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Tiger's Heart: The Story of a Modern Chinese Woman
Aisling Juanjuan Shen was born to illiterate peasants in a tiny farming hamlet in China’s Yangtze Delta in 1974. Pronounced useless by her parents because she wasn’t good at planting rice, she became the first person from her village ever to attend college.
After graduating with a teaching degree, the government assigned her to a remote and low-paying job that she was expected to hold for the rest of her life. But she wasn’t satisfied—and she bought her way out of her secure position and left for the special economic zones of southern China, in search of happiness and success in the business world, eventually immigrating to the United States.
In this memoir, Aisling chronicles her rise from rural poverty to a successful career, illustrating the massive economic and social changes that have taken place in China over the past several decades. Her story is emblematic of a new generation of Chinese women who are leaving the rice paddies and government jobs in order to enter the free market and determine the course of their own lives.
After graduating with a teaching degree, the government assigned her to a remote and low-paying job that she was expected to hold for the rest of her life. But she wasn’t satisfied—and she bought her way out of her secure position and left for the special economic zones of southern China, in search of happiness and success in the business world, eventually immigrating to the United States.
In this memoir, Aisling chronicles her rise from rural poverty to a successful career, illustrating the massive economic and social changes that have taken place in China over the past several decades. Her story is emblematic of a new generation of Chinese women who are leaving the rice paddies and government jobs in order to enter the free market and determine the course of their own lives.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
19 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Aisling Juanjuan Shen
2 books9 followersI was born to illiterate peasants in a tiny rice-farming hamlet in China's Yangtze Delta in 1974. Pronounced useless by my parents because I wasn't good at planting rice, I became the first person from my village ever to attend college. After graduating from a teachers' college, I was assigned by the government to a remote and low-paying teaching job that I was expected to hold for the rest of my life. Deeply dissatisfied, I bought my way out of my secure government job and left for the special economic zones of southern China in search of happiness and success in the business world. In 2000 I immigrated to the U.S. and graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College in 2005. I am currently working as an equity research associate in an investment management firm in Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 7, 2011
~QUANTUM DESTINY JUMP~
There are billions of them, simple girls, not too beautiful, not too smart, not too ambitious.... ooops, wait, on opposite: they ARE ambitious. The desire for a better life keeps them going and going, through hardship and injustice, through torture and through shame.... everything to get to the Future which will, absolutely, it MUST be, better than today.
Some of them are running away from quite acceptable conditions.
But in the end, it does not matter for as long as they acknowledge to themselves that it all was worth suffering. That the result is greater than the sum of paths they needed to take to get there.
The heroine of this biography has a heart of a Tiger and she has fulfilled her heart's desire. By different means she got where she wanted and reading her story I cannot hold the shiver and ask myself: "What do YOU want this bad?" and to order myself: "You MUST want a better life! You MUST want it in order to move your a** to get it!!!!!"
...and again I am frustrated, if not angry, with myself for the lack of Tigerness in my nature.
...read this book to learn what a simple girl can do to fulfill a quantum jump in her Destiny.
Victoria Evangelina Belyavskaya
There are billions of them, simple girls, not too beautiful, not too smart, not too ambitious.... ooops, wait, on opposite: they ARE ambitious. The desire for a better life keeps them going and going, through hardship and injustice, through torture and through shame.... everything to get to the Future which will, absolutely, it MUST be, better than today.
Some of them are running away from quite acceptable conditions.
But in the end, it does not matter for as long as they acknowledge to themselves that it all was worth suffering. That the result is greater than the sum of paths they needed to take to get there.
The heroine of this biography has a heart of a Tiger and she has fulfilled her heart's desire. By different means she got where she wanted and reading her story I cannot hold the shiver and ask myself: "What do YOU want this bad?" and to order myself: "You MUST want a better life! You MUST want it in order to move your a** to get it!!!!!"
...and again I am frustrated, if not angry, with myself for the lack of Tigerness in my nature.
...read this book to learn what a simple girl can do to fulfill a quantum jump in her Destiny.
Victoria Evangelina Belyavskaya
July 29, 2009
Shocking and a Great Read!
With brutal honesty and candor, Shen describes her rise from poverty and childhood abuse to the status of a self-assured and successful business woman in China. Interspersed with dark sense of humor and culturally insightful similes, The Tiger’s Heart offers a rare glimpse into the realities of a young woman born into China’s lowest class, but burning with determination to raise to the top. The author refrains from self-pity and candidly shares the difficult choices, not always 'proper' or 'moral' by the standards of those who never had to face similar adversity, that she took in order to survive and get ahead. What she doesn't realize, but what becomes apparent between the lines, is that her choices also required an immense measure of courage and perseverance. Shen’s is an astonishing story of survival that simultaneously sheds light on a rarely publicized face of China, that of rural illiteracy and poverty, corruption in business and male advantage. This is an unusual opportunity to dive into the soul of, if not a whole nation, then at least one large segment of a nation.
With brutal honesty and candor, Shen describes her rise from poverty and childhood abuse to the status of a self-assured and successful business woman in China. Interspersed with dark sense of humor and culturally insightful similes, The Tiger’s Heart offers a rare glimpse into the realities of a young woman born into China’s lowest class, but burning with determination to raise to the top. The author refrains from self-pity and candidly shares the difficult choices, not always 'proper' or 'moral' by the standards of those who never had to face similar adversity, that she took in order to survive and get ahead. What she doesn't realize, but what becomes apparent between the lines, is that her choices also required an immense measure of courage and perseverance. Shen’s is an astonishing story of survival that simultaneously sheds light on a rarely publicized face of China, that of rural illiteracy and poverty, corruption in business and male advantage. This is an unusual opportunity to dive into the soul of, if not a whole nation, then at least one large segment of a nation.
April 1, 2010
I really liked the beginning to the middle of this story. Aisling Juanjuan Shen described her early life so well!
As a child, she tried so hard to please her mother and father, always failing, and always feeling unloved. Her dad never communicated with her and her mom criticized her endlessly. Aisling's pain and hurt made me cry. Aisling's description of herself, as a young child, working in the rice paddies was one of the best descriptions I have ever read. I thought I had nailed another 5 star book...
Aisling was very smart and determined to make a successful life for herself. She was the first to receive an education in her family and become a teacher. Her dreams, she thought, were about to be realized. Unfortunately, her lowly opinion of herself, inwardly and outwardly, takes her on a journey to sleep with hoodlums, married men, American men, too many men to count... I am no prude, but I did want to read about every man she slept with. That's why I gave this book three stars...
As a child, she tried so hard to please her mother and father, always failing, and always feeling unloved. Her dad never communicated with her and her mom criticized her endlessly. Aisling's pain and hurt made me cry. Aisling's description of herself, as a young child, working in the rice paddies was one of the best descriptions I have ever read. I thought I had nailed another 5 star book...
Aisling was very smart and determined to make a successful life for herself. She was the first to receive an education in her family and become a teacher. Her dreams, she thought, were about to be realized. Unfortunately, her lowly opinion of herself, inwardly and outwardly, takes her on a journey to sleep with hoodlums, married men, American men, too many men to count... I am no prude, but I did want to read about every man she slept with. That's why I gave this book three stars...
April 16, 2010
This memoir shed some light on rural living in a hamlet that was controlled by corrupt government leaders who dictated every aspect of the rice grower's life. Aisling Juanjuan Shen grew up in such a village in a family living a life of desperation, and treated harshly by her family as she didn't fit in. She became the first person in her village who attended college, becoming a middle school teacher. Disatisfied, she fled to the South of the country, where citizens were now allowed to become entrepreneurs. Some of her experiences were sordid. Though she may have had little choice in her drive for a better life. But I have to say I didn't really like her as a person. I saw little noble or selfless in her character, though she did ultimately gain an understanding of the difficulties of her parents' life and forgive them for their harsh treatment of her. She does tell a story well, and it was easy to keep reading. Sometimes, she throws in too much detail. A more stringent editing would have helped.
December 9, 2009
As the book jacket states, this is a brave and honest tale of one woman's struggle to overcome her circumstances and triumph against all odds. But I was disappointed in the narrow view it gave of modern China and the narrow vision of the author. She is very brave, but is so naive and reliant on sex to gain advantage throughout her story. She has some friends, but uses sex, again and again, to stabilize her life. She does not seem to value her friendships, because women (other than her sister and mother) are clearly not big in her life. She makes big 'career' moves, but is ill-prepared and never seems to try to gain information about how to work a situation, other than to sleep with her bosses. Even her big move - marriage to an American (to gain entry to America) is based on Internet communication. She overcomes much adversity, but in the end I just did not like her way of working the world.
July 14, 2009
I'll admit I liked this one for personal reasons. The author, a young Chinese woman with a dream of moving up in the world, moves from humble roots through the business world, and all the way to the United States. She was one of two graduates from her high school to move on to a mediocre college, but the job she is assigned after graduation doesn't satisfy her. Despite her friends' and family's belief that she should be happy with her "iron bowl," or steady paycheck and permanent job, she moves on to South China, which is newly open for western investment.
Juanjuan's road is not easy, and she is unlucky in love and in life. Nonetheless, she perseveres, certain that there is a better life out there. Though it isn't written incredibly well, the story is captivating, and provides a portrait of a changing China, finding its footing in the global free market economy.
Juanjuan's road is not easy, and she is unlucky in love and in life. Nonetheless, she perseveres, certain that there is a better life out there. Though it isn't written incredibly well, the story is captivating, and provides a portrait of a changing China, finding its footing in the global free market economy.
October 21, 2010
Would have liked to hear more about her migration to America, and less of her sexual exploits.
July 17, 2021
Interesting story, if you are interested in modern China's story, as I am.
The memoir of a woman born into poverty in a country hamlet, her sad life being raised in poverty. Through determination to leave that life, she studied hard and was able to get a “scholarship” to get an associate’s degree and become a teacher in an equally poor town, but at least earning a small but respectable amount of money without standing in mud in a rice field. With a drive to better herself, but letting her desire for love and companionship lead her into making poor decisions, she became pregnant, leading to an abortion, then with a new boyfriend, moving to southern China in her desire to become rich. After being lured into Amway, which definitely didn’t work for her, she found a job with a man making tons of money illegally importing European and American knitting machines. After acquiring the knowledge she needed, she left the company to work with one who was purchasing these machines from her old boss to begin bringing them into the company on his own, with her help. Long story short (er), she eventually married an American man and moved to Massachusetts, earned her degree at Wellesley and is now a professional woman living in America, trying to help her family through its ongoing woes long-distance. She has no desire to return to China. While she did achieve “success”, she did not allow any qualms about morality (which she did have) stop her from doing whatever was needed to achieve her goal. I cannot judge her, I suspect this is the case in whatever country one is born into. Interesting story, at any rate.
The memoir of a woman born into poverty in a country hamlet, her sad life being raised in poverty. Through determination to leave that life, she studied hard and was able to get a “scholarship” to get an associate’s degree and become a teacher in an equally poor town, but at least earning a small but respectable amount of money without standing in mud in a rice field. With a drive to better herself, but letting her desire for love and companionship lead her into making poor decisions, she became pregnant, leading to an abortion, then with a new boyfriend, moving to southern China in her desire to become rich. After being lured into Amway, which definitely didn’t work for her, she found a job with a man making tons of money illegally importing European and American knitting machines. After acquiring the knowledge she needed, she left the company to work with one who was purchasing these machines from her old boss to begin bringing them into the company on his own, with her help. Long story short (er), she eventually married an American man and moved to Massachusetts, earned her degree at Wellesley and is now a professional woman living in America, trying to help her family through its ongoing woes long-distance. She has no desire to return to China. While she did achieve “success”, she did not allow any qualms about morality (which she did have) stop her from doing whatever was needed to achieve her goal. I cannot judge her, I suspect this is the case in whatever country one is born into. Interesting story, at any rate.
August 22, 2024
Mała chińska wieśniaczka nigdy nie nadawała się do pracy na polach ryżowych, co było wiecznym utrapieniem matki. Miała za to zdolności do nauki. Państwo zaoferowało jej bezpłatny collage.
Juanjuan zostaje nauczycielką angielskiego. Tylko, czy aby na pewno jest to marzenie jej życia? Szybko rzuca pracę i przenosi się na bogate, uprzemysłowione południe Chin. Znajduje pracę, coraz to lepszą. A w końcu wyjeżdża do Stanów, gdzie zakłada rodzinę, kupuje dom i mieszka do tej pory, pracując w dużej firmie na dobrym stanowisku.
A książka jest o tym, jak bardzo uparta musiała być, żeby to osiągnąć.
Czytałam sporo książek o czasach Mao, rewolucji kulturalnej, itp...
Ale to pierwsza książka o czasach nam współczesnych. Milionerzy, ale analfabeci, właściciele ogromnych firm, robiący biznes z zagranicznymi kontrahentami, ale potrzebujący sekretarki, bo... nie potrafią odczytać faksu. Nawet po chińsku, o angielskim nie wspominając... Najważniejsze są pieniądze. A jak już się je ma, to zaraz potem jest seks...
Autorka cały czas lawiruje w świecie brutalnego biznesu, oszustw, prostytucji. Nie poddaje się, nie pozwala jej na to... serce tygrysicy.
Juanjuan zostaje nauczycielką angielskiego. Tylko, czy aby na pewno jest to marzenie jej życia? Szybko rzuca pracę i przenosi się na bogate, uprzemysłowione południe Chin. Znajduje pracę, coraz to lepszą. A w końcu wyjeżdża do Stanów, gdzie zakłada rodzinę, kupuje dom i mieszka do tej pory, pracując w dużej firmie na dobrym stanowisku.
A książka jest o tym, jak bardzo uparta musiała być, żeby to osiągnąć.
Czytałam sporo książek o czasach Mao, rewolucji kulturalnej, itp...
Ale to pierwsza książka o czasach nam współczesnych. Milionerzy, ale analfabeci, właściciele ogromnych firm, robiący biznes z zagranicznymi kontrahentami, ale potrzebujący sekretarki, bo... nie potrafią odczytać faksu. Nawet po chińsku, o angielskim nie wspominając... Najważniejsze są pieniądze. A jak już się je ma, to zaraz potem jest seks...
Autorka cały czas lawiruje w świecie brutalnego biznesu, oszustw, prostytucji. Nie poddaje się, nie pozwala jej na to... serce tygrysicy.
January 3, 2022
2.25/5
❛❛Pamiętaj tylko, że twój los jest w twoich rękach. Możesz mieć nad nim władzę, jeśli rzeczywiście tego chcesz.❜❜
Siedzę i zastanawiam się, co powiedzieć o tej książce, bo niestety nie mam pojęcia, co by to mogło być. Cała historia i losy bohaterki być może były ciekawe, a jej wytrwałość i upartość godne uwagi, ale wszystko inne raczej było niesamowice mdłe i nudne. Była ona niesamowicie irytująca, momentami niekiedy głupia i niesamowicie naiwna, w ogóle nie wyciągała wniosków ze swoich błędów czy wchodziła do tej samej rzeki po kilka razy. Ostatnie kilkadziesiąt stron doczytałam już raczej z musi i zasady nie zostawiania niedokończonych książek na półce, a nie z ciekawości jak ta historia się zakończy. Nie poruszyła mnie i wątpie, że po jakimś czasie ją docenie, bo zachowania Aisling zdecydowanie mnie od niej odepchnęły, aniżeli skłoniły do polubienia czy podziwiania.
❛❛Pamiętaj tylko, że twój los jest w twoich rękach. Możesz mieć nad nim władzę, jeśli rzeczywiście tego chcesz.❜❜
Siedzę i zastanawiam się, co powiedzieć o tej książce, bo niestety nie mam pojęcia, co by to mogło być. Cała historia i losy bohaterki być może były ciekawe, a jej wytrwałość i upartość godne uwagi, ale wszystko inne raczej było niesamowice mdłe i nudne. Była ona niesamowicie irytująca, momentami niekiedy głupia i niesamowicie naiwna, w ogóle nie wyciągała wniosków ze swoich błędów czy wchodziła do tej samej rzeki po kilka razy. Ostatnie kilkadziesiąt stron doczytałam już raczej z musi i zasady nie zostawiania niedokończonych książek na półce, a nie z ciekawości jak ta historia się zakończy. Nie poruszyła mnie i wątpie, że po jakimś czasie ją docenie, bo zachowania Aisling zdecydowanie mnie od niej odepchnęły, aniżeli skłoniły do polubienia czy podziwiania.
September 9, 2018
It annoyed me to look at other reviews on Amazon and elsewhere where so many people were judgemental of her "morals" and had to stop reading the book. That's just so obnoxious to me. Worry about your own damn morals, frankly. Anyway, the book was odd. I thought it was going to be an uplifting story of how the author pulled herself out of poverty to get an education but it went back and forth between her strange family life (and the ending was a surprised) and her new life in the big cities of China. The last chapter seemed rushed. I also want to know why she changed her name from Caroline to Aisling!
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September 13, 2019My expectations based on the cover and the author's content were quite different. Like her animal spirit, Juanjuan is like a fearless tiger and is constantly seeking the next best thing that could get her out of poverty. However, I didn't agree with the methods that she used to get to the 'next level'. But taking a global look at her life and the fact she eventually went for some therapy while in college made me want to hug her. The ending was quite rushed so we didn't learn much about her life in America which I was very curious about...
December 18, 2024
I bought this at a library book sale with the idea of giving it to a friend in my writing group-a Chinese woman who came to the U. S. at about the same time period as the writer. I knew very little about China until I met Ping. She shares various stories about her life in China. I decided to read it before passing it on to her to see what she thinks of it...how it compares (or not) to her experience.
I found it an interesting read- a brave and honest sharing of reality for a female at that time and in her situation. Her determination and intelligence got her through it.
I found it an interesting read- a brave and honest sharing of reality for a female at that time and in her situation. Her determination and intelligence got her through it.
May 30, 2019
Aisling has an Amazing Story!
I couldn't stop reading this book. What a difficult early life she had. Communism only made it worse. Yet she managed to eventually get out of China and make a life for herself here in the United States.
I couldn't stop reading this book. What a difficult early life she had. Communism only made it worse. Yet she managed to eventually get out of China and make a life for herself here in the United States.
June 18, 2021
Very interesting to learn what it was like to be a peasant in the '70s-'90s in China, and how little opportunity to move out of one's "class" there was. Would be interesting to know how much, or how little, it has changed since then.
July 7, 2018
captivating.
September 14, 2009
When reading A Tiger's Heart, it's sometimes hard to believe this story is true. Juanjuan Shen is born to a poor peasant family in rural China. If cold winters with no heat and long days with little food weren't bad enough, Juanjuan is physically beaten and emotionally isolated by her parents. Even her younger sister provides little solace in this dismal environment. When Juanjuan is lucky enough to go to school, she finally finds something that keeps her going. Staying late to finish her homework and avoid her dysfunctional family life, Juanjuan dreams of something no one else in the hamlet has ever done before--to go to college. Her teachers rather than steering her toward a four year university instead all but force her to apply to a two year teacher training college. And that's what she does. After two years, she earns an associate's degree and is assigned by the government to teach middle school in another village. The book takes us through the many incarnations of Juanjuan, from working as a secretary, to being an Amway saleswoman, to working as a translator for a knitting machine company. She dabbles in prostitution and self-destructs along the way before landing in the US where she can finally be free.
February 5, 2014
On the whole, this story of Juanjuan was very engaging. It was personally an eye opener for me into the lives of rural-urban migrants who are trying to find opportunities to succeed. At the end of the story, I felt that the writer learnt that different people undergo different circumstances throughout their lives, and this would result in them reacting differently to the various situations that they are bound to face. This struck me because as I was reading the story, some of the things that the writer did, I personally did not agree with. But on the whole, this story highlights that life is an ongoing process of learning and if we fight for a cause we believe in with utmost passion and determination, we are (at least) one step closer to achieving our goals.
(Y) I like how this story exposes readers to rural life in China in an interesting way. It's not all factual and dry, because the writer talks about how she felt under different circumstances. She establishes a connection between readers and herself which keeps us as readers engaged in the story.
(Y) I like how this story exposes readers to rural life in China in an interesting way. It's not all factual and dry, because the writer talks about how she felt under different circumstances. She establishes a connection between readers and herself which keeps us as readers engaged in the story.
February 13, 2010
This was a quick read due to the easy sentence stucture throughout, but not too inspiring. I was looking for a story filled with perserverence of character and will, and was disappointed with her commercial ambition and rationalizing about sleeping her way to the top and leaving many men in her wake. Her story does give you insight into the life of a rural Chinese girl's plight to rise above her station, but paints a poor eye on rural Chinese, Chinese middle class factory owners, and most western men. Every stereotype was fulfilled and I never actually felt myself rooting for her. I doubt others will find a plan here to follow in a similar situation.
July 31, 2009
This memoir about a girl going from a life of poverty as Chinese peasant to a successful American business-woman seemed like it should have been right up my alley, but I ended up disappointed. I think in the end I didn't find the author sympathetic enough. She always seemed very focused on herself and on earning lots of money, and even when she did succeed she was miserable, shallow, and self-destructive. I'm sure much of that can be attributed to her difficult upbringing but it made for a tough read.
December 8, 2010
After just finishing Strength in What Remains about the horrible genocide in Burundi, I picked up this book. In the Prologue the author wrote about how she had to suffer so much, "I've faced enough for a hundred lifetimes". She did have a hard life, but after her prologue I kept thinking, "Convince me". It was remarkable what she did with her life, but, somehow it didn't resonate the same as Strength. Interesting insights on China as it came into the 21st century. I found the writing easy to read, but mundane.
August 20, 2009
I read this in an evening. It is a really interesting book and I am amazed at her strength. My husband is also from China. I noticed that one comment said that the writer seemed to only care about money, but I understand that coming from a life of poverty, all you want to do is get out and better yourself. This writer has beaten tremendous odds. I admire her fortitude.
September 21, 2009
Ms. Shen's style is warm. You feel her pain. It's not just another story of a poor girl doing almost anything to not be poor. Her story reveals internal war women in many countries feel as they attempt to balance intelligence, love, perseverance, and family in a place that won't let them. As one person after another lets her down, you can't help but be happy when reading her happy ending.
November 11, 2009
The harrowing story of a smart, ambitious young girl from the Chinese back country. Despite China's progress in the large cities, there is still a LONG way to go.
Very interesting, a compelling insider's look at Chinese business world, society, culture and how backwardly women are still treated.
Very interesting, a compelling insider's look at Chinese business world, society, culture and how backwardly women are still treated.
January 28, 2011
This book provided great insight into being a rural woman in modern China. I loved how the author documented her travails like a journalist would. There was a lot of drama in her story, but she didn't focus on all of that; she gave a lot of details and information about her life as a young woman trying to make it to the U.S. Certainly offers a perspective I haven't heard before.
February 19, 2011
the author easily has the worst life I have ever read about it.
that was my first exposure to the realities of life for a Chinese peasant girl.
I was continually shocked by the corruption, poverty, and determination read about in the memoir.
I liked the book but thought that the poor language took away from the theme.
that was my first exposure to the realities of life for a Chinese peasant girl.
I was continually shocked by the corruption, poverty, and determination read about in the memoir.
I liked the book but thought that the poor language took away from the theme.
July 21, 2009
Well, I know I should have learned a lot about the plight of modern women in industrialized China, and I know I should be remarking on the sweeping changes in that country, and I know I should be amazed at Shen's struggles. But 'eh. It all kind of seemed a little "same shit, different day" to me.
August 26, 2010
I read this book en route to my first trip to China. While I appreciated what I learned about the Chinese culture and the struggles of growing up in the country, the book was largely disappointing. The writing was not very compelling, and I was very troubled by the moral choices of the author.
October 12, 2011
Often sad and painful, full of bad choices from someone who never had a mother or father to speak of. Yet, Shen's story is a good one to hear, simply because it helps the reader understand modern China a bit more.
January 29, 2016
An amazing story about a young Chinese woman who wanted to escape from rural China. I was surprised that she told so much about her personal life. It took a lot of nerve to confess so much but she persevered.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews