Falling Leaves: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter: Amazon.ca: Yen Mah: Books

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At the age of three my grand aunt proclaimed her independence by categorically refusing to have her feet bound, resolutely tearing off the bandages as fast as they were applied. Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

254 Reviews

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4.1 out of 5 stars (254 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Falling Leaves: A Touching Autobiography, May 20 2002

By

Eve Drucker (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter (Paperback)

Falling Leaves is the moving autobiography of Adeline Yen Mah, an empowered woman growing up in Twentieth Century China. Unlike most other Chinese families at the time, Adeline's was an affluent one led by an overpowering female, Adeline's stepmother. Growing up as a stepdaughter, Adeline was mistreated and unloved by nearly everyone in her family. Her successes were belittled and her failures were exaggerated. Adeline's story, however, is at times inspiring. Eventually she left China to study in England and moved to the United States where she started a family of her own. Though Adeline finally seemed to be living the life she deserved, her family back in China continued to plague her. In particular, her stepmother found a way to cause Adeline a great deal of pain even after her death.

Adeline's poignant tale takes the reader on an incredible journey through her life that is likely to leave the reader with a renewed sense of appreciation of his or her own childhood. Many of Adeline's experiences reflect her Chinese upbringing, giving the reader a taste of Chinese society and culture, while many others transcend national borders. Readers from all countries will be able to relate to the family and personal relationship difficulties Adeline encountered. Falling Leaves is definitely worth the few hours it will take to read.

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4.0 out of 5 stars A Moving and Provoking Story, Jun 6 2002

By

Pat Wu (Paramus, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Falling Leaves: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter (Hardcover)

Adeline Yen Mah's life story is told in her memoir, Falling Leaves. It is a riveting story about one woman's life within a family that did not want her. Born in to a wealthy family in China in the 1930's, Adeline's life should have been one of joy and prosperity however this was quickly shattered by the emergence of two tyrants, her stepmother and Chairman Mao. A great deal of the book is very disturbing. This book is filled with a great deal of intense imagery and recounts every horrifying moment of Adeline's life with vivid descriptions. This memoir could easily pass as a suspenseful drama novel with its powerful, cutting stories of family conflicts. This book is not only an interesting story but also a lesson in the history of China. Explanations of cultural aspects, such as Chinese words and religious rituals, are scattered throughout the book. One is capable of experiencing the rise of communism in China vicariously. Also portrayed are the raw feelings that lead to mass exodus of the social and economic elite as the nation was taken over.
Adeline, throughout the book, was hopelessly devoted to finding a way to achieve acceptance from her father and her stepmother. She struggles and endures great hardship in an attempt to reach this goal. It is a moving quest that seems to reach heroic proportions; a quest worthy of Hercules or any other hero. She faces indomitable odds and is only sustained by her determination, courage, and willpower. Falling Leaves is not only a great story and wonderfully well written but also presents the reader with many deeply thought provoking questions about societal values and family relations.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Falling Leaves Book Review (2nd attempt), May 28 2002

By

Jennifer Sung (Franklin Lakes, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter (Paperback)

Characterized by a painful and piercing approach, Adeline Yen Mah's Falling Leaves has the ability to capture the expressions of an unwanted Chinese daughter who grew up in a cruel and harsh family environment. Originally born in China, Adeline Yen Mah was born and raised in an affluent family with an ignorant father and a hateful Eurasian stepmother. Although Adeline ultimately acquires an education in England and marries to a loving husband in America, she realizes that she can never feel completely satisfied because of her yearning for love from her parents; "I was the ostracized outsider longing for acceptance; the ugly duckling hankering to return as the beautiful swan; the despised and unwanted Chinese daughter obsessed with my quest to make my parents proud of me on some level. Surely some day, if I tried hard enough to help them in dire need, they would love me." (210) Touching and heartfelt, this story reveals the hardships and struggles that the author faced before she could heal her scars of neglect and repression. Although this account may seem one-sided and biased of the brutality of her parents, Mah effectively delivers her message of the hurt and lack of acceptance. Using childhood stories about tram fare, boarding school, and eggs, Mah is able to use simple examples to convey her compelling testimony; "The breakfast egg, more than anything, divided us into two distinct and transparent groups: the loved ones and the unloved ones. Needless to say, I remained eggless throughout my tenure at Sacred Heart." (102) Falling Leaves truly demonstrates the powerful bonds and consequences of family relationships.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Falling Leaves Lacks History
Falling Leaves is the memoir of an emotionally abused girl, at every disadvantage in her dysfunctional family, who fervently fights to live and tell all. Read more

Published on May 28 2002 by Emily Park

4.0 out of 5 stars Novel or Autobiography?
The basic plot of the book Falling Leaves can be summarized as a Cinderella type story in which a Chinese girl, Adeline, is detested by her family. Read more

Published on May 25 2002 by David