Books matching: tiananmen square protests
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- #1
Save:Ma Jian's 'Beijing Coma' is a compelling and harrowing narrative that follows Dai Wei, a student protester who falls into a coma after the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. The novel vividly portrays the energy and passion of the student protesters, highlighting the struggles they faced against the oppressive government. Through Dai Wei's recollections, readers are taken on a journey through the history of China, exploring the brutal realities of life under a repressive regime and the changes the country underwent post-protest. The book expertly weaves together past and present, showcasing the personal and political turmoil experienced by Dai Wei and his family.
Through the gaping hole where the covered balcony used to be, you see the bulldozed locust tree slowly begin to rise again. This is a clear sign that from now on you’re going to have to take your life... - #2
Save:Set largely in China, readers become acquainted with the families of Sparrow and Kai at the Shanghai Conservatory in the 1960s, pulling the narrative forward from the Communist Revolution to the demonstrations at Tiananmen Square and even providing updates after that event. The book shows a relationship between mathematics and music. As a genealogist, I was particularly drawn to the mentions of the Book of Records. As a musician, I was drawn to the rest of the story. The writing was strong. A more in depth knowledge of twentieth century Chinese history would make the work more enjoyable than it already was. The book was well deserving of its shortlisting for the Man Booker Prize. Thien's magnum opus reminded me of The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes, a fictionalized biography of Shostakovich trying to survive under the thumb of Stalin. Thien's book is an ambitious, multi generational, multi layered story, beginning in Vancouver but focusing on the cultural revolution in China. Thien's quiet writing belies the emotional depth of a story that describes people trying to endure and retain their human spirit through their love of music and art. It is advisable to pay attention because, although brilliant, this is not an easy read that has many characters and a lot happening with the risk of significant ramifications. By the time I reached the events at Tiananmen Square I was completely hooked. I wish I had known more about Chinese history and government before I started. This is a novel of epic scope and ambition, a complex family story that starts in the China of the 1950s and ends in the present day. The pivotal events are the Cultural Revolution, and specifically the destruction of the Shanghai Conservatory and the denunciations of the musicians there, and the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and their violent aftermath. There are also many other themes largely musical but also some intriguing digressions on Chinese writing and mathematics. Thien's characters are memorable and I found the book compulsively readable and moving. For most of the book I thought this was one of the best books I had read all year, but later I felt a little let down, firstly because of a glaring factual error in which she claims that Bach and Busoni were born 300 years apart the true figure is no more than 181 and also because the story lost a little impetus and clarity of focus towards the end. I still think it is the best book on the Booker shortlist and would make a worthy winner. This is a wonderful written family saga of recent Chinese history with a lovely focus on music, epic novels and love. A young man watches China transform after a brutal civil war, falls in love with western music, endures the Cultural Revolution and throughout the events leading up the Tienanmen Square massacre. Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeline Thien is a multi generational novel about the Chinese Cultural Revolution and afterwards that puts all other multi generational novels to shame. It's really good, combining wonderful and vibrant character studies with excellent writing and story structure. Thien deserves all the praise she's received for this book. Marie is a girl living Vancouver, Canada, with her mother, her father having returned to China and committed suicide, when they are joined by Ai ming, a college student fleeing China in the aftermath of Tiananmen Square. She leaves them to go to the US in hopes of being granted asylum and Marie never sees her again. In adulthood, Marie undertakes a search for Ai ming, who may have returned to China. As her search goes on, the story is told of how Ai ming and Marie's family were connected and goes further back to the story of Ai ming's parents and grandparents, as they survive WWII, Mao's reign as dictator and on into the turmoil of Tiananmen Square. It's a lot of history, and a quantity of characters, but Thien juggles the storylines adeptly and makes each character from Big Mother Knife to Marie herself, vivid and complex. This is a novel well worth reading. Also, it's a page turner.
IN A SINGLE YEAR, my father left us twice. The first time, to end his marriage, and the second, when he took his own life. That year, 1989, my mother flew to Hong Kong and laid my father to rest in a ... - #3
Save:A Map of Betrayal by Ha Jin is a novel that delves into the complexities of espionage and family dynamics, revolving around the life of Gary Shang, a Chinese spy embedded in the CIA. The story is narrated by Lilian Shang, Gary's daughter, who uncovers her father's double life through his diaries and newspaper articles about his trial. Set against the backdrop of Mao's Cultural Revolution, the book explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the impact of political upheaval on personal relationships. Ha Jin's writing style intricately weaves together historical events and intimate family secrets, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Nellie, my embittered mother, had never forgiven my father for keeping another woman, though he’d died many years before. I kept my promise. I did not approach Suzie Chao until my mother, after a tena... - #4
Save:Set in Shanghai in the early 90s, 'Death of a Red Heroine' follows Detective Inspector Chen as he investigates the murder of a young woman who was a model citizen by day but led a mysterious life by night. The story intricately weaves a police procedural plot with a social commentary on the political atmosphere in China at the time, offering insights into Communist Party politics and societal transformations. The book introduces Chief Inspector Chen as a unique protagonist, blending his detective work with his poetic inclinations, and delves into the complexities of the case involving political implications and personal relationships.
The narrative unfolds as Inspector Chen navigates through the changing landscape of China, delving into the life of the murdered model worker, Guan Hongying, and uncovering a web of political intrigue, personal secrets, and societal shifts. Through a mix of detailed descriptions of Shanghai, Communist Party politics, and references to Chinese poetry, the book presents a multifaceted mystery that combines elements of Chinese culture, politics, and everyday life, offering readers a glimpse into the complexities of society and crime in 1990s Shanghai.
Standing beside the body, Gao Ziling, captain of the Vanguard, spat vigorously on the damp ground three times—a half-hearted effort to ward off the evil spirits of the day, a day that had begun with a... - #5
Save:Jan Wong's 'Red China Blues' is a captivating memoir that chronicles her journey from being an enthusiastic young activist leaving Canada for Maoist China to her realization of the harsh realities of Communist China. Through her personal experiences as a student and reporter in Beijing, Wong provides deep insights into the Cultural Revolution, the Tiananmen Square massacre, and the economic changes under Deng Xiaoping. Her writing style combines humor, honesty, and firsthand accounts, offering readers a unique perspective on China during Mao's era and beyond.
I was nineteen, on my college summer vacation, and I had a coveted visa to the People’s Republic of China. It was a silly question, but I really had no idea what Communists did at night. I already had... - #6
Save:"Beijing Comrades" is a novel that captures the essence of gay life in Beijing during the late 1980s and early 1990s, while also providing a glimpse into the societal changes happening in China at the time. The main character, Chen Handong, is portrayed as a complex and flawed individual, engaging readers in his tumultuous journey through love and obsession. The novel delves into themes of class relations, homophobia, and the challenges faced by gay men in a society undergoing significant transformation.
The storytelling in "Beijing Comrades" is a mix of emotional depth and social commentary, offering insights into life in post-cultural revolution China. The narrative follows the on-again, off-again relationship between a successful businessman and a college student, set against the backdrop of China's economic growth and impending student protests. The characters are well-drawn, and the novel evokes a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era, leaving readers with a wistful memory of the central couple's vibrant love.
He’s been gone three years now. A thousand days and nights, and each time I close my eyes there he is before me, the person I see in dreams. But you’re dead, I say, reaching out in astonished euphoria... - #7
Save:Our Ecstatic Days by Steve Erickson is a fiercely thematic and thought-provoking novel that delves into a futurist Los Angeles entering the Age of Chaos. The unconventional organization of the book, including an italicized stream of text darting through most of the narrative, serves to bolster Erickson's exploration of loss, motherhood, identity, chaos, power, love, and the amorphous nature of relationships. Central to the story is Lake Zed, a mysterious entity that submerges neighborhoods in Los Angeles, catalyzing a series of time-bending, shape-shifting events that force the characters to confront an ominous, vaguely sci-fi future.
