Did knowing the book is based on Eve Chung’s grandmother’s experiences change the way you approached the novel, and if so, how?
I knew that going in, but as I read I kept wondering…How could this level of violence, poverty, pain, filth, lack of food and water, how could this have been true? I kept checking back to make sure I had remembered right, that this was based on the author’s grandmother’s own experiences.
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“…violence, poverty, pain, filth, lack of food and water” are all too often experiences for those being trampled. And that’s if they aren’t murdered.
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I knew that the novel was based on the author’s grandmother;s experience and extreme hardships, violence and barely having food and supplies to survive but I had to constantly remind myself of these conditions to fully appreciate the story.
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Similar to the other readers, I did know the books was based on her grandmother. However, knowing that made it even more powerful. I kept thinking, as a woman, I am so lucky to be born in this country. I can own property, vote, get married or not, have a career and have children or not. I do understand that these rights were not always available to women in the US and that we still have further to go for women’s equality…but what a difference. It is not an even playing field in the US for women and men, but compared to some other cultures woman are really ahead.
I thought much more highly of the book, knowing that it was the author’s grandmother’s story, than I may have otherwise.
Yes, very much so. I did mention in another question how I enjoy a book more when inspired by events that are true. It seems to bring a book to life more when reading it.
I knew it would be a very personal story. I thought it would be richer in detail. I was not surprised in reading the author’s note that Chang “knew only bits and pieces of her [grandmother’s] story and did not realize how incredible her journey was until after she passed.”
Read Wild Swans and any book by Lisa See. Read the Rape of Nanjing. Read The Joy Luck Club. There are so many books, fiction and non fiction that describe the histories a China, Taiwan (Formosa), Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Philippines…each country in Asia has its own unique culture and histories of war and foreign influence.
Knowing this was the story of the author’s grandmother’s experiences gave it a
shocking validity that was very moving. It certainly made me appreciate even more being a woman born in the USA. More work to do for our country but we have a reasonable start.
I think knowing this gave the book a greater impact for me - that such horror and sadness was very real.
Vivian mentioned The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II about the 1937–1938 massacre of Chinese civilians committed by the Imperial Japanese Army, written by Iris Chang. I’d like to share with you that I was Iris’ high school French teacher for three years and could not be more proud of this brilliant young woman and her meticulous research in writing this highly acclaimed book. Sadly, Iris committed suicide in 2004. A memorial service was held in China by Nanjing Massacre survivors. A digression. I’m sorry. I thought of her often as I read Daughters.
How sad for you, too. As a retired teacher I’ve learned of deaths of former students. Regardless of the circumstances I remember their smiling faces, inquisitive minds, etc.
I knew this when I requested the book. I pulled up the publishers “ Book Club Kit” , which if you haven’t done so I highly recommend doing. It features a timeline that you can click on and follow along with events, as well as an illustrated map and other materials. It did not change how I approached the novel but it did make the story even more impactful as I considered how trauma and generational trauma, was a strong theme in the story. The “ odd” behaviors that Eve Chung’s grandmother exhibited became more poignant when placing them in context of her history. It is always extremely painful to me to see any being treated the way these women were treated. It also reminds me of the dangers we all face and that terror spurs me to continue to advocate for all marginalized people and sound the alarm for the perilous times our country and her people now face.
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Yes, even though it was most shocking to me that book did portray the life her grandmother had to endure it made the book more engaging because it did portray life for women in China and that is important for this type of read.
First of all, I was oblivious to the fact the book was based on the author’s grandmother. It was only in reading the information at the end of the book I became aware of this book’s historical significance. It made the book seem more believable and relevant at least to Chung.
Knowing that it was based on the author’s grandmother’s experience made the story much for real to me.
The book seemed true from the beginning. The little knowledge I acquired over the years supported the events. So when I discovered it was based on the author’s grandmother I was unsurprised but deeply saddened.
I was aware that it was a fictionalized account of her grandmother’s life prior to reading the novel. The cruelty of people is caught so vividly in the book; it’s jarring.
Since I knew the book was based on the author’s grandmother’s experiences, it had a greater impact for me. Hai’s descriptions of all the horror they experienced on their 1000-mile journey from their home to Taiwan was heartfelt. It was amazing that the girl’s mother encouraged them with hope for a better life, throughout their ordeals; fear of Communists cadres, loss of their father’s love, lack of food, housing, proper clothing, and filth.