Wild Swans

Three Daughters of China

De: Jung Chang

Narrado por: Joy Osmanski

The story of three generations in twentieth-century China that blends the intimacy of memoir and the panoramic sweep of eyewitness history—a bestselling classic in thirty languages with more than ten million copies sold around the world, now with a new introduction from the author.

An engrossing record of Mao’s impact on China, an unusual window on the female experience in the modern world, and an inspiring tale of courage and love, Jung Chang describes the extraordinary lives and experiences of her family members: her grandmother, a warlord’s concubine; her mother’s struggles as a young idealistic Communist; and her parents’ experience as members of the Communist elite and their ordeal during the Cultural Revolution.

Chang was a Red Guard briefly at the age of fourteen, then worked as a peasant, a “barefoot doctor,” a steelworker, and an electrician. As the story of each generation unfolds, Chang captures in gripping, moving—and ultimately uplifting—detail the cycles of violent drama visited on her own family and millions of others caught in the whirlwind of history.

An odd piece of writing

What made the experience of listening to Wild Swans the most enjoyable?

The reader.

What about Joy Osmanski’s performance did you like?

A terrific reading voice, she was able to keep up interest even though there was little dialog.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A Chinese women's odyssey - from bound feet through communism to the present.

Any additional comments?

Information filled, and epic, I consider this tome an important contribution to history. Literature? Maybe not. This book has very little dialog. It is a long journey, most of it "told"; very little "shown".

What I Never Knew

wow! what a historical and personal blend of 3 women's lives through the horrible reign of leaders in China, esp Mao. it made me realize what freedom I have lived in. she's not a flowery frivolous writer but powerful and descriptive. This book is a must if you want to know more about our world and the effect on the people's lives who live in China. loved it.

World View Altering

The most profound take away from this book for me is the way it changed my perception of the world. When referring to oppressive countries, I no longer refer to the country itself, but rather, to its government. As the author states, it’s mind-boggling what a few bad people can do to oppress the minds, livelihoods, and freedom of thousands, even millions. Thank you for this world-view altering gift.

Was not expecting this

This was a great read and narrator was amazing. I thought it would be more like a dialog but it was real history.

Communism for America? Read this first

It seems that “equality” under communist rule just means misery is seemingly shared by all. Astounding read.

Good read

l.learned more recent Chinese history reading this book then in any college course. compelling story.

Wonderful

It is quite long but amazing, I had to read for a school assignment and this made it easier to do other things while listening.

Loved it!

I knew few details about China and Mao until this book. Wonderfully written and narrated, the story concentrates on the people and how Mao's policies affected them. Class and rank were everything; individuality was basically outlawed. I especially liked the fact that she wrote about three generations. Excellent book!!

I wish I had read this years ago before

At first I was skeptical when listening. But as time went on I realized how informative and hopefully accurate it is. I wish that I had listened to it, to gain a history 10 years ago. It would have given me much more perspective having made several trips of the last few years to China. I hope China opens up again, despite the fact I'm a little pised off about covid. I think history will show the corona virus is the first biological attack on the world.

Fascinating and heartbreaking!

The story of totalitarianism is always the same...exploit greed and jealousy, turn neighbor against neighbor, crush free speech, and reward the unprincipled. A story of incredible heroism and cruelty. I plan on reading all of Jung Chang's books.