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Our Story: A Memoir of Love and Life in China
A graphic memoir like no other: the true story of a marriage in China that spanned the twentieth century, told in vibrant, original paintings and prose by the now ninety-five-year-old author.
Rao Pingru was a twenty-six-year-old soldier when he saw Mao Meitang, a girl he'd known from childhood who had grown up to be a beautiful woman--the woman his father had arranged for him to marry. One glimpse of her through a window as she put on lipstick was enough to capture Rao's heart, the moment that sparked a union that would last almost sixty years.
Our Story is that epic romance told through his paintings and accompanying text. We see Pingru and Meitang through the decades, in both poverty and good fortune--looking for work, opening a restaurant, moving cities, mending shoes, raising their children, and being separated for seventeen years by the government when Pingru is sent to a labor camp. As they age, China undergoes extraordinary growth, political turmoil, and cultural change. When Meitang passes away in 2008, Pingru memorializes his wife and their relationship the only way he knows how: through painting. In an outpouring of love and grief, he puts it all on paper. It's a tale at once tragic and inspiring, of enduring love and simple values, an old-fashioned story that unfolds in a nation rapidly becoming modern. Spanning 1923 to 2008, Our Story is a truly singular graphic memoir.
Rao Pingru was a twenty-six-year-old soldier when he saw Mao Meitang, a girl he'd known from childhood who had grown up to be a beautiful woman--the woman his father had arranged for him to marry. One glimpse of her through a window as she put on lipstick was enough to capture Rao's heart, the moment that sparked a union that would last almost sixty years.
Our Story is that epic romance told through his paintings and accompanying text. We see Pingru and Meitang through the decades, in both poverty and good fortune--looking for work, opening a restaurant, moving cities, mending shoes, raising their children, and being separated for seventeen years by the government when Pingru is sent to a labor camp. As they age, China undergoes extraordinary growth, political turmoil, and cultural change. When Meitang passes away in 2008, Pingru memorializes his wife and their relationship the only way he knows how: through painting. In an outpouring of love and grief, he puts it all on paper. It's a tale at once tragic and inspiring, of enduring love and simple values, an old-fashioned story that unfolds in a nation rapidly becoming modern. Spanning 1923 to 2008, Our Story is a truly singular graphic memoir.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2013
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March 30, 2020
A raíz de la muerte de su mujer Meitang, Pingru decide empezar a dibujar la historia de su vida conjunta. En 2013 se publicaron todos estos dibujos, junto con la historia contada de la vida que pasaron juntos. Este libro no es otra cosa más que una preciosa declaración de amor. O así lo he sentido yo.
Lo primero que destaca al adentrarte en La historia de Pingru y Meitang son sus dibujos. Es curioso que ilustraciones tan sencillas, puedan evocarte de una manera tan sentida, todas las sensaciones que Pingru va describiéndote sobre los aspectos más cotidianos de su día a día a lo largo de su vida y la de Meitang. Pingru comenzó a dibujar al jubilarse, y no fue hasta la muerte de su mujer, cuando ya tenía 87 años, que decidió dibujar la historia que habían vivido durante más de 60 años. Digno de admirar.
La historia se remontará al nacimiento de ambos, su infancia y su crecimiento, hasta el momento en que ambos se conozcan y se prometan. Uno de mis pasajes favoritos es el recuerdo de Pingru la primera vez que vio de adulta a Meitang. Ella estaba pintándose los labios delante de un espejo y, a través de una ventana, el pudo verla y quedó prendado de su imagen.
Habiendo vivido una infancia sin escasez, después de casarse empezarán a sentir la ausencia de muchas cosas. Les tocó vivir entre guerras que se solapaban unas a otras como la gran guerra de China y Japón, con la invasión de esta última; la posterior guerra civil producto de la expulsión de Japón de China; o la Revolución cultural China con el envío de Pingru al campo para su reeducación.
Siempre disfruto estas historias donde sea habla tanto de lo cotidiano, de lo sencillo, de lo que de verdad importa. Esta importancia a la familia y la unión de todos ellos, aún separados por la época, no se olvida. Me gusta mucho ese sentimiento que muestran las historias que he leído sobre China en el sentido familiar. Y en este libro se muestra constantemente.
Otra cosa que siempre me gusta de la literatura asiática, y en este libro destaca especialmente, es el valor que se le da a la comida. La comida es alabada constantemente y este libro no solo es el viaje de Meitang y Pingru a lo largo de su vida, si no que está unido muy estrechamente a los recuerdos de los alimentos que tomaron. Muchos de esos alimentos le evocaban recuerdos preciosos que querían guardar. El culto a la comida en Oriente es una de las cosas que más me atrae de su cultura. En Occidente no encuentro ese respeto tan natural por los alimentos.
En definitiva, un libro que se disfruta muchísimo, que es un canto al amor y a la sencillez, que se va a quedar conmigo mucho tiempo <3.
Lo primero que destaca al adentrarte en La historia de Pingru y Meitang son sus dibujos. Es curioso que ilustraciones tan sencillas, puedan evocarte de una manera tan sentida, todas las sensaciones que Pingru va describiéndote sobre los aspectos más cotidianos de su día a día a lo largo de su vida y la de Meitang. Pingru comenzó a dibujar al jubilarse, y no fue hasta la muerte de su mujer, cuando ya tenía 87 años, que decidió dibujar la historia que habían vivido durante más de 60 años. Digno de admirar.
La historia se remontará al nacimiento de ambos, su infancia y su crecimiento, hasta el momento en que ambos se conozcan y se prometan. Uno de mis pasajes favoritos es el recuerdo de Pingru la primera vez que vio de adulta a Meitang. Ella estaba pintándose los labios delante de un espejo y, a través de una ventana, el pudo verla y quedó prendado de su imagen.
Habiendo vivido una infancia sin escasez, después de casarse empezarán a sentir la ausencia de muchas cosas. Les tocó vivir entre guerras que se solapaban unas a otras como la gran guerra de China y Japón, con la invasión de esta última; la posterior guerra civil producto de la expulsión de Japón de China; o la Revolución cultural China con el envío de Pingru al campo para su reeducación.
Siempre disfruto estas historias donde sea habla tanto de lo cotidiano, de lo sencillo, de lo que de verdad importa. Esta importancia a la familia y la unión de todos ellos, aún separados por la época, no se olvida. Me gusta mucho ese sentimiento que muestran las historias que he leído sobre China en el sentido familiar. Y en este libro se muestra constantemente.
Otra cosa que siempre me gusta de la literatura asiática, y en este libro destaca especialmente, es el valor que se le da a la comida. La comida es alabada constantemente y este libro no solo es el viaje de Meitang y Pingru a lo largo de su vida, si no que está unido muy estrechamente a los recuerdos de los alimentos que tomaron. Muchos de esos alimentos le evocaban recuerdos preciosos que querían guardar. El culto a la comida en Oriente es una de las cosas que más me atrae de su cultura. En Occidente no encuentro ese respeto tan natural por los alimentos.
En definitiva, un libro que se disfruta muchísimo, que es un canto al amor y a la sencillez, que se va a quedar conmigo mucho tiempo <3.
March 9, 2020
Elegí este libro como segunda lectura del marzo asiático. La primera vez que lo vi en la librería el verano pasado, sufrí un flechazo. Lo compré hace poco y tenía las expectativas muy altas, así que me congratula decir que no me ha decepcionado en absoluto.
A través de sus páginas, Rao Pingru, nacido en 1922 y todavía vivo a día de hoy, nos acerca a la historia de la China del siglo XX. Pero este no es un libro de historia propiamente dicho, es más bien un acercamiento a su familia, sus costumbres y cómo todos fueron saliendo adelante ante las dificultades a las que se tuvieron que enfrentar, reinventándose una y otra vez y sufriendo hambre, separaciones e incertidumbre.
Aunque al final del libro se incluye una cronología de China, durante la novela Pingru relata los acontecimientos políticos y bélicos de forma bastante suave y disimulada. Por ejemplo, dice que “en 1957 todo empezó a ir mal”, y a continuación habla de cómo su familia afrontó la situación, pero no cuenta con pelos y señales la Campaña de las Cien Flores. Tampoco era esa su intención.
En 2008, tras sesenta años de matrimonio, Meitang, la esposa de Pingru, falleció. Fue entonces cuando él decidió empezar a escribir e ilustrar la historia de sus vidas y de la familia, para que fuera un bonito recuerdo para sus nietos. Pingru llenó veinte cuadernos, que más tarde se convirtieron en este libro. Con lo cual, estamos ante un documento sencillo, en que se habla mucho de la China del siglo XX a nivel cotidiano, desde los ojos de una familia muy, muy modesta pero que siempre estuvo unida, incluso a pesar de la distancia que separó a Pingru de los suyos durante veinte años por causas políticas.
El lenguaje es sencillo y está cargado de ternura, se entiende a la perfección el profundo amor que Pingru sentía por Meitang. Nos cuenta cómo se conocieron, anécdotas de su vida en común, momentos cotidianos que les dejaron huella, costumbres, festividades, los momentos que compartieron con su familia o sus comidas favoritas. En definitiva, esas pequeñas cosas que a todos nos llenan. Y a través de todo ello se nos presenta un rico retrato cultural sobre la China del XX, la de las guerras, la de Mao, la de la Revolución Cultural… Este libro es muchas cosas, tiene muchas capas y enseñanzas y unas ilustraciones preciosas.
Si estáis buscando empaparos al 100% de la historia de China del último siglo, tal vez este no sea el mejor ejemplo a ese nivel, pero si le dais una oportunidad os encontraréis con un libro perfecto en su simpleza, muy especial y único, lleno de emotividad y buenos sentimientos, con vidas y personas normales que tuvieron la desgracia de ser marcadas por la historia de su país. Sin duda, invita a reflexión.
A través de sus páginas, Rao Pingru, nacido en 1922 y todavía vivo a día de hoy, nos acerca a la historia de la China del siglo XX. Pero este no es un libro de historia propiamente dicho, es más bien un acercamiento a su familia, sus costumbres y cómo todos fueron saliendo adelante ante las dificultades a las que se tuvieron que enfrentar, reinventándose una y otra vez y sufriendo hambre, separaciones e incertidumbre.
Aunque al final del libro se incluye una cronología de China, durante la novela Pingru relata los acontecimientos políticos y bélicos de forma bastante suave y disimulada. Por ejemplo, dice que “en 1957 todo empezó a ir mal”, y a continuación habla de cómo su familia afrontó la situación, pero no cuenta con pelos y señales la Campaña de las Cien Flores. Tampoco era esa su intención.
En 2008, tras sesenta años de matrimonio, Meitang, la esposa de Pingru, falleció. Fue entonces cuando él decidió empezar a escribir e ilustrar la historia de sus vidas y de la familia, para que fuera un bonito recuerdo para sus nietos. Pingru llenó veinte cuadernos, que más tarde se convirtieron en este libro. Con lo cual, estamos ante un documento sencillo, en que se habla mucho de la China del siglo XX a nivel cotidiano, desde los ojos de una familia muy, muy modesta pero que siempre estuvo unida, incluso a pesar de la distancia que separó a Pingru de los suyos durante veinte años por causas políticas.
El lenguaje es sencillo y está cargado de ternura, se entiende a la perfección el profundo amor que Pingru sentía por Meitang. Nos cuenta cómo se conocieron, anécdotas de su vida en común, momentos cotidianos que les dejaron huella, costumbres, festividades, los momentos que compartieron con su familia o sus comidas favoritas. En definitiva, esas pequeñas cosas que a todos nos llenan. Y a través de todo ello se nos presenta un rico retrato cultural sobre la China del XX, la de las guerras, la de Mao, la de la Revolución Cultural… Este libro es muchas cosas, tiene muchas capas y enseñanzas y unas ilustraciones preciosas.
Si estáis buscando empaparos al 100% de la historia de China del último siglo, tal vez este no sea el mejor ejemplo a ese nivel, pero si le dais una oportunidad os encontraréis con un libro perfecto en su simpleza, muy especial y único, lleno de emotividad y buenos sentimientos, con vidas y personas normales que tuvieron la desgracia de ser marcadas por la historia de su país. Sin duda, invita a reflexión.
January 17, 2025
Was für ein unvergleichliches Leseerlebnis, was für ein Buch! Zum Niederknien schön, danke an den leider schon vor wenigen Jahren verstorbenen Autor Rao Pingru, danke an die großartige Übersetzerin, die aus den Aufzeichnungen nicht bloß eine Übersetzung sondern eine bemerkenswerte literarische Interpretation geschaffen hat und danke an den liebevollen Zeichner Rao Pingru, der durch seine Illustrationen dem grauen Alltag Farbe und Seele verleiht. Und Danke auch an den Matthes & Seitz Verlag, der aus dem Stoff ein höchst aufwändiges, haptisches und optisches Meisterstück gefertigt hat.
Ein Buch für die Ewigkeit, ein Zeitzeugen-Dokument in der denkbar schönsten Gestaltung.
Übrigens auch ein wunderbares, kostbares Geschenk für jeden, der irgendeinen persönlichen oder beruflichen Kontext zu China hat.
Am beeindruckendsten waren für mich die gefühlt 200 wunderschönen Zeichnungen, die jede Etappe des Buches begleiten. Es ist die Geschichte eines Lebens, startend in Raos Kindheit und die Geschichte eines Ehepaares, bis zum Tod der Frau (Meitang), 2008, kurz vor den olympischen Sommerspielen. Sie hat 5 Kinder mehr oder weniger alleine großgezogen, während ihr Mann Rao weit weg im Arbeitslager/Umerziehungslager war, 22 Jahre lang.
Das Memoir erstreckt sich insgesamt über eine Zeit von fast 80 Jahren, nie pathetisch, nie wehleidig oder (an)klagend, es ist ein sehr persönlicher Begleittext zur großen Geschichte, Tragödien und politische Katastrophen werden hingenommen, der Einzelne versucht irgendwie zu überleben, nicht zu verhungern, nicht zu erfrieren. Es ist somit auch das Zeugnis eines Menschen, der in einer Kultur lebt, in der die großen Ereignisse, die politischen Machenschaften einfach stattfinden, der „kleine Mann“ aus dem Volk hat darauf keinen Einfluss und zerbricht sich deshalb gar nicht den Kopf, ob das gut oder schlecht ist, es ist einfach so und er muss damit umgehen, es wird keine Zeit damit vergeudet, darüber nachzudenken, ob die richtigen Politiker an der Macht sind; die ganze Kreativität fließt in den Überlebenskampf, für sich selbst, die Familie, Freunde. Was für uns selbstverständlich ist, wie Essen oder Kleidung, ein sicheres Heim, medizinische Versorgung, sind hier die Aspekte, um die sich der Alltag dreht. Eine seltene Speise, ein wärmendes Kleidungsstück sind die kleinen und großen Freuden.
Die ganze Monstrosität des autoritären Regimes ist immer präsent, zeigt sich in den Auswirkungen auf das Leben von Raos Familie, aber in den ganzen 500 Seiten findet sich kaum ein konkreter Gedanke oder ein gesprochenes Wort über die große Politik und deren Akteure. Auch in den Briefen, die Meitang über 2 Jahrzehnte ins Lager zu ihrem Mann schickt, geht es immer um die oben beschriebenen Alltagsdinge. Dieses Buch kann wirklich als Kleinod der Hoffnung und Zuversicht gelesen werden …. bequem auf dem Sofa im warmen Wohnzimmer mit großer Dankbarkeit.
Ein Buch für die Ewigkeit, ein Zeitzeugen-Dokument in der denkbar schönsten Gestaltung.
Übrigens auch ein wunderbares, kostbares Geschenk für jeden, der irgendeinen persönlichen oder beruflichen Kontext zu China hat.
Am beeindruckendsten waren für mich die gefühlt 200 wunderschönen Zeichnungen, die jede Etappe des Buches begleiten. Es ist die Geschichte eines Lebens, startend in Raos Kindheit und die Geschichte eines Ehepaares, bis zum Tod der Frau (Meitang), 2008, kurz vor den olympischen Sommerspielen. Sie hat 5 Kinder mehr oder weniger alleine großgezogen, während ihr Mann Rao weit weg im Arbeitslager/Umerziehungslager war, 22 Jahre lang.
Das Memoir erstreckt sich insgesamt über eine Zeit von fast 80 Jahren, nie pathetisch, nie wehleidig oder (an)klagend, es ist ein sehr persönlicher Begleittext zur großen Geschichte, Tragödien und politische Katastrophen werden hingenommen, der Einzelne versucht irgendwie zu überleben, nicht zu verhungern, nicht zu erfrieren. Es ist somit auch das Zeugnis eines Menschen, der in einer Kultur lebt, in der die großen Ereignisse, die politischen Machenschaften einfach stattfinden, der „kleine Mann“ aus dem Volk hat darauf keinen Einfluss und zerbricht sich deshalb gar nicht den Kopf, ob das gut oder schlecht ist, es ist einfach so und er muss damit umgehen, es wird keine Zeit damit vergeudet, darüber nachzudenken, ob die richtigen Politiker an der Macht sind; die ganze Kreativität fließt in den Überlebenskampf, für sich selbst, die Familie, Freunde. Was für uns selbstverständlich ist, wie Essen oder Kleidung, ein sicheres Heim, medizinische Versorgung, sind hier die Aspekte, um die sich der Alltag dreht. Eine seltene Speise, ein wärmendes Kleidungsstück sind die kleinen und großen Freuden.
Die ganze Monstrosität des autoritären Regimes ist immer präsent, zeigt sich in den Auswirkungen auf das Leben von Raos Familie, aber in den ganzen 500 Seiten findet sich kaum ein konkreter Gedanke oder ein gesprochenes Wort über die große Politik und deren Akteure. Auch in den Briefen, die Meitang über 2 Jahrzehnte ins Lager zu ihrem Mann schickt, geht es immer um die oben beschriebenen Alltagsdinge. Dieses Buch kann wirklich als Kleinod der Hoffnung und Zuversicht gelesen werden …. bequem auf dem Sofa im warmen Wohnzimmer mit großer Dankbarkeit.
January 23, 2019
Somewhat episodic, with plain, unadorned language, this memoir is nonetheless rather moving, as Rao Pingru relates many incidents from his long life, and from that of his wife Mao Meitang, a woman he'd known since his childhood. Pingru and Meitang live through many turbulent events in China's past, including the Japanese invasion and the cultural revolution.
Throughout this memoir, we get many little details of Pingru's everyday life, such as ingredients in the steamed meatballs he loved, the colour of a proudly-worn robe of his grandmother, how he taught himself to play the violin while at a work camp, and sitting together with Meitang. The memoir begins with Pingru's childhood, and through his years in the army, then his marriage. There are many, detailed paintings made by the author to accompany his text. The paintings are simple in style and sometimes quite beautiful; one in particular that stays with me is near the end of the memoir and is a picture of Pingru and Maitang standing together against a brilliantly coloured sky. The whole volume is charming and moving.
Throughout this memoir, we get many little details of Pingru's everyday life, such as ingredients in the steamed meatballs he loved, the colour of a proudly-worn robe of his grandmother, how he taught himself to play the violin while at a work camp, and sitting together with Meitang. The memoir begins with Pingru's childhood, and through his years in the army, then his marriage. There are many, detailed paintings made by the author to accompany his text. The paintings are simple in style and sometimes quite beautiful; one in particular that stays with me is near the end of the memoir and is a picture of Pingru and Maitang standing together against a brilliantly coloured sky. The whole volume is charming and moving.
August 28, 2017
Un libro que se lee rápido y no tiene la prevención de ser una gran obra. Pingru cuenta su vida ilustrada junto a su esposa Meitang. Un libro que nos expone a la vida de una familia normal que vivió todos los cambios en China, simplemente contando su experiencia sin una toma de posición con respecto al mundo que los rodea.
June 7, 2025
Our Story was cute.
The paintings really tied the entire narrative together.
My favorite paintings were on pages 98, 148, 163, 201, 208, 224-225, 232, 286, and 313, especially the ones where Rao was wearing an orange suit because orange is my favorite color.
The supplemental poetry and appendix of Meitang's letters at the end were heartwarming. It's a shame that his mother's poems did not survive. The diagrams of inventions and before/after of their children's childhood ambitions vs. present occupations were also wicked interesting.
As many good non-fiction love stories I have read go, there was a mystic and genuine element to handwritten communications.
"I filled three or four pages in every letter, telling her what was going on, and my plans for the future before consigning it to the army mail." (126)
The invitation for the "diamond wedding" was literally on page 143!
I still can't believe that they only had ONE quarrel in their entire marriage that only lasted a few hours and was resolved with giggles. I can only imagine what a joy it would be to travel the world with a special and beautiful companion, plus someone to play fun card games with. Even when Rao was forced into Reeducation Through Labor for twenty-some-odd-years, he still managed to find the time to write to the woman he loved.
"We were separated by distance, but we never stopped writing to each other." (255)
The saddest part was when he went to mail a letter and was ONE CENT short, so they took his stamp away. :-(
The paintings really tied the entire narrative together.
My favorite paintings were on pages 98, 148, 163, 201, 208, 224-225, 232, 286, and 313, especially the ones where Rao was wearing an orange suit because orange is my favorite color.
The supplemental poetry and appendix of Meitang's letters at the end were heartwarming. It's a shame that his mother's poems did not survive. The diagrams of inventions and before/after of their children's childhood ambitions vs. present occupations were also wicked interesting.
As many good non-fiction love stories I have read go, there was a mystic and genuine element to handwritten communications.
"I filled three or four pages in every letter, telling her what was going on, and my plans for the future before consigning it to the army mail." (126)
The invitation for the "diamond wedding" was literally on page 143!
I still can't believe that they only had ONE quarrel in their entire marriage that only lasted a few hours and was resolved with giggles. I can only imagine what a joy it would be to travel the world with a special and beautiful companion, plus someone to play fun card games with. Even when Rao was forced into Reeducation Through Labor for twenty-some-odd-years, he still managed to find the time to write to the woman he loved.
"We were separated by distance, but we never stopped writing to each other." (255)
The saddest part was when he went to mail a letter and was ONE CENT short, so they took his stamp away. :-(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2019
I don't like biographies. Autobiographies even less. And yet I have this to say about "Our Story" by Rao Pingru:
There are few books that are as enjoyable as this one.
"Our Story" is the autobiography of Chinese natives Rao Pingru and his wife Mao Meitang as they meet, marry, and grow old together. Every story includes paintings made by Pingru and little vignettes explaining each painting and going into greater detail into his life - the good and the bad. He fought the Japanese in WWII, saw his home town destroyed, worked in a re-education camp for 20 years, and had six children who would all have interesting lives of their own.
It's a beautiful story of a life lived, of the things we remember, of the power of a good meal and a good family.
It's a very unique picture into real life and it filled me with joy reading it. Just like real life, it starts and stops and ends abruptly. But that only adds to the charm or this marvelous life.
I highly recommend "Our Story" by Rao Pingru. It's not a traditional autobiography or a traditional story, but it's excellent and worthy of your time.
There are few books that are as enjoyable as this one.
"Our Story" is the autobiography of Chinese natives Rao Pingru and his wife Mao Meitang as they meet, marry, and grow old together. Every story includes paintings made by Pingru and little vignettes explaining each painting and going into greater detail into his life - the good and the bad. He fought the Japanese in WWII, saw his home town destroyed, worked in a re-education camp for 20 years, and had six children who would all have interesting lives of their own.
It's a beautiful story of a life lived, of the things we remember, of the power of a good meal and a good family.
It's a very unique picture into real life and it filled me with joy reading it. Just like real life, it starts and stops and ends abruptly. But that only adds to the charm or this marvelous life.
I highly recommend "Our Story" by Rao Pingru. It's not a traditional autobiography or a traditional story, but it's excellent and worthy of your time.
June 21, 2020
Rao Pingru wrote this charming "graphic novel." It contains text and numerous paintings.
My first clear memories are of the ceremony that marked the formal start of my schooling: the Four Treasures of Study, the brand-new brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Uncle Huang, whose calligraphy was beautiful, grasped my hand and together we traced the first lesson.
In 1940, Rao set off to join the First Command Whampoa Academy. I admired Napoleon and chose the artillery but upon graduation (1943) chose the 100th Army stationed in Yongfeng county in Jiangxi. I was determined to go home first and pay my respects at my mother's grave. Then I would go and kill the enemy and die without regret.
He married Mao Meitang in 1948 and writes of walks by a lake or snacking on Nanchang's "ovenside sesame cakes," chatting and sipping tea. Once they quarreled and stopped talking for a few hours. It was the only instance in their marriage that Rao could recall.
After the Revolution of 1949, Rao tried his hand at business. The family settled in Shanghai where he worked as an accountant at the hospital and as Art and Literature editor at Dade Publications.
1957 brought a drastic change in the political climate and Rao spent 1958-80 in "Re-education through Labor." Meitang survived with their five children on work in factories. Rao worked at a factory during reeducation and was allowed to go home for Chinese New Year. When released he had to sign an agreement not to return to the factory or make any future demand on them. He registered at the Shanghai neighborhood and got his old jobs back.
"When winter is at its coldest, spring cannot be far behind." He hoped that "the two of us should find a quiet spot in the countryside, have a small allotment, and live the simple life.
This world no longer exists. We are grateful for Rao's story.
My first clear memories are of the ceremony that marked the formal start of my schooling: the Four Treasures of Study, the brand-new brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Uncle Huang, whose calligraphy was beautiful, grasped my hand and together we traced the first lesson.
In 1940, Rao set off to join the First Command Whampoa Academy. I admired Napoleon and chose the artillery but upon graduation (1943) chose the 100th Army stationed in Yongfeng county in Jiangxi. I was determined to go home first and pay my respects at my mother's grave. Then I would go and kill the enemy and die without regret.
He married Mao Meitang in 1948 and writes of walks by a lake or snacking on Nanchang's "ovenside sesame cakes," chatting and sipping tea. Once they quarreled and stopped talking for a few hours. It was the only instance in their marriage that Rao could recall.
After the Revolution of 1949, Rao tried his hand at business. The family settled in Shanghai where he worked as an accountant at the hospital and as Art and Literature editor at Dade Publications.
1957 brought a drastic change in the political climate and Rao spent 1958-80 in "Re-education through Labor." Meitang survived with their five children on work in factories. Rao worked at a factory during reeducation and was allowed to go home for Chinese New Year. When released he had to sign an agreement not to return to the factory or make any future demand on them. He registered at the Shanghai neighborhood and got his old jobs back.
"When winter is at its coldest, spring cannot be far behind." He hoped that "the two of us should find a quiet spot in the countryside, have a small allotment, and live the simple life.
This world no longer exists. We are grateful for Rao's story.
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November 20, 2021▫️ OUR STORY: A Memoir of Love and Life in China by Rao Pingru, tr. Nicky Harman, 2013.
OUR STORY is quite a special artifact in itself, beautifully bound with a simple and elegant cover design. The story and art inside continues this careful and simplistic form.
Written when Rao was 93 years old, this is a love letter to his deceased wife and graphic memoir of their life during much of the 20th century in China. The writing is detailed and mundane - in the best possible way. The small moments that lead to a full life: first date, wedding, how the sun comes in the window of their first apartment... Rao's art graces nearly every page alongside the translated text.
Much detail is spent in their early years together, but very little in the 20 years of separation, when Rao was sent to a re-education camp in the Cultural Revolution. Reunited in 1979, and with a full family, they move into later life, recording till the end of his wife's life in 2008 with kidney failure. Rao Pingru passed away in Shanghai in 2020 at the age of 99.
OUR STORY is quite a special artifact in itself, beautifully bound with a simple and elegant cover design. The story and art inside continues this careful and simplistic form.
Written when Rao was 93 years old, this is a love letter to his deceased wife and graphic memoir of their life during much of the 20th century in China. The writing is detailed and mundane - in the best possible way. The small moments that lead to a full life: first date, wedding, how the sun comes in the window of their first apartment... Rao's art graces nearly every page alongside the translated text.
Much detail is spent in their early years together, but very little in the 20 years of separation, when Rao was sent to a re-education camp in the Cultural Revolution. Reunited in 1979, and with a full family, they move into later life, recording till the end of his wife's life in 2008 with kidney failure. Rao Pingru passed away in Shanghai in 2020 at the age of 99.
May 14, 2018
“For ordinary people like us, life is made up of numbers of small details that stay with us for no particular reason and, with the passing of time, turn into treasured memories.”
Our Story is a contradiction; it’s simplistic, yet evocative, hopeful, but full of regrets. It’s unlike anything I’ve read.
I’ve been ordering graphic novels for my library’s collection, and I’m glad I’ve been able to read some graphic memoirs like this one. Pingru has beautiful illustrations he’s created from memory - they’re gorgeous. As that quote reads above, he often speaks of the small details of his life with his wife Meitang. These details were usually related to food, that they either cooked or ordered, or where they traveled in China.
This story was just so touching and treated with such care and love.
Our Story is a contradiction; it’s simplistic, yet evocative, hopeful, but full of regrets. It’s unlike anything I’ve read.
I’ve been ordering graphic novels for my library’s collection, and I’m glad I’ve been able to read some graphic memoirs like this one. Pingru has beautiful illustrations he’s created from memory - they’re gorgeous. As that quote reads above, he often speaks of the small details of his life with his wife Meitang. These details were usually related to food, that they either cooked or ordered, or where they traveled in China.
This story was just so touching and treated with such care and love.
January 26, 2025
There is something so profound about being in love and having it being your grounding point. Love being the basis for what you do and why you do it. It was amazing to read about hoe you can live a happy, yet difficult, life while focusing always on love.
Highs: illustrations are beautiful; the prose is simple and clear; the details about the small things made me smile.
Lows: I cried a few times, I knew how it ended, I realized I was not as knowledgable on Chinese history as I thought I was.
Highs: illustrations are beautiful; the prose is simple and clear; the details about the small things made me smile.
Lows: I cried a few times, I knew how it ended, I realized I was not as knowledgable on Chinese history as I thought I was.
March 22, 2022
3,5 Este libro queda fuera de valoración literaria. Se trata de un diario con ilustraciones creadas por el propio Pingru en el que nos relata su vida y la de su familia. El libro nos ayuda a poder ver lo que ha sido la historia de China en el siglo xx a través de los ojos de este hombre pero para mi cuando el libro termina de convertirse en un gran libro es cuando en la parte final aparecen las cartas de Meitang a su marido en los años en los que estuvieron separados cuando su esposo fue enviado a un campo de trabajo por el gobierno comunista chino.
December 24, 2018
This is a totally different book from any I have ever read.
It is a beautiful artifact. It is not bound like a regular western-style book, and I was intrigued the moment I picked it up at the library.
There are lovely, simple illustrations on most pages, but again, not like the illustrations in most books. I loved that nearly every illustration has its own description and that each illustration includes Chinese characters (that are always translated). The author is the illustrator and he carefully identifies all the people in each illustration. The pictures are simply wonderful and an integral part of the book. I lalso oved the photograph of the author and his wife as young people inside the front cover balanced by the author and his wife as old people inside the back cover
The story is told by a man in his 80s looking back at life. He never really complains, but I think it must have often been a difficult life. He was born in China into a relatively well-off family and married into an affluent family. The picture of his family life is interesting and I found the personal details interesting and authentic. After the war and revolution, he was sent to work in the country as part of re-education – this lasted 20 years. I gained a new understanding of how regular people lived during this time.
This is not a great writing, but the sincerity and the illustrations are real. It touched me deeply. I loved the simplicity of the book and the honesty with which he tells his story.
Thank you to Devon for suggesting this book. I would never have found it otherwise.
It is a beautiful artifact. It is not bound like a regular western-style book, and I was intrigued the moment I picked it up at the library.
There are lovely, simple illustrations on most pages, but again, not like the illustrations in most books. I loved that nearly every illustration has its own description and that each illustration includes Chinese characters (that are always translated). The author is the illustrator and he carefully identifies all the people in each illustration. The pictures are simply wonderful and an integral part of the book. I lalso oved the photograph of the author and his wife as young people inside the front cover balanced by the author and his wife as old people inside the back cover
The story is told by a man in his 80s looking back at life. He never really complains, but I think it must have often been a difficult life. He was born in China into a relatively well-off family and married into an affluent family. The picture of his family life is interesting and I found the personal details interesting and authentic. After the war and revolution, he was sent to work in the country as part of re-education – this lasted 20 years. I gained a new understanding of how regular people lived during this time.
This is not a great writing, but the sincerity and the illustrations are real. It touched me deeply. I loved the simplicity of the book and the honesty with which he tells his story.
Thank you to Devon for suggesting this book. I would never have found it otherwise.
December 8, 2020
I haven’t read a graphic novel in ages, and I was missing them so I picked up Our Story, which follows Rao and his wife Meitang from their respective childhoods to when they got married. This isn’t like a traditional graphic novel, where the story is told through panels and dialogue bubbles. Instead, the story is told through written paragraphs, with illustrations on almost every page accompanying the story. I thought this method of storytelling was perfect for Rao’s story, as it allowed him to provide us with a lot of detail and gave the entire volume the feeling of a diary.
Rao picked up drawing in his old age, yet the art that graces almost every page is absolutely gorgeous! I loved turning the page to see another whimsical illustration that is so clearly filled with love.
Sadly, Rao passed away earlier this year, at the age of 98. His life is absolutely astounding, and I’m so happy he got to create this beautiful volume to share with the world. If you’re at all interested in modern Chinese history, or simply in a sweet family story, please check out this gorgeous book!
Rao picked up drawing in his old age, yet the art that graces almost every page is absolutely gorgeous! I loved turning the page to see another whimsical illustration that is so clearly filled with love.
Sadly, Rao passed away earlier this year, at the age of 98. His life is absolutely astounding, and I’m so happy he got to create this beautiful volume to share with the world. If you’re at all interested in modern Chinese history, or simply in a sweet family story, please check out this gorgeous book!
October 9, 2018
A beautiful graphic autobiography about the love story of a Chinese couple. Rao's story follows his childhood and that of his future wife, Meitang. Born in 1922, the Rao's story parallels Chinese history from WWII to the present. His story is one of happiness and separation (he is sent to a "re-education" camp for more than a decade), struggles with poverty and finally reunification and the struggles with illness, old age, and death. The love of Pingru and his wife is obvious on every page. Rao painted the pictures in the book and they are lovely. A wonderful book.
December 26, 2018
When Rao Pingru's wife of almost 60 years passed away, he dealt with his grief through painting, writing and illustrating the story of their life together in this touching memoir of a marriage that spanned 6 decades in China. Reading this felt a lot like sitting with an older member of your family as they reminisce about their life and relationships. Touching read.
June 13, 2018
the author wrote and painted this in his 90s as a tribute to his marriage. how sweet! it's just a simple story of a long term couple in China and how they kept their family together in very tough political times, but it's really touching and beautiful.
January 1, 2020
I had high hopes for this book but I guess one should not judge a book by its cover (which in this case is fabulous). The book is a mix of a memoir and graphic novel telling a life story of Rao Pinru and his wife Meitang. If it was a memoir of a family member then it would deserve five stars, but as a publication aimed at general audience it failed to capture my attention. The author described his childhood in an affluent household, early adulthood marked by participation in the second Sino-Japanese war as a Kuomintang soldier, the resumption of the Chinese Civil War, and PLA's victory. This was roughly the first part of the book but historical background was scarce. This period is presented as time to move from town to town, looking for work, and indulging in local food. Way too much time was spent describing what the author ate and when. These details initially seemed quite meaningless, but after reading that Rao Pingru spent over twenty years in a labour camp (due to Anti-Rightist Movement), it became clear that these memories were things that he could cherish during this dark period. From a personal perspective it is not surprising then that he glossed over his time in a labour camp, but I think that this is something that would give this book more meaning rather than it being mostly a personal story, devoid of any comments about the social/political situation in China. The second part of the book describes Rao's return to Shanghai to live with his family, and focuses on deteriorating health of his beloved wife and finishes with Meitang's death.
June 26, 2018
Portrayed through vibrant self-paintings, and personal reflection, the author recounts his life across Twentieth Century China. From poverty to good times, from bachelorhood to becoming a parent, his marriage, and his enlistment during the Japanese invasion. Rao aged in a China during unrivalled growth, cultural change and political upheaval. His simple story shares the perspectives of the average man's life, love and tragedy amongst this backdrop.
For me, the unique quality of this book, was the graphic memoir. That is was set during a significant period in China, remained personal, but managed to show the significant alterations in the politics and culture of China during this time. However, I still am sat on the fence with recommending this book. If you removed the images, I felt like this book, oftentimes, didn't have much to say. Rao, during the Japanese invasion, was the pinnacle of this book's interest. And there do remain moments, where we gain glimpses of significant changes in China, but you have to look for them amongst significant waffle. So much of the book is about a man reflecting on meals eaten, the types of food, and this runs into the tens of pages. Many times I was having flashbacks to the old people's home in the Simpsons.
For me, the unique quality of this book, was the graphic memoir. That is was set during a significant period in China, remained personal, but managed to show the significant alterations in the politics and culture of China during this time. However, I still am sat on the fence with recommending this book. If you removed the images, I felt like this book, oftentimes, didn't have much to say. Rao, during the Japanese invasion, was the pinnacle of this book's interest. And there do remain moments, where we gain glimpses of significant changes in China, but you have to look for them amongst significant waffle. So much of the book is about a man reflecting on meals eaten, the types of food, and this runs into the tens of pages. Many times I was having flashbacks to the old people's home in the Simpsons.
May 21, 2018
What a charming book. The author is a 95-year old man living in China. He tells the story of his life and marriage using words and his own paintings. I’m happy to have received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) because otherwise I probably never would have found this book. Unfortunately, since this is an ARC the paintings are in black and white. I’ll have to search out a published copy of the book just so that I can fully appreciate the paintings. They’re simple but they vividly illustrate events throughout his life. I can only imagine how colorful the paintings might be. Rao and Meitang had an arranged marriage but it’s clear that they loved each other from the start and had a happy life together. Although their circumstances went from easy prosperity to barely being able to scrape by, Rao’s telling of their story makes it seem like they were always able to find little pleasures in life.
December 26, 2022
Como libro objeto es hermoso, tiene dibujos hechos por Pingru y está lleno de caracteres chinos. Sin embargo, la historia nos relata su relación de vida con Meitang, principalmente vemos lo que comen, lo que hacen, y entre medio, las vivencias sociales de la China de la Segunda mitad del siglo XX. Es interesante, pero necesitamos tener un vagaje cultural previo para comprender el total de todo lo que nos cuenta, porque no ahonda en ello... su intención no es educarnos sobre China, sino sólo plasmar su vida junto a Meitang.
July 23, 2018
A beautiful and unique tale told in a beautiful and unique format. The simplicity of Rao's narration undelines the depth and complexity of a love story told across 60 years of cultural and economic transition. The illustrations are universally beautiful and the sentences occasionally heartbreaking in their honesty and directness.
Would that we could all review our life with the same poise and clarity.
Would that we could all review our life with the same poise and clarity.
September 12, 2018
Rao Pingru’s memoir of he and his wife Meitang’s story which goes back nearly 90 years ago in China 🇨🇳 is as moving and emotional as his beautiful paintwork. Starting from their first meeting as children, we follow them as they grow not just as adults, but their love story as they encounter drama, turmoil and personal issues. This is an amazing love story that many more readers must read for its narrative, paintings and history (Grade: A).
January 7, 2019
Che bello!!! Primo libro dell’anno: stupendo! Rau Pingru, all’età di 88 anni, dopo la morte dell’amata Meitang decide di raccontare la loro storia d’amore. Tra il memoir, l’autobiografia e una dichiarazione d’amore, questo libro ti sorprende per la sua semplicità e spontaneità nel raccontare il sentimento per eccellenza: l’Amore. Bellissimo anche l’oggetto libro in se: i disegni che accompagnano il testo, l’impaginazione, la carta utilizzata. Consigliato!
July 22, 2018
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
You can feel that this book is a true dedication of love to his much-missed wife and adding his own paintings help illustrate his life throughout the book. This book was an easy read with not as much text as the size of the book would make you think and it was an interesting view into Pingru's life in China from WWII into the 21st century.
You can feel that this book is a true dedication of love to his much-missed wife and adding his own paintings help illustrate his life throughout the book. This book was an easy read with not as much text as the size of the book would make you think and it was an interesting view into Pingru's life in China from WWII into the 21st century.
August 1, 2018
Hermoso libro, llega al corazón y la voz de Pingru se queda dando vueltas en la cabeza. La simplicidad de sus vidas, marcadas tan duramente por la historia de su país, llama a la reflexión, capáz sin quererlo. Las ilustraciones complementan perfectamente las palabras.
July 3, 2019
Esas nubes viajeras / antaño se deslizaban / al hilo de las horas / de una vida que pasó.
/ Ojalá permanecieran... / ¿Cómo retenerlas / en el corazón?
/ Pintando su color. / Sin nada llegué al mundo. / Sólo he guardado lo mejor.
Hay libros que entran por los ojos. Éste es un de ellos.
Cuando el lector lo ojea rápidamente nota que las ilustraciones ocupan buena parte de las páginas. Son unos dibujos sencillos. Parecen hechos por niños que intentan imitar a los pintores clásicos chinos. Pero hay algo enternecedor en ellos, hay implícita una gran belleza.
Esta es, de hecho, la impresión general al leer la novela. Parece, especialmente al principio, un libro para niños por su estilo. A veces parece que la comida es el protagonista principal, como en el contenido de las cartas de Meitang publicadas al final del libro. Vamos leyendo sobre hechos que hubieran dado para un dramón cada uno de ellos: travesías por un país devastado, dos guerras civiles, la Segunda Guerra Mundial, veinte años en un campo de “reeducación”, etc.
Sabemos que Pingru tuvo una buena educación. Aparecen versos de poetas chinos para reforzar los sentimientos que el autor nos comenta escuetamente. No sabemos si la sencillez del texto fue algo buscado por el autor o, por el contrario, se vio obligado a ello (por ejemplo, para evitar más problemas con las autoridades comunistas). Es una pena porque su vida para una novela al estilo “Guerra y Paz” de Tolstói.
En resumen, nos encontramos ante un libro bonito. En todo momento se puede apreciar el amor hacia su mujer. El tono es ligero a pesar del drama que se cuentan. Las ilustraciones refuerzan estas sensaciones de belleza y ligereza. La edición española de Salamandra me ha parecido muy buena.
A veces, sin un motivo especial, una nadería deja una huella profunda en el corazón de las personas sencillas, como nosotros, y con el tiempo se convierte en un recuerdo de un valor incalculable.
/ Ojalá permanecieran... / ¿Cómo retenerlas / en el corazón?
/ Pintando su color. / Sin nada llegué al mundo. / Sólo he guardado lo mejor.
Hay libros que entran por los ojos. Éste es un de ellos.
Cuando el lector lo ojea rápidamente nota que las ilustraciones ocupan buena parte de las páginas. Son unos dibujos sencillos. Parecen hechos por niños que intentan imitar a los pintores clásicos chinos. Pero hay algo enternecedor en ellos, hay implícita una gran belleza.
Esta es, de hecho, la impresión general al leer la novela. Parece, especialmente al principio, un libro para niños por su estilo. A veces parece que la comida es el protagonista principal, como en el contenido de las cartas de Meitang publicadas al final del libro. Vamos leyendo sobre hechos que hubieran dado para un dramón cada uno de ellos: travesías por un país devastado, dos guerras civiles, la Segunda Guerra Mundial, veinte años en un campo de “reeducación”, etc.
Sabemos que Pingru tuvo una buena educación. Aparecen versos de poetas chinos para reforzar los sentimientos que el autor nos comenta escuetamente. No sabemos si la sencillez del texto fue algo buscado por el autor o, por el contrario, se vio obligado a ello (por ejemplo, para evitar más problemas con las autoridades comunistas). Es una pena porque su vida para una novela al estilo “Guerra y Paz” de Tolstói.
En resumen, nos encontramos ante un libro bonito. En todo momento se puede apreciar el amor hacia su mujer. El tono es ligero a pesar del drama que se cuentan. Las ilustraciones refuerzan estas sensaciones de belleza y ligereza. La edición española de Salamandra me ha parecido muy buena.
A veces, sin un motivo especial, una nadería deja una huella profunda en el corazón de las personas sencillas, como nosotros, y con el tiempo se convierte en un recuerdo de un valor incalculable.
November 9, 2025
mágoa de tradución
July 28, 2019
I read this book firstly because (i) it has many beautiful drawings and (ii) my Prime Minister was reading it and tweeted about it, and hundreds like me decided to jump on the bandwagon and I waited for this a few months!
Wonderful real-life love story, and most interestingly, the writer had written it for himself to honour his late wife and only recently, when his granddaughter posted some parts of it online and it went viral, and it was then picked up for publication. Such an honour to become a bestselling author in old age!
And it's popularity is due to the shared history of many Chinese of that generation--reeducation through labour and the ensuing separation from their families - in Rao's case for 22 years...
Wonderful real-life love story, and most interestingly, the writer had written it for himself to honour his late wife and only recently, when his granddaughter posted some parts of it online and it went viral, and it was then picked up for publication. Such an honour to become a bestselling author in old age!
And it's popularity is due to the shared history of many Chinese of that generation--reeducation through labour and the ensuing separation from their families - in Rao's case for 22 years...
February 19, 2022
3.5 This book is hard for me to describe.
On one hand, it’s the personal ramblings that would seem only important to the people there and their families—grandpa’s old stories. On the other hand, it humanizes the Sino-Japanese War, The Cultural Revolution, and other historical events that make this story invaluable. He becomes YOUR grandpa.
Halfway through, I wanted it to end—bored of the episodic travels. But by the end, after I felt like a part of the family, I didn’t want to know what happened next, but I needed to know. It hit harder than I thought that it would, and it ultimately left me with a stronger conviction to love my wife, my son, and a simple life of simple pleasures.
I am thankful I read this book.
On one hand, it’s the personal ramblings that would seem only important to the people there and their families—grandpa’s old stories. On the other hand, it humanizes the Sino-Japanese War, The Cultural Revolution, and other historical events that make this story invaluable. He becomes YOUR grandpa.
Halfway through, I wanted it to end—bored of the episodic travels. But by the end, after I felt like a part of the family, I didn’t want to know what happened next, but I needed to know. It hit harder than I thought that it would, and it ultimately left me with a stronger conviction to love my wife, my son, and a simple life of simple pleasures.
I am thankful I read this book.
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