Welcome to Litsy!

This was a sometimes difficult but also fascinating listen. It tells the story of three generations of women in China and provides a personal perspective to life through and after the Communist Revolution.

#audiobook #nonfiction #1001books #ReadTheWorld #ReadingTheWorld #China #DeweysReadathon #DeweysOctober2023

Good morning! I‘m looking forward to listening to lots of audio and reading some print today as I participate in the 24 hour Dewey‘s readathon. I‘m starting my day by listening to Wild Swans while I have breakfast and read some early posts.

#DeweysReadathon #DeweysOctober2023 #Readathon #BookAndBreakfast #audiobook

Since I am reading Pearl S. Buck novels I am more open to Chines literature. I saw this one on one of my Litsy friend's profile so THANK YOU if you recognise yourself because it was amazing!

I‘m enjoying a wonderful fall weekend! Today I‘ve caught up on laundry, canned a batch of apple pie filling, took a 3 mile walk with Luthien, and cooked a pot of chili. For a good part of this afternoon, I‘ve also been listening to this fascinating memoir/biography of a Chinese family. It was my planned September #FoodAndLit book, but I‘m running a bit behind.

#1001books #audiobook #nonfiction #ReadingTheWorld #ReadTheWorld #China

#bookspin #doublespin @thearomaofbooks

Oh this feels like cheating! Both of these books were holdovers from last months #nonfictionNovember and I finished the #bookspin yesterday, and started the #DoubleSpin last night!

This means I can work on the 4 books I didn't get to earlier in the year.

This is a very good and engrossing book.
But.
It has been a long while since running into the R slur and seeing it a couple of times here it feels visceral. My whole body clenched. Definitely a word that reminds you this was not written recently.

An intimate and inspiring account of three generations of courageous Chinese women. Reading this was a great way to learn more about 20th century Chinese history and culture.

#Courageous #MayMoms
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

It may have taken me two months to read this chunkster, but every page was worth it. Wild Swans tells the story of 19th century communist China through 3 generations of women. I was throwing out tidbits to my husband every time I picked the story up. Chang is a great storyteller, as horrendous as it was to read about a revolving door of hunter and hunted, torture, indoctrination, upside down values. Highly recommend #Booked2022 Set in China

April #Bookspin list

For March‘s #Bookspin list, I included more books that I really want to read and less that I feel I *should* read. Looking forward to whichever numbers are picked!

This book is huge! The shocking truth and stories of these brave woman is amazing.
I am glad times have changed now, woman can make their own decisions and have a opinion they do exist. Some parts made me very angry. I loved learning about the hierarchy and behaviour of the wife's and concubines.
#china #readingthelibrary #audiobooks #chinesehistory #chineseauthor #reading #books #librarybook #readingthelibrary #audiobook

A book I think all women should read. 3 generations of women living through the political tide and seemingly ever shifting times of China.
What book has really resonated and left its mark on you?

Like @TheSpineView , I‘m picking this fantastic memoir/biography by Jung Chang for this prompt. It wasn‘t a happy book, but it was fascinating to see China through the lens of three generations.

#LitsySpringBreak China

#LitsySpringBreak @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @TheKidUpstairs
#China

I've heard nothing but good things about this book and it didn't disappoint!
Three strong women, not to mess with!

Finally getting into this. I always feel apprehensive about fat books but it‘s pretty easy to get through and an important glimpse into life in their place and times.

This was my February #doublespin - started it in April? May? and finished it in August... Very long, and I had to read parts of it quite slowly due to the difficult subject matter. But I am very glad I've read it. I knew a bit about some parts of Chinese history covered here, but the personal history made it that much more real.

A slightly late - or just on long weekend time - #bookreport and #weeklyforecast

Finished Dragon Springs Road and Sex & Vanity, both of which I really enjoyed. Becoming went into hibernation as I couldn't finish it before its due date; I'll rerequest it.

Somehow started 2 new books even though I want to have fewer on the go. So I'm going to try and finish as many as I can this week - at least 2... hopefully without starting 2 more this time.

It's a grey and rainy day here. Feels like a day for tea and an improbably large stack of books to read.

#weeklyforecast #bookreport

I didn't finish Wild Swans, or start Becoming, as I started Sex & Vanity instead, but other than that my forecast was pretty accurate. Next week I just want to finish at least a couple of these. The more the merrier.

I haven't done a #weeklyforecast in ages! Jumping on the bandwagon again. I had way too many books on the go; I've mostly worked myself out of that pile, but still have a couple to finish. Up next to start is Kamouraska for June #doublespin / July #BookSpin

Here‘s my books for #lmpbc #groupe.

I don‘t mind reading longer books than 400.

Wild Swans by Jung Chang is 508 Pgs

Immortal Life Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is 382 Pgs

Lost City of the Monkey Gods by Douglas Preston 336 Pgs

Starvation Heights by Gregg Olsen is 411 Pgs.

#nowreading Wild Swans by Jung Chang.

#7books7days #7days7books day 4 - can‘t resist. This impacted me on all sorts of levels. I bought this volunteering at the in house shop at my local hospice (who looked after my Nan in her last day). First non fiction book that captivated me, a memory of growing up. Vexed I can‘t find this. Opt which I KNOW is in the house somewhere

My #BookSpin list for April, all ready to go 🙂

I haven't managed to get to a #doublespin yet but I'm keeping track of them. Maybe I'll get to them some month.

@TheAromaofBooks

Here's my list for #BookSpin! Thanks @TheAromaofBooks for doing this 😊

They've languished on my tbr for different reasons... Non-fic, chunksters, classics I mean to get to, 2nd books in series, short story collections, meant to read for a movie release, read reviews that made me less excited before I got to them, just plain got distracted by newer shiny stuff... Whatever the reason, I'm excited to see what numbers get pulled for me to read!

A Merry Christmas with a merry book. I'm loving this book so much I don't even have the words to describe it.
It's an excellent way to know China's history from the inside. And Jung did an amazing work bringing us inside that amazing country trough her pages.

What a masterpiece! (And I need to read more about China.)

#ChinaGirl ♥️

#WanderingJune

#WildWorld #MarchIntoThe70s @Cinfhen @Lizpixie

Worth every millisecond of the 27 hour, 15 minute audiobook. I have so much love for this book, and so much admiration for the three women whom the story revolves around. It's extremely hard to read (or listen to!) in places, as the hardship, abuse and torture experienced is just diabolical and it's hard to believe that this is not fiction but actual fact.
A definite 5🌟
#52in52-2019 #multigenerationalsaga #popsugar2019 #asianauthor #LitsyAtoZ #C

A huge thank you to Litsy introducing me to this book! It is Jung Chang‘s memoir of her life, her mother‘s life, and her grandmother‘s life in China. I learned so much about Communist China that I never knew before. I was also struck by the similarities between Mao and Donald Trump… Fantastic read!

Sounds like modern-day Republicans in the US…

Nonfiction is not usually my thing, but I absolutely loved this sweeping story of three generations of women in 20th century China. It‘s fascinating and reads like a great novel - but this all happened to these women. Really excellent.

#AugustIsATrip #China

I don't read a lot of ya for #yawednesday but when talking about diversity for younger readers I think this would be an amazing option. I hated history at school, mainly because they teach you stuff that can easily be tested so lots of battles and bleugh.
This though is a amazing book to teach you about some Chinese history in a personal way spanning three generations. It's huge but doesn't read like its a large book. @TheFunkyBookworm

This was a joy to read - a literary telling of historical truth by the daughter (and grand-daughter) of the women who lived through it. Absolutely mesmerising and offers a rare insight into the secrets of Communist China.

Horrifying and astounding and thoughtful all rolled into one. I loved it.

1. Pushing my nephew Ted on his swing at his farm. The flies are so bad he has to wear a screen. He never tries to take it off. 2. No! The only show I watch is Gardening Australia. 3. I loved The Dry by Jane Harper because it kept me entertained on the long bus trip home to visit this gorgeous boy. I read it in a weekend. 4. I have enough book marks and totes. I am also a page folder! 5. The tagged book from St. Paul‘s Thrift shop Stockton.

I didn't really know what the cultural revolution was or meant until I listened to this wonderful memoir. #numberintitle @maich #aprilbookishmadness

Chang‘s memoir/biography of her life in Mao‘s China, as well as her mother‘s and Grandmother‘s, both before and during Mao‘s control. Depressing, infuriating, and frustrating—these women (especially her grandmother and mother) went through a lot during these years. As did others all over China, and many starved or were killed. Unbelievable bad policy and cruelty as people tried to survive. #1001books #reading1001

Trying to finish my last March group read. I was doing great til about page 275. I swear the writing changed, but maybe it‘s just me. 150 pages to go, aiming for25 a day. #1001books #reading1001 #goingtofinish

An incredible book—if you are like me and haven‘t read much about life in communist China in the 20th century, this is an excellent place to start. The story of three generations of women and everything their families endured through war and then Mao Zedong, it‘s depressing and horrifying, but the resilience and heart of these women are uplifting.

This book should be required reading for anyone living in a free country.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#1001books

Loooooong road trip since we made a last minute decision to go to the hockey game. 3.5 hours each way means I will probably finish this book in the wee hours...

Let‘s go Blues! 🏒💙

New audiobook! This is one of our selections for Women‘s History Month for the #1001books group. It‘s really fascinating so far.