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.

Three women who teach you about strength.

If there is only one book that could make me happy to be a woman in America in the 21st century, this is it. The trials, hardship, torture of these three women are difficult to comprehend. The book is both fascinating and challenging; brutal and uplifting. Somehow the author tells her story with so much heart and such a sense of tribute and love for her family that it allowed me to breathe it in with joy even as I read of the horrific circumstances of their lives. I found myself learning history, better understanding politics, and confirming certain personal convictions. It is a difficult book for me to review. How does one criticize a personal and open story? I will say that I would have liked the story to include lengthier studies of her grandmother and great-grandmother, and perhaps slightly less of the exploration of communism. But that is my only (very minor) complaint.

Reveals the Evolution of Communism in China.

What did you love best about Wild Swans?

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

What did you like best about this story?

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

If we don’t learn history, it will repeat itself.

This was difficult to listen to because it was so real and because similarities are starting to be seen presently, if you don’t agree with the present accepted regime in other countries besides China. Sometimes I had to stop reading because of how depressed I would feel for these amazingly strong women and our world. Yet, I would always come back, listening to Jung Chang’s strength and determination against difficulties that seemed insurmountable, to hear her story. Very well written and presented.

Triumph of Human Spirit

This was an astounding journey through a history only vaguely pictured previously. The book explores the dark and bright ends of the human endeavor, each promoted by the same ideals of truth and integrity. I now appreciate that China over the past 100-plus years is perhaps the starkest demonstration of that age-old struggle.

History and personal story combined effortlessly

I personally have an interest in China and the history about China, so this was a must read for me. Keep in mind when I say read I mean listen.
Wild Swans was a wonderful blend of multi-generations and multi-governmental impact. There was an amazing opportunity that Jung Chang gave us by compiling these stories/history. The description of the changes in how the common person was affected by each regime, as well as the transition and treatment of the usurped leaders, local and national was very insightful. I highly recommend this book to those who would like to understand the situation that allowed/caused the change in governmental ruling throughout the 1900's in China.