to the dictate of China's Cultural Revolution. Raised in a life of struggle, the author determined to have a better life, graduating from medical school and overcoming family objections to explore other careers before becoming a top executive in the optical fiber industry. In 1997 she visited the US to launch her own international business: DAUGHTER OF THE YELLOW RIVER: AN INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEY FROM DEPRIVED CHILD DURING CHINA'S CULTURAL REVOLUTION TO SUCCESSFUL GLOBAL ENTREPRENEUR recounts her long struggle.
A bit narcissistic
The book started out really well, but then became very self-congratulatory.The author includes about 40 photographs of herself in an array of different outfits.While I admire her success, a bit less self-adulation would have made this a far better read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Business    4. Business & Economics    5. Chinese American women    6. History    7. Lu, Diana    8. Women   

Reviews (7)

It is what it is
Pretty coffee table book...don't buy for the recipes unless you are a professional.I am a chef and have been at several for and five star establishments.I had the pleasure a few years ago to do a banquet with Susur and he is the real deal.Will his techniques translate to the amateur cook looking to learn from his book?No.These are professional recipes designed to be executed by a top class brigade with years of technique and time to prepare the needed mis en place.But as a professional, the way he approaches food as well as the culinary foundation that he has built for himself is unique and will be appreciated by those in the know.What isn't pretentious about a $50 coffee table book?This book gives exposure to a unique and talented chef who is grounded in solid technique and is able to translate that into well presented and balanced dishes that are not silly fusion.Definetly worth a look.

Susur Lee
This book its all about creativity by a man who has been over looked for too many years as one of the worlds Top Chefs.This book is in one simple word "Awesome"

Susur: Some Thoughts on Perfection in Cuisine
Given the acidity of previous reviews, let me start with some background on myself: I am an American not resident in Canada; I am a non-professional chef -- I cook for myself, my family and my friends. I love food, both from the philosophy that one can learn the history of a country or region by learning about its cuisine and from the perspective that I truly believe we are what we eat ... and the miserable record of American health and longevity is directly due to the poor quality of what we consume.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Chinese Cookery    4. Cookery, Canadian    5. Cookery, Chinese    6. Cooking    7. Cooks    8. International And Ethnic Cookery    9. Ontario    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Reference    12. Regional & Ethnic - Canadian    13. Regional & Ethnic - Chinese    14. Toronto   

Reviews (20)

Excellent storyteller
I loved this book, and I love how the author writes. She tells her stories not in a typical narrative, factual, journalistic way, but in a stylized, "storylike" way (does that make sense?!). All of the stories focused on the different men in her family, especially her father. They all center on the Chinese man's experience in America, from the railroad days onward, and tells of their struggles, triumphs and failures. As a whole the book is about how these experiences shaped the men in her family. She intersperses a few legends here and there, just like she does in Woman Warrior. I enjoy how she takes her family history and literally turns it into a work of art. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

A fascinating jumble of memoir, fable, and reporting
In China Men, Kingston took me on a ride all over the literary landscape. In general, I thought her book was an interesting tossed salad of memoir, fable, reporting, and poetry.As a reader, it reminded me of a scrapbook of family stories, newspaper articles, heritage legends -- all assembled in one place. An Experience To Remember...........
The China Men by Maxine Hong Kingston was a very interesting book. It contains stories of Chinese men traveling to America in the 1800's and working on the transcontinental railroads, in Sierra Nevada. The author shares a lot of details in the stories about her family traveling to America. She retold the story from a male's perspective of what hardships they've been through to get to America, in search for the Golden Mountains. A rich country that they about which is full of riches. As they reach to America what they thought was the Golden Mountains was just a land of hard labor and low paying jobs. Some of them regretted coming to America, but they couldn't go back to their country because they had no money. Read more

Subjects:  1. Asians In The U.S.    2. Biography    3. California    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Chinese Americans    6. Ethnic Sociology    7. Family    8. History    9. Kingston, Maxine Hong    10. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (1)

What a suprising little book!
I went into this book with the intention of ripping it to pieces. I came away disagreeing with the message and impressed at how well Mr. Boyles writes. Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Africa - General    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Historical - General    6. Social life and customs    7. Sociology    8. Whites    9. History / Africa   

Editorial Review

When Chang Yu-I was three her mother tried to bind her feet. But the child's cries so tormented her brother that he convinced their mother to stop. This break with convention foreshadowed the extraordinary life Yu-i was to lead. After following her husband, poet Hsu Chi-Mo, a noted philanderer, to Oxford, she made history by becoming the first Chinese woman to have a western-style divorce at age 22. Determined to make her own way, she moved to America and served in a series of prestigious positions, including president of a bank. Written by Yu-i's great niece, Pang-Mei Natasha Chang, Read more

Reviews (28)

A Filial Memoir
From what I've read about Chinese culture, the ties that bind a family together are one of its strongest and most enforced traditions."Bound Feet and Western Dress" is an interesting memoir for the fact that it does not read like a memoir at all.It is the story of a great-aunt told to her great-niece, who mixes in her own observations about her aunt's life and her experience as a Chinese-American among her narrative.
Irritating narrative, badly written book
The idea was good but Natasha simply didn't have the talent to put it in written and understandable text. She switches all the time the "I", got me confused about who she was talking about, her or her aunt.She mixed both stories, suddenly she wants to explains her "great destiny" (narcissism) at the same time as she tells the strory about her great aunt. Those second, third, fourth, xth brother's wife, sister, uncles, all irritating narrative. I really tried to like the story, to pick and read and just gave me headaches trying to figure it out whose story she is talking. Go back to school. I don't know how the editor accepts this kind of book to be published, need a lot of editing. Maybe someone in the publishing house is her relative.

A good book, because it is a true story.
I enjoyed the auuthor's simple writing style.The story is about a woman who decides whether or not to make her own life, or allow it to be decided for her.The best thing about this book, is that it is a true story.The book was fast reading, and very inspirational.I would reccommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. China    4. Chinese Americans    5. Ethnic Cultures - General    6. Feminists    7. Social conditions    8. Sociology    9. Women    10. Women's Studies - History    11. 20th century    12. Asian / Middle Eastern history: from c 1900 -    13. Biography: general    14. Social Science / Ethnic Studies   

Editorial Review

Amy Tan begins Read more

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Reviews (39)

Easy-to-digest wisdom
Amy Tan's wisdom has always intrigued and enchanted me.I've absorbed it through her stories.Here it is undiluted, as she tells about her life, her parents, and her journeys, both outer and inner.

Uneven both in quality and in tone, although some essays are great reading
This book is basically a collection of essays, and to me anyway, it felt quite thrown together.The last essay might have explained this, as it revealed that Tan is suffering from Lyme Disease.I got the feeling that she wanted very much to put out a book, but just wasn't quite up to it, and so collected these essays, which did not quite add up.
As good as any fiction novel...
I absolutely adore Amy Tan's work, and have for over ten years now.However, it's taken me a long time to get to this book, simply because I couldn't help but think, "Amy's fiction novels are great, but how interesting can HER life really be?"Well, I'm only half-way through this book, and I'm wishing I hadn't waited so long to read it!Tan is hilarious, and this memoir is as good as any of her fiction novels.I love how she is not afraid to be herself.(She may not always want to be herself, but she doesn't let that stop her from doing anything that she wants to do.)She's not afraid to "live", with a "kiss-this-if-you-don't-like-it" attitude.She is brave to point out all of her imperfections for the whole world to see, and I commend her for that.There is so much to say about this book, and so much to learn about (and from) Amy Tan, but one thing's certain:Amy Tan's writing is enchanting. I very much recommend this book to everyone. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. American Essays    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Chinese Americans    6. Essays    7. Family    8. Family relationships    9. Literary    10. Literary Collections    11. Literature: Classics    12. Novelists, American    13. Tan, Amy    14. Tan, Amy - Prose & Criticism    15. Biography & Autobiography / General    16. Bargain   

Subjects:  1. Artists    2. Authors, Chinese    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography And Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. China    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Physicians    11. Travelers    12. United States    13. Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / General    15. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (5)

Superb documentation of a Chinese working woman
This riveting book details an area of Chinese life seldom touched by written records. The remarkable friendship between Ida Pruitt and Ning Lao Toai-Toai has led to this very readable, and beautifully textured description of Ning Lao Toai-Toai's life in the late 19th and early 20th century. I found it both an enjoyable read and a valuable source of information about my research related to Chinese family life.

A Slice of Life
Ning Lao Ta'i-ta'i. _The Autobiography of a Chinese Working Woman. Translated and Transcribed by Ida Pruitt. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1967. I Really Liked this book!
I had to read this book for a core class in college and I thought that I would have hated it.Actually, I really liked it.It told of a Chinese working woman's life.It even gives the reader an insight into her lifestyle and her struggles during this tumuluous time in history.The story even touches on the japanese invasion.I didn't think this biography would be interesting but it was.I would recommended this book to anyone.It is a light read and it is very interesting. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1867-    2. Asia - China    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. China    6. Historical - General    7. Ning, Lao Tai-tai,    8. Ning, Lao T°ai-t°ai,    9. Social life and customs    10. Working class women    11. Biography: general   

Reviews (19)

Great read!
Ben Fong Torres has lived a life that many of us dream about!Meeting some of the most famous rock stars the world has ever known and getting a chance to do what he loves to do!What a great country we live in!Reading Ben's tome about growing up in California was so interesting..Ben writes with such honesty and wonderful detail that you can imagine yourself propelled back in time sharing those experiences with him!I admire Ben for his straightforward account of growing up asian american in this country and as an asian american I really identified a lot with what Ben went through!Fantastic book!

A Straightforward Look at an Interesting Life
It would have been tempting for Ben Fong Torres to write one of those "rockstars I've met" memoirs, replete with purple prose about purple people. Ben Fong Torres takes a different tack in this autobiography, telling us about two disparate worlds. One is the world of being the child of Chinese immigrants, living without a great deal of money. The other is the story of a man who seemed born to be a journalist, coming of age in 1960s San Francisco.
An Inspirational Story For All
This was a wonderful story and one I would recommend to anybody, especially children of 1st generation immigrants. Being the child of 1st generation immigrant parents, I could also relate to Mr. Fong-Torres search for identity and acceptance. I was moved by his perseverance and determination at getting ahead in life. The fact that he didn't fit the typical Asian mold of becoming a stereotypical doctor or lawyer, but rather the head editor of a musical writing empire (Rolling Stone Magazine) impressed me even more, because he showed a very souful spirit, one that went after his passion of music rather than trying to pursue an obligation at attaining a status symbol job in order to prove success as an Asian-American. In addition, I also thought his stories were fun and entertaining. He grew up in a very colorful time (particularly the 60's) so it was enjoyable to read about all his experiences from that era, which helped make him who he is today.