I've read better
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While i agree that this is a book worth reading.In my mind it doesn't deserve 5 stars as most reviews give.For me Adeline was throughout the book full of self pity.I found this annoying at times, because clearly it wasn't just herself that suffered at the treatment handed out by Niang, who it goes without saying was a very cold unhappy person herself.In fact Niangs own daughter Susan was treated as coldly and indifferent as the rest of them, i would think she would have a very interesting story.She at least removed herself out of the family situation, and never looked back.I find it hard to understand why someone as intelligent as Adeline would still crave approval from her stepmother Niang, after so many years of complaining about her behavior towards herself.I do not in any way condone the treatmant handed out by the stepmother, but it wasn't just Adeline.She did have the love of her aunt Baba which seems more than what Susan had. She also had a good education and used it wisely.I think Adeline was actually quite naive and thought everything would end up happy ever after.I have to say i have read other books similar to this ,where the author has managed to get their stories across with a great positive attitude instead of negativity. Having said all that it is worth a read. Sorry if i upset other reviewers as i can obviously see the majority think this book is 5 star.
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Parisa Diba's review on Falling Leaves
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My god, what an amazing book! From chapter 4 onwards I struggled to hold back my tears and felt thousands of needles piercing my heart when I read about Adeline's Niang slapping her ferociously because her friends wanted to celebrate their success. What made terribly sad was the way her siblings excluded her and her father who constantly ignored her. This is amazing book by someone who suffered throughout her childhood and overcame all obstacles to emerge triumphant. Adeline Yen Mah is an inspiration to thousands who have step-mothers and the best advice I can give you is to not only read Falling Leaves, but all the books she has written.
By Parisa diba Age 14
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Excellent title!
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It was the first English book I have read through from the beginning to the end and it took me only 1 day to finish the book. You can imagine how attracting it is. I was touched by the truth of the story. I have met the author in person, even though she pointed out this book is not a biography of her life, I could still see the past from her eyes, her action, her words.
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Great read
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I was browsing the site and I came upon this book which I read about 2 years ago. As soon as I saw the title I felt that I really should write a review because it was such an emotional experience reading this book. The author takes us through the death of her mother soon after her birth (the child being deemed a token of bad luck in China), the effect this had on her family relations and also the effect her father's subsequent marriage had on the family. You will tear your hair out with frustration because you want Adeleine to seek revenge on the family that treated her so badly. But for me the most important message in this book lies in the fact that rather than seek revenge she instead channelled her energy into putting together this well written account of her life. This book is full of lessons and different people will extract different things from it. It is definitely worth a read though if only to get an insight into a wealthy, yet emotionally bereft family living in China in the latter half of the 20th century. I would also recommend "Watching the tree" by the same author which deals with a lot of the Chinese philosophies raised in this book.
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Inspiring Read
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A truly inspiring book showing how determination and belief in oneself can pull through this is a book that once picked up cannot be put down again, I would recommend to all who want to see the limits of what humance endurance and excess will procure in the end
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