Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China

This true account of the lives of the author, her mother, and her grandmother reads like a novel. The story takes the listener through many significant events in modern chinese history through the eyes of these amazing women. You won't be able to stop listening!

This book was interesting and educational. This is the best portrayal of events inside China before, during and after the cultural revolution that I have ever read. It gave me a great understanding for the culture of present day China.

Jung Chang reveals what it was like growing up in Mao's China. And she managed to escape with her life. Her sequel, "Mao: the untold story" is even more shocking!

I've listened to two books so far with Audible, Unbroken and Wild Swans, and Wild Swans ranks second. But Unbroken is hard, very hard, for any audio book to beat.

The real life depictions of the suffering and state of mind of the Chinese during the Cultural Revolution.

Chang's father rejecting the Ting's and writing the letter to Mao.

Chang's mother running to Chang, trying to bring her some dumplings, before Chang left for her father's camp.

This book provides a description of communist China under Mao that is not only essential to understand China's history, but its present as well. And because China is such a major player in our world today, it should be a must-read for any educated person. At times the book drags on, and can, on occasion, be boring. But I'm not convinced that that is Chang's fault and not mine.

Wild Swans recounts the lives of the author, her mother and grandmother as they live through the transitions of China from an isolated imperial kingdom to the new millenium. It's an important story, dramatically presented in domestic detail which makes daily life an illustration of political realities.

I can't think of a comparison. The combination of historical fact and personal experience presented in a straightforward, no - nonsense way is unusual.

The performance reflects the authorial voice. That said, sometimes the authorial voice was a bit naive and callow, which I found annoying.

Not likely. It's about 23 hours long and laden with detail. It was interesting, but one needed breaks.

I gave a stunningly detailed picture of life in China, particularly during the Cultural Revolution, but for a casual listener, the details were sometimes numbing. This is best suited to a listener with real curiosity about the subject. I'm glad I listened to it, but it is not for anyone wanting a fast paced experience that would sweep one away.

This was a phenomenal read with every sentence leading you to the next with great anticipation. While the book continues to be banned in China, it's such a privilege to walk along with the author and learn with gasped breaths of new awareness at what was happening. I was stunned at the cultural hypnosis brought on by the time, by the

I live in Beijing with my Chinese wife who was a high school student during the Cultural Revolution. I have many Chinese in-laws with first hand experience of the world which June Chang reveals to us. As I listened, I shared the book with them and they ratified its accuracy and approved the pitch perfect truth of the portrayal of the years before the "opening up" which came after the death of Mao. As a result, I experienced the book as an especially dynamic encounter with the personal histories of those around me, and this may be why I can give it five stars.

That said, it is true that the book is exceptionally detailed in its approach, and for some readers this may be excessive. There is, however, so much to recommend this in depth examination of the spiritual, emotional and ethical rape of an entire culture at the behest of one man that I am convinced that most listeners will find the book well worth the hard work. In addition, the narrative is so personal and so steeped in evocative description that it speaks to the heart as powerfully as to the intellect. And if you are willing to be challenged by the question, "What would you have done under these circumstances," you will find Wild Swans a particularly rewarding listen.

Afterwards you might want to find Chang's exhaustively researched "Mao--The Untold Story." A remarkable work.

I loved this when I read it back in the 90s. It is super informative - the Maoism period was really interesting and my friends from China felt that it was a good depiction of the times. In audio form it was a bit too dense for my easy-listening, multi-tasking habits.

long...and very educational

cultural revolution

no

the tea room got to me with the od man

hard book to listen to for me. started out really interesting but i got a little bored with it. there was a little bit too much detail about some things. but overall i feel very educated now about communist china. it was a great book.

The author uses the story of 3 generations or her family to reveal the story of China.

It was a tapestry that included both the personal and political histories of a place that has been shrouded in mystery.