2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang.

Pages: 562 pages

Length: 1 month (December)

Participants: Valerie, Lorraine, Allie

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Probably will start reading this around the 8th. It’s a long book and I imagine it’s quite heavy so it could take me a while.

Works for me!

I’m planning to start this on Wednesday.

Perfect! Wednesday works well for me.

Trying to finish up some library books so I’ll aim for closer to the weekend :)

No problem, I think this will take a while to read.

This is well written, but due to the stress in my life this year and the fact that I'd read a different book about China during this time I didn't finish it.

Have read the first two chapters. Fascinating and horrifying in equal measures! Her grandmother had quite a life already - and she’s still young.

Yes! She is quite a character and a strong woman!

I've read the first six chapters of the book and I am wondering if I will continue. I will give it another 2-3 chapters before making a decision. I agree with Karin that it is well written. Do not read if you have not read chapter 6. (view spoiler)[It is not the author fault if this story makes me think that ‘the more things change, the more they remain the same’.
1- I was expecting a ‘story’ or a ‘family saga’ and I feel I am getting a history lesson with a lot of facts! Not sure if I am up for that.
2- I understand the author love her family and wants to present them in a good light. But I see many contradictions between the young girl who do not want to have a marriage full of the old tradition and the same young girl kneeling down to take off her husband slippers. Is it the same girl who brought a detonator to a building?
3- And what about the grandmother. She is the one that suffered from prejudice and the first time she sees her future son-in-law she gives him the cold shoulder because of her own prejudice.
4- I understand we human are full of contradictions, but I feel the author is not putting as much light unto them as she is putting on the ‘politic’.
I am wondering what the author thinks of some of the comments of the actual Chinese President, Xi Jinping, ‘who wish for the Chinese women to return to domesticity and have children!’
(hide spoiler)]

End of chapter 7. Certainly grim and graphic! It’s understandable that such a brutal history would make the promise of change for the better so appealing. Of course, as readers, we have historical hindsight.
(view spoiler)[ I agree that it has the feel of a nonfiction history more than a family saga - we need some context but I would prefer it if the women were more constantly at the centre. I’m ok to continue but am definitely zoning out when there are long historical digressions. I don’t actually think that she is trying to always present her family in a good light. I find she tends to give the facts quite dispassionately and leaves it to us to pick up on the inconsistencies and flaws. Certainly all the people we meet are complex and unpredictable. (hide spoiler)]
I read on with foreboding as to what will happen next in her mother’s life.

End of Chapter 12. Looking forward to start learning more about the author of the book. (view spoiler)[ I think it is the editing of the book that gets to me. The fact that she says the same thing again and again like her mother feeling her father was not loving her as much as he loved The Party. But I understand she wants us to see how The Party was running peoples life. (hide spoiler)]

End of chapter 14. This is now a much more engaging read as it focuses better on the women (although there is still a lot of historical explanation). It’s becoming more personal as it moves through the childhood and adolescence of the author.
(view spoiler)[ I find the way Mao constructed his cult horribly fascinating- this combination of a quasi religious base backed up by indoctrination and fear over millions of people. Very 1984 with all its doublespeak! The relationship between her parents seems to be changing as the ideological power over their thoughts is now weaker but I’m amazed her mother stayed with him in the early part of their marriage as he lets her suffer so much- or maybe she felt she had no choice (hide spoiler)]

Valerie wrote: "End of chapter 14. This is now a much more engaging read as it focuses better on the women (although there is still a lot of historical explanation). It’s becoming more personal as it moves through..."

So true! (view spoiler)[ 'Mao found the idea of peaceful progress suffocating. A restless military leader, a warrior-poet, he needed action-violent action- and regarded permanent human struggle as necessary for social development' . Can you imagine the impact of this on a population? So many people are addicted to stress and battles that they create it around them. It also help understand that even after a revolution, some countries elected the party that was just the same as the dictator they just threw out! (hide spoiler)]

End of Chapter 20. (Have to return this book by the 15th so I need to increase my pace) (view spoiler)[ How much abuse can a human withstand before they ‘revolt’. Not sure I am saying this right but wow…the last chapters were quite difficult to read because of the physical, emotional and psychological abuse the author family had to stand. I understand that it was difficult for them to revolt because if you do the cost could be your life but looking at this with my occidental eyes, I cannot understand some people are missing Mao and wants to go back to this time… (hide spoiler)]

End of chapter 21. This part was so powerful and disturbing.
(view spoiler)[ how clever and diabolically evil to use all that pent up hatred and violence to do his power struggle for him. As a former teacher, I found the red guard part particularly sickening. Mass hysteria and mob rule unleashed. It is amazing ( and a rare light in the darkness) that there were those who showed kindness or refused to denounce others. I agree that this part was very difficult to read - and unimaginable to actually live through. (hide spoiler)]

Hi, girls.

I had every intention of reading this with you but it’s been a hectic few weeks….laid off from one job, on unemployment, and then being hired within days of that for a new remote position (and the remote position isn’t going well so my mental & physical health is in the toilet and I just don’t have the energy or desire to read anything).

Sorry for backing out, looks like it would have been a great discussion!

Totally understand- life happens. This definitely wouldn’t be the best book for you at the moment even if you did feel like reading to be honest as it’s good but tough. Hope things work out for you.

Thank you! I appreciate that.

I second Valerie.This is not a book for you right now. I hope things get better for you soon.

Finished. The last part was deeply personal- quite a mixture of heartbreak and hope.

Although I did struggle to engage with the first part, this book became quite compelling once the author became both a witness and participant in events. It was definitely at its strongest when the family were at the centre ( at times all the historical context was overwhelming) but I understand why she wanted to document everything, especially as a memorial to all the millions who were victims of the tragic and farcical reign of Mao. It was a tough read, with much reason to despair, but the resilience and courageous kindness which survived gave glimmers of hope in the darkness of hatred and fear.

I also finished the book on Tuesday and decided to wait a little before giving my comments. I needed time to analyze my feelings about that book. I find it is well written even though I found it a bit repetitive. I like what you say here:' understand why she wanted to document everything, especially as a memorial to all the millions who were victims of the tragic and farcical reign of Mao.' and I also feel this is the reason why she insists on saying the same thing over and over. I had the impression she wanted us to feel what it is like not to have hope or that there are no issues. I surely felt sad and powerless reading that book. And being me, I just got upset with her! Now that I had time to reflect, I think this is a book many should read, and like you say, it is a perfect of what resiliency and hope can do.
Note to self: Be kind with yourself in December! No tough read! 😊