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Manny's Reviews > Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China

Wild Swans by Jung Chang
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really liked it
bookshelves: history-and-biography

At a conference dinner some time in the mid-90s, I found myself sitting next to this extremely impressive Chinese woman researcher - bunch of frequently cited publications, well-read in three languages, manages to look gorgeous as well. I cast around for something to say.

"I liked that Wild Swans book," I hazarded. "Do you know it?"

She looked at me scornfully. "Any Chinese woman could have written that!" she replied. "There are a hundred million stories just like it."

I must admit I had a little trouble believing her. But would Professor Fung have lied to me? That seems even less plausible.
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Reading Progress

Started Reading
January 1, 1992 – Finished Reading
January 12, 2009 – Shelved
March 17, 2011 – Shelved as: history-and-biography

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Comments Showing 1-15 of 15 (15 new)

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message 1: by Robert (new)
17 mar. 2011 22:15

Robert According to my colleague, Ping, you should have tried talking about Monkey or The Stone Book; they are Chinese classics. I still haven't read either of them...


message 2: by Cecily (new) - rated it 4 stars
01 mai 2013 14:49

Cecily Even if it's true that any Chinese woman could have written it, perhaps the point is that they didn't (or that they didn't get it published).


message 3: by Manny (new) - rated it 4 stars
01 mai 2013 14:55

Manny I am a little reluctant to believe that a hundred million other Chinese women have Jung Chang's writing skills. But what do I know about it?


message 4: by Cecily (new) - rated it 4 stars
01 mai 2013 15:00

Cecily You're probably right - hence the lack of a hundred million, or even just a hundred, other versions.


message 5: by Jonah (new) - rated it 5 stars
30 juil. 2017 06:38

Jonah Chen That sounds a bit sour, maybe you could answer: "but it's only Chang who write it down!"


message 6: by Laura (new) - rated it 5 stars
07 mai 2019 18:07

Laura And, isn't that the point? We need to know about these stories? How else would be learn from history and prevent something like this from happening elsewhere to have a better understanding of those who lived through events like these?


message 7: by Hal (new) - added it
05 juin 2019 13:37

Hal Was that a "my kid could have drawn this Jackson Pollock painting!" situation?


message 8: by Cecily (new) - rated it 4 stars
05 juin 2019 14:31

Cecily Hal wrote: "Was that a "my kid could have drawn this Jackson Pollock painting!" situation?"

Have a look at Why Your Five-Year-Old Could Not Have Done That: Modern Art Explained.


message 9: by Hal (new) - added it
05 juin 2019 23:40

Hal Thank you for the recommendation! 😊


message 10: by Manny (new) - rated it 4 stars
20 jan. 2021 07:24

Manny Eva, I'm sorry if I offended you. I know very little about China, though I wish I was less ignorant. Just passing on Professor Fung's comments, and it sounds like you more or less agree with her...


message 11: by Eva Linghan (new) - rated it 5 stars
20 jan. 2021 07:41

Eva Linghan Scheller lol I think I accumulated alot of bitterness and anger while reading through all these reviews and reflecting on how they tie to the many racist acts committed in the past year. The point still stands but in less angry and inappropriate terms. My apologies.


message 12: by Manny (new) - rated it 4 stars
20 jan. 2021 08:01

Manny I don't have any close Chinese friends, but pretty much all of my professional interactions with Chinese people have been positive. If you look me up on Google Scholar you'll see I have several joint papers with Chinese coauthors, and it has been an absolute pleasure to work with them.

I can see why you might be a little trigger-happy after the last four years!


message 13: by [deleted user] (new)
20 jan. 2021 18:15

I'll have you know that I've had many Bobo friends. I just wish they'd keep their China Bat pets to themselves.


message 14: by Pete (new) - added it
22 jan. 2021 14:43

Pete Wong Hi Manny, just come across your comments you posted 9 years ago.
Of course there were not (and still are not) 100 millions women in China possessing such writing skill. I suppose you know that scornful lady was actually saying what Jung Chang depicted in her book were everyday lives of every Chinese woman in those years.


message 15: by Babete (new) - rated it 4 stars
21 mar. 2021 14:05

Babete So much suffering, i had no ideia!


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