Liu Hong
Forfatter af Startling Moon
Om forfatteren
Værker af Liu Hong
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The Xi Jinping Era: His Comprehensive Strategy Towards The China Dream (2015) — Bidragyder — 2 eksemplarer
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Satte nøgleord på
Almen Viden
- Fødselsdato
- 1965
- Køn
- female
- Nationalitet
- China (birth)
UK
Medlemmer
Anmeldelser
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Associated Authors
Statistikker
- Værker
- 23
- Medlemmer
- 208
- Popularitet
- #106,482
- Vurdering
- 3.2
- Anmeldelser
- 6
- ISBN
- 58
- Sprog
- 8
Overall I found this a somewhat frustrating book in that the early part I found beautifully written and quite compelling but as the central character Taotao ('Peaches') grows up it somehow loses that intensity.
At an early age Taotao, is sent, by her outwardly successful parents, to live with her paternal grandparents seemingly for no particular reason. Whilst living with her grandparents she becomes aware that her maternal grandfather, a man whom she loves dearly and teaches her poetry, was once considered an enemy of the state. Taotao is determined that this demise will not befall her yet as she grows older she realizes that sticking to the rules is not so easy as she once thought. Secrets, within families and between the people and the state become a dark shadow that is impossible to shake.
The initial portion of this book, dealing with Taotao's early childhood and in particularly her relationship with her maternal grandfather 'Smart Scholar' who recites T'ang poetry are beautifully written and seem to suggest an idyllic if unconventional childhood. However, her later denunciation of him is highly devastating.
The book provides a somewhat chilling depiction of what I would imagine life and in particular childhood in Communist China to be like. A life where everyone,young and old, are on the lookout for some ideological flaw in those around them and have a willingness to report their suspicions so that these perpetrators can be "re-educated".A country that is largely run on whispers and favours rather than truth and merit.
Taotao's early experiences are brought wonderfully to life. Likewise the university scenes are also good, giving a strong impression of how intelligent students can feel confined and limited by ideology and long for more freedom. However, IMHO the latter sections rather loses their way. The events in Tianamen Square lacks the impact that it deserved and the ending is unsatisfactory. Taotao appears to lose focus and only interested in herself.
Personally I didn't really like Taotao. I found her selfish, friends were simply dropped once they were out of sight and there seems a genuine ingratitude towards her parents even after she finds out the reasons why they did what they did. Whilst I can appreciate that the author is trying to make the point that brainwashed people lose some of their humanity I still found her overall attitude somewhat disquieting. Plus I couldn't quite work out why the author had decided that some Chinese characters should retain their Chinese names whilst other were given Anglicised versions. On top of which I was not totally convinced that her love interests were quite the catches that she imagined them to be. In the end I felt that it was worth a read, with some excellent portions but ultimately didn't quite live up to its early promise.
Then again maybe it was me and my own prejudices and expectations that were at fault. You decide.… (mere)