Synopsis
The author's Westernized Chinese family in Shanghai was wealthy but dysfunctional. In this painful memoir, she writes about the cruelty she endured and her eventual emigration to the U.S., where she became a doctor.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1999-05-01 | | Editor: | Suzanne Oaks | | Edition Description: | Reprint |
| Size | | Length: | 278 pages | | Height: | 8.3 in | | Width: | 5.5 in | | Thickness: | 0.8 in | | Weight: | 8.0 oz |
Publisher's Note
Born in 1937 in a port city a thousand miles north of Shanghai, Adeline Yen Mah was the youngest child of an affluent Chinese family who enjoyed rare privileges during a time of political and cultural upheaval. But wealth and position could not shield Adeline from a childhood of appalling emotional abuse at the hands of a cruel and manipulative Eurasian stepmother. Determined to survive through her enduring faith in family unity, Adeline struggled for independence as she moved from Hong Kong to England and eventually to the United States to become a physician and writer.A compelling, painful, and ultimately triumphant story of a girl's journey into adulthood, Adeline's story is a testament to the most basic of human needs: acceptance, love, and understanding. With a powerful voice that speaks of the harsh realities of growing up female in a family and society that kept girls in emotional chains, Falling Leaves is a work of heartfelt intimacy and a rare authentic portrait of twentieth-century China.
The Chinese aphorism "falling leaves return to their roots" captures the essence of the psychological journey Adeline Yen Mah undertook when she decided to confront, and recount, her life story. Adeline's years of mental and physical abuse began when her mother died shortly after giving birth to her, leaving Adeline to suffer under a cold and manipulative stepmother whose sadistic acts were never questioned by her husband. Adeline's only refuge was her beloved Aunt Baba, a remarkable woman who rebelled against traditional Chinese custom, founded the Shanghai Women's bank, and lavished encouragement and affection on her niece. Eventually Adeline traveled to London to study medicine, then made a new life for herself in the United States. But her horrific childhood continued to haunt her, until at last she was able to examine and accept her roots. With a powerful voice that illuminates the complexities of Chinese society and family relationships throughout all cultures, Falling Leaves is a work of startling, heartfelt intimacy.
Industry Reviews
"A compelling story of family cruelty."
Kirkus Reviews (12/15/1997)
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