Wild Swans

Three Daughters of China

By: Jung Chang

Narrated by: Joy Osmanski

Length: 22 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Few books have had such an impact as Wild Swans: a popular best seller that has sold more than 13 million copies, a critically acclaimed history of China, a tragic tale of nightmarish cruelty, and an uplifting story of bravery and survival. Through the story of three generations of women in her own family - the grandmother given to the warlord as a concubine, the Communist mother, and the daughter herself - Jung Chang reveals the epic history of China's 20th century. Breathtaking in its scope, unforgettable in its descriptions, this masterpiece is extraordinary in every way.

©2011 Jung Chang (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"An inspiring tale of women who survived every kind of hardship, deprivation and political upheaval with their humanity intact." (Hillary Clinton, in O, The Oprah Magazine)

" Wild Swans is riveting. It's blindingly good: a mad adventure story, a fairy tale of courage, and a tale of atrocities. You can't, as they say, put it down. ( The New Yorker)

Might be better reading the book

Any additional comments?

I am the first to admit I get distracted when confronted with names and cities with which I am unfamiliar. I had trouble with names and places in this book. I think the story is very poignant and historical, but I finally gave up halfway through. For those who are familiar with China and various names, places, and regimes, this book would be fascinating. I was unfamiliar and couldn't keep up. My bad....not the book's

I've learned so much

Before reading this book, I never understood why people stay in terrible situations. Why they continue to be oppressed and struggle daily. Why don't they simply walk out and begin a new life somewhere else. This book opened my eyes to those struggles and that mentality. Wild Swans showed me how easily people can turn on each other. It filled me with a whole range of emotion from anger to sadness to joy. One thing is clear, I understand so much more now. Thank you for this intriguing truth.

Gripping story - I couldn't put it down

Amazing account of life under Mao. I have many Chinese friends, both in the U.S. and in China. This gave me an understanding of what some of them (the older ones) went through during the Mao years.

This is an important work to help Westerners understand recent history, and to help understand that China today is far different and much more free than it was then.

The story is fascinating; Jung Chang is a master at telling it; the reader was superb at helping me feel what the author and her family were going through. I'd give it 10 stars if I could.

Absolutely fascinating

This is the most interesting and fascinating book I've listened to in quite awhile. I had no idea what life was like in Communist China under Mao. I'm going to buy the biography that this author has written about him.
I will highly recommend this book to my friends and family to read or listen to. The narrator was fantastic tool

Wonderful!

An enlightening view of communism that needs to be read by each of today’s woke socialists. This book is a wonderful, pleasant read for historians, anthropologists and those seeking truth.

Wish I had more time

I could spend more time than I have listing the reasons I loved this book. Most importantly. It put human faces to the reasons 2/3 of the world made the tragic leap into the disaster of communism.

Incredible.

This book brought me to tears several times. The story of Jung Chang, her mother, and grandmother is harrowing, emotional, and thought-provoking. It is a must read for anyone interested in the Chinese Cultural Revolution. You will not only have a thorough and gripping account of the historical events of Mao’s China but will grow a connection to Jung and her family. Do not hesitate to read this book, it will take you on a journey of history and humanity.

Little Sympathy for the Author’s Parents

This was an interesting book, but the author’s parents were typical communist hypocrites. They were cafeteria communists who put the communist party above the lives their children. The family lived a privileged life during most of Mao’s regime. The fact that the author made excuses for her parents’ behavior was unbelievable.

20th century China behind the scenes

Recommended to me by a China diplomat friend who had to read this as part of his grad school program, it turned my heart towards the real struggles China has faced over the last several decades and how far they have come. It also provides a narrative that humanizes the individual struggles of Chinese citizens living through these tumultuous times.

Wild swans

The book was well written but painful to read through 4 generations of brutality. I stayed with it knowing to live those years was more difficult than reading about them ,