I liked this story. The historical fiction element of the narrative was informative and believable. The characters were resilient and courageous.
I read this book a few months ago and absolutely loved it. I couldnât put it down. It is very well written, I felt like I was right there amongst the characters watching their story unfold in real life.
I liked this book and found myself very engaged in the historical aspects. I did find it extremely sad.
I enjoyed it. However, I do think it could have benefitted from stronger editing and rewrites. Sometimes dialogue seemed stilted or did not flow as well as I thought it could have. I I wanted more character depth and development and felt that it would have been a stronger story if we would have heard more from what happened to Di. I would like to have learned more about what happened with the mother and father. There seemed so much more to the story and itâs a credit to the author that I care so much about all the main characters that I wish the story continued.
Eve J. Chungâs book made me much more aware of Chinese History and the traditional treatment of women. I didnât want to stop reading the book. In support of the main characters especially the mom and her daughters, I wanted to know they survived and ended up having a better life. I hope today Chinese women are more appreciated and honored.
I was immediately captivated and read the book in two days. I have to say one of my favorite parts was early on when the Communists arrived and their actions were detailed. The familyâs continuous determination to keep going and the details of their daily strugglesâas difficult as they wereâmade the book resonate.
I absolutely loved the book. A five-star read for me. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and the book was true to this genre as it taught me a great deal about life in post WWII China. The history was brought to life by the story of the Ang family. The culture with its inherent traditions was woven into the story. I thought the characters were well developed as well as the situations well described. I was drawn in to the storyâŚI did not like grandmother (Nai Nai). She was mean spirited, spiteful, entitled and bound by tradition. I did not like the father. He was weak, spineless and did whatever Nai Nai wanted or commanded. Grandfather (Yei Yei) was for the most part a non entity. I, of course, loved mother (Chiang-Yue) and the girlsâŚHai, Di and Li-Lan. Once introduced to the family, I felt as if I was on this harrowing journey with themâŚ
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I absolutely loved this book1 5 stars for me! The storyline, characters, descriptions, etc were all so vivid. And I learned so much about China, Hong Kong and Taiwan during this time period. An amazing story, told so well. Highly recommend this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book! I was not a fan of the grandmother, grandfather or husband/father. I was mortified at what happened to Li-Hai. I admired the mother and her strength to lead her daughters to safety.
I really enjoyed this book although many parts of it made me angry and/or horrified, especially when I found out that this was inspired by the authorâs own family story.
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I loved this book. What an amazing journey these females went through. Also enjoyed the historical information which adds to this story.
I loved the book and rate it 5*. There were many sad scenes that described the ordeals encountered on their 2-year journey to reach their fathers home. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, so I liked learning about the Communist takeover of China and the problems it caused for refugees fleeing the country. Nai Naiâs treatment of Haiâs mother was horrible. For the smallest infraction, she made Mom kneel for hours. She made her work so hard, while she did nothing. When Three was very sick with TB, Mom & Hai begged Nai Nai and Father for a doctor . Nai Nai said âA doctor costs money and treatment is expensive. We donât waste money on a girl childâ
My two cents: âThe Daughters of Shandongâ by Eve J. Chung offers a poignant look at a significant period in Chinese history through the lens of one familyâs experience. The story follows the Ang women as they are displaced by the Communist revolution and undertake an arduous journey from Shandong to Taiwan. The novel movingly conveys the hardships and uncertainties faced by individuals caught in the midst of such large-scale societal change.
What resonated was the focus on the resilience of the human spirit, particularly the strength exhibited by the women in the face of adversity. Their story highlights the personal impact of historical events and explores themes of familial bonds and adaptation. The novel serves as a reminder of the human cost of conflict and the enduring capacity for survival and rebuilding in the aftermath of displacement. While this was not an easy read, in the end I loved the book and will look forward to more books by the author.