Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

After reading this book, i'm beginning to think that if someone has suffered under a dictator then maybe they shouldn't write a biography about that dictator. This book is written by that same woman who wrote Wild Swans. For those who haven't read that book. It follow three generations of women in Chang's family her grandmother, mother and herself. It was a very interesting memoir about living before Mao , during his rise to power and the tale end of his reign. The Chang family suffered under Mao's domination. A lot of people suffered under Mao's domination. Chang set out to write an unflattering biography but in doing so whatever valid evidence she has is complete overshadowed by her own hate of Mao. Her anger comes through every page of the biography. Mao was not a nice person. The Gang of four committed atrocities that would have made Stalin proud but because of the tone and language of the writing, Chang's version will be dismissed as spite. I recommend approaching this book with caution. Only read this book after you have read a more balanced biography to get Mao's background and the facts straight. Then go read Wild Swans to find out where Chang is coming from. Then read this one with a grain of salt. I believe that Chang fears that Mao is being romanticized as time progresses further away from his reign and she wants to make sure that the world never forgets but she's over doing it.