Brittany-Balzac and the little chinese seamstress

well so far this book is pretty good. I am on page 35 and so far there are these two boys that have to move to "the country side" for re-education and they movve to this mountain called phoenix of the sky and this place is pretty "uncivilized" by the standards of these boys. most of the people dont wear shoes. well these kids live in this house that kinda sucks because they have to share it with a pig but they seem to manage. they certinly dont really like their living situations, they are not allowed to see their families or anything so all they have is eachother. the boy that is telling the story plays the violin and is apparently really good. and the other boy (Luo) is currentlly ill with malaria which sucks because he just got a letter from the little seamstress princess that they get to take a couple days off and go perform over where she lives so hopefully he gets better soon! i believe that the narator is infactuated and kinda has a crush on the little seamstrees so we'll see how that turns out, cuz by the way he talks about her is pretty intence

Stefan-Son of the Revolution

I wrote the unlabeled comment below (sorry).

Jack Spady- the wild ginger

I think the book, The Wild Ginger, is going to be a good read as it has so far in the beginning. So far it has told how the narrator, Maple, is a girl in elementary school in China and how everything is so strict. She is beaten for the reason that she looks a little different which means that "she is the enemy." The girl Hot Pepper is a bully to Maple and is part of the Red Guard so she can behave how she wants because Mao "says she can do what it takes to control." Then there is a new student called, Wild Ginger. She also is different looking like Maple with yellow, green eyes. But when Hot Pepper confronts her, Wild Ginger doesn't back down. She ends up punching Hot Pepper, but in result is beat up by Hot Pepper and her gang. Maple and Wild Ginger start a friendly relationship because they can relate to one another.

Son of the Revolution is a far more interesting book than I expected. It is important to see that Communism was a political system with some positives instead of all negatives. However, Liang Heng still seems to have a hard life in Mao's China. One of the things that I found to be most unbelievable is the arrest of the narrator's mother. At first she was simply asked to give suggestions to the Communist party but later she got accused for being a Rightist, becoming a peasant for three years which had a strong effect on her family. Liang Heng got constantly bullied because of his mother's position within the society. Also I think it is interesting how loyalty to Communism is strictly enforced in the country. Some people even dedicate their lives wanting to belong in the Communist party. Overall, I don't know if Liang Heng's life was good or bad. Mao was an unfair ruler in many ways, but he also enforced equality among the people. At least his leadership was better than Chiang Kai-Shek's.

Wild Ginger- Andy Aranyosi

so far in Wild Ginger I find it to be a very interesting book with Maple being the main character and Wild Ginger, who becomes her best friend. Hot pepper is the local red guard soldier that rules over the school resiting Mao's Scriptures and quizzing the kids on how well they respect Mao being determined by how many pages of Mao's book can be read aloud. when wild Ginger moves in to Maples class she has the look of a foreigner this causes Hot pepper and her gang to go after Wild Ginger when Maple stands up for her hot pepper turns on both of them, this brings Maple and Wild Ginger together to begin a new friendship unlike either has ever experienced before. so far I like this book and find it very easy and interesting to sit down and read without getting bored. I'm interested to find out what happens next i the novel.

Little chinese seamstress- Parker Mortensen

im about forty pages in and so far it is a book about two kids who are in the chinese reeducation program where they got to the mountains and are toughtbut the people who live there. they meet a lil girl that they call the seamstress and they are kinda friends. one of the kids is sick with malaria and it is not looking good from his position so far. good book though.

Wild Ginger-Bryce Mayo

yo,
i am reading wild ginger and it is pretty dang good. there are a few main characters such as wild ginger, the person talkin in the book, and hot pepper. it seems to me like school is a joke where all they do is resite Mao quotes and if you didnt resite them right then you would be beaten or humiliated. also wild ginger and narirator dont really get along. the narirator wants to join the Red Guard but cant because of her familys past. wild ginger doesnt want to because she doesnt like there ways. also the teachers look down on outsiders and such and have harsher punishment on them. the school system seems like all they want to do is teach them the Mao way and i dont think that is right for the children. this book is the bomb digity.

Bryce Mayo

Willis- page number

PS I am on page forty at this point in time

1st post

Wild Ginger is definitely a pager turner! Maple, the narrator, has made friends with the new girl in the class, Wild Ginger. The bully of the class, Hot Pepper, criticized WG because she had light eyes and different shaped eyes because both of her parents were not oriental. Hot Pepper bullied Maple so much (saying that she was just followin what Mao would want her to do) that WG stepped in and wasnt afraid of her at all and HP finally backed off. Soon I found that WG dislikes her mother very much and criticized her deceased father who was French. Because her mother was so much in love with him, she is sort of discusted by what WG is saying. WG doesn't quite show her anger that she is obviously building up inside. Her mother is strugging to deal with her and commits suicide. WG is very distrought by this and when Maple tries to help her she refuses it and hurts herself by stabbing her hand with a pencil and threated to hurt Maple too. Being an orphan, she now has to fend for herself. So, she goes to the market in the earliest hours of the day selling fish, snails, scrappings for little to nothing. Maple is very empathetic towards her and tries to help her out.

Son of The Revolution- Willis

I have to say this book started off slow, but it gave me a lot if factual information on China. I found a lot of good information on the lifestyle of families in China, and the story of his mother really dragged me into the story. Also I can see how strong the people felt about politics which really got me to compare their culture to ours. The way they treat women there is hard to even compare to many countries in the modern day, but I suppose in that era many countries treated women with less dignity. As I said before their political stress such as the families feelings towards the Liang family really opens my eyes to their cultures feelings when it comes to high class families. This book should be read by American citizens to let them appreciate their right to vote for whoever they please.

Littel

Wild Ginger--Nick Parnell

I'm through the first three chapters of the Wild Ginger, and really enjoy the storyline so far. Hot Pepper(a very suiting name) is the local Red Guard leader for the school our main characters Maple and the Wild Ginger go. Basically Hot Pepper and her Red Guard gang members beat foreigners like Maple and Wild Ginger, with umbrellas as they chant out Mao quotes. Maple at first takes this treatment as a lone foreigner, until Wild Ginger enters the school and defends herself as well as Maple and inspires her to also fight back. Wild Ginger's mother is on bedrest as she continues to mourn the loss of her French husband, a man who Wild Ginger hates because he gave her the foreign blood and burdened her with the mistreatment, yet her mother scorns her for hating her father. Wild Ginger hates the Red Guard and Maoist but still wants to join them in order to be treated fairly. I predict that Maple and Wild Ginger are going to get into many more fights and a lot more trouble as they defend their right to live in their homeland.

kaelen-Little Chinese Seamstress

I am about forty-five pages into the book and as of right now, the book is about two teenage boys that were shipped off to China's re-education program at the Phoenix of the Sky Mountain. As every kid can relate, the two teenagers hate the work they have to do, and being away from home. They are allowed to watch videos every month, and one day they meet a tailor's daughter and call her the little seamstress. Also, one of the teenagers becomes sick with malaria. that is about as far as i have gotten so far but so far i do feel like this is going to be an enjoyable book. I am interested in the story because these programs must have been tough.

Son of the Revoluiont-Brett

I haven't read all that far into the book so far, but it is already proving to be quite interesting. The sheer influence of the Communist party is really amazing. It was very surprising to hear that one of Liang's first words was Mao. At the learning center kids were taught how to write Mao before there own name, and then moved on to, "Chairman Mao is our Great Saving Star," "We are Chairman Mao's good little children," "The Communist party is like the sun," and so on. It is also quite interesting to hear the perfection the party demanded and the egotistical way the party viewed itself. Liang's mom was punished for stating three criticisms even after being asked if she had any. So far this book has been quite interesting and I am anxioius to read further into the book and learn more about the view of a citizen under a communist government.

son of the revolution-MAKENS

So far this book seems to be pretty good. I think this book really shows how hard and difficult it can be to live in a communit society. It gives an interesting view on what it would be like to grow up in a communistic society. I havent gotten very far in this book but I think it seems like a book I will enjoy.

Little Chinese Seamstress

I am forty pages into the book and so far the story's about two teenage boys, that were sent on china's re-education program,  to the Phoenix of the Sky Mnt. The teenagers seem to hate the backbreaking work, and being cut off from civilization. Their only refuge is watching films each month, in distant villages. They meet a tailor's daughter and call her the little seamstress, ( one boy grows found of her). One of the teens becomes sick with Malaria, and is scared that he will die at the Phoenix of the Sky. 

Wild Ginger-Stephen

I can already tell i will like this book. It was inspirational when Wild Ginger stepped in and helped out Maple when she was getting beat up by umbrellas. Even though Wild Ginger and Maple lost the fight, they at least let Red Pepper know they will stand their ground. I feel bad for Wild Ginger's mom when they get in an argument. Wild Ginger will always hate her mom just because of what people say to her at school and in society. Wild Ginger tries extremely hard to fit in so she studies the teaching of Maoism and can recite much of the book. i feel that Maoism is taking over their lives because it is turning them into robots as Kim said. I'm interested in what happens with Evergreen and the two girls if they end up getting a group together and fighting Hot Pepper or not.

Son of the Revolution-Ian

Son of the Revolution is kind of a boring book so far. It has started to pick up a little bit but the beginning was a bit boring. Just like a Thousand Splendid Suns, the story is a bit boring but the amount of facts and brutal honest is making up for the lackadaisical story. The fact that people were treated so harshly and labeled rightist over such trivial and simple things is ridiculous. Especially since the Party asked for feedback and essentially labeled anyone who responded as rightist. This label was so harsh and it pretty much branded and scarred a person and their family for life. It was a really corrupt and terrible system. Also, the drought and famine the people suffered showed their reliance on the peasants the city memvers always looked down upon. If one area gets screwed up the whole system gets screwed up and is ruined. Another thing that was shocking was the marriage for financial reasons. It just seems so odd that marriage would used to strengthen a ranking or be done strictly to get by with money. In our culture marriage is something two people who truly love each other do. Overall this book is full of facts and history which is a plus, but the slow story is a downside but it is starting to finally pick up!

WHISL choice book

Wild Ginger is an easy to read book that has an intriguing tale. My favorite part of the book so far was when Wild Ginger helped Maple stand her own ground against Hot Pepper. Wild Ginger, a new, unfamiliar student swept into the scene where Maple was being beaten up, and takes many of the punches and beatings for her. After this, they become a team and a friendship forms. They both learn about who they are and the fact that they both are agains non-Moaists. I think this friendship will take the main characters on many journeys throughout the book. I am very sorry that Maple's father won't return shortly, I feel horrible that she is in an uncomfortable living situation: crammed garage.

Wild Ginger-LyndseyC

What I have read so far in Wild Ginger is very interesting. The narrator discusses how she is not a participant in the red guard therefore people like Hot Pepper that are part of the red guard have the right to beat and do terrible things to her. According to Hot Pepper, Chairman Mao teaches them to be ruthless. Its interesting to learn how people in the red guard were treated by people not in the red guard because for their generation they think being a Maoist is something they need to do; like on page 27 it says, "To become a Maoist for our generation was like attaining the state of Nirvana for a Buddhist. We might not yet understand the literature of Maoism, but since kindergarten we were taught the process, the conversion--to enslave our body and soul, to sacrifice what was requested in order to 'get there'--was itself the meaning of our lives". This book so far is really good and im interested in seeing how the relationship between Maple and Wild Ginger will end up.

elizabeth g wild swan

I like this book a lot. It's not the most exciting thing, but the small interesting events keep me going. The foot binding sounds painful, and the fact that a wife has to raise her husband is an odd concept. Idk, i mean the man is suppose to be the dominant one in the realationship, but until he gets older hes not so, it's weird. One thing that was interesting though was that the story teller's mother was allowed to have a say in who she was going to marry. The one bad thing is all the men asking for her hand. It's terrible that the soilders will try and marry local women just cause it's encouraged, and just for their pleasure no doubt. Im kind of rambling, but the book just has so many odd or intersing concepts they just keep poping into my mind. One thing that really bugs me about this book is the fact that i cant keep straight whos who sometimes. I'm sure things will clear up soon though. The next chapter called, "Daughter for Sale for 10 Kilos of Rice" sounds interesting and i cant wait to read it.

Gracie Stockdale-Wild Swans

This is such a compelling novel. Although it starts off rather slow, it really picks up and starts to get really interesting. OK some major topics that must be discussed: footbinding? AHHH, that sounds so horrible. At one point in the book it said she could barely walk much less stand up without severe pain. Especially the way they do it, by breaking their feet with a large stone etc. How tragic it is that women are still treated like livestock in this book. The concubines are sex slaves for their husbands and are simple there for them when ever they need a women. That treatment in itself is horrible. The life the author's Grandmother lived was not a pleasant one. When Xiu's son killed himself because he didn't want him to marry her, that was so ridiculous. How could it be so miserable to see someone else taken care of. Xiu is a nice enough man, being a doctor and finally leaving his disapproving family. He must really care about the grandmother (his wife, not concubine) enough to move away with her. I just feel so horrible for all the women of china, they go through so much just to be ridiculed for their happiness. This book is great so far.

Balzac&theLittleChineseSeamstress

I am 60 pages into this book and so far the story has been of two teenage (17 and 16) Chinese boys who are sent into the mountain villages of China to be "re-educated." The idea of "re-education" comes from Mao who dispises intellectuals, and sends them from the cities into remote villages to be essentially dumbed down. The effects of such a relocation are rather tramatic as the boys discover the poor, dismal state of their village on top of Phonix Mountain. Here they are ordered to do various tasks, learning the essential parts of a mountain village life. Like all other villagers, they take part in essential duties to keep the village working and fed. I like this book so far because it provide the perspective of two teenage boys in China who struggle to survive an ordered relocation. Its a very interesting topic and I think the rest of the book is going to be interesting and excting as well.

Garret Son of the Revolution

So far the Son of The Revolution has been a very enjoyable and thought provoking book. After reading a solid thirty pages, i have learned much about not only the family, but also myself. As i probe deaper into this novel, it enlightens me on how politics and social classes affect not only the daily lives, but also the basic foundations on which faimilies rely. It unveils the deeper grooves carved into Chinese culture and their politics. Honor to your political party is in direct corolation with ones social status and public rankings. When the mother was forced to give reason against her parties ranking, she was depleated to a lower status and forced into a Reformation Camp. The father, who was deeply instilled with these cultural grooves and was forced at political gun point to divorce and dismember his wife for the future of his and his childrens lives did regretably.

Mia Quick- Son of the Revolution

Son of the Revolution is a moving story based on the life of Liang Heng. In reading Son of the Revolution, I have gained great insight into the cultural revolution in China. The historic movements of the period, the influence of "Mao Thought", and the personal effects of the period on the Liang family are related in stirring detail. I'm only through about 100 pages of the book, but so far the central issues are: The role of family, influence of relationships, and the power of Mao Thought. Regarding the role of the family, Son of the Revolution begins with one of the most destructive occurrences of Heng's life; the re-education of his mother and his parent's subsequent divorce following her banishment. Following the divorce of Heng's parents, the Liang family becomes the object of scorn. They are ostracized on the social level as well as the political level. Both of Heng's sisters are denied entry into the prestigious Red Guard due to the intense political scorn imposed on the family. The "questionable" political allegiance of the Liang family continues to plague the family members as the novel goes on. As you can see the influence of relationships is huge. Being associated with the wrong people can easily be the political and social downfall of any given person on any given day. As aforementioned, the power of Mao Thought is another recurring theme throughout the book. One of the first words out of young Heng's mouth is his sworn allegiance to Chairman Mao Zedong, which is a bit scary if you ask me. I can't believe the power Mao has over the people of China, it's appalling. I'm looking forward to finishing this book and learning more about Heng and the influence of Mao!

I'm not very far in this book at the moment. So far this book has proven to be an interesting read and tells a lot about the older Chinese culture. This book at first made me really think about families and how they are set up. The names seemed to be the most confusing part. But once i got it straight that this was written from the point of view of a young woman about her mother, grandmother, and great- grandmother, mostly past generations, it became a bit easier. It was interesting to read about how her great-grandmother had to bind her feet, and the pain that she had to go through, to be acceptable to her husband who didn't even appreciate her. It was also interesting how the narrator's grandmother was a concubine and that she really seemed to like her "master", but in the end had to leave and ran away with the narrator's mother to safety, and eventually met the doctor, who took the grandmother as his wife, even though his son killed himself to make a point, so that he wouldn't marry her. What was hard i guess about this book was that, I had trouble keeping it straight in my mind that the narrator is of a younger generation and keeping the characters straight as far as generation goes. But over all i believe that this book will only get more interesting as the pages are turned and more of the story unfolds.

Callie- Wild Ginger

So far I really like this book. I find it to be a easy read, I can really get into it. It's kind of insane that these kids, like Maple ( the main character), and Wild Ginger are actually against the non- Mao believers. Like Wild Ginger, is completely against her mother and her father, because her father was French therefore he was a non-Mao believer. I just can't imagine going against what my parents have to say. It's kind of sad really.

Keenan Son of a Revolution

I have not gotten very far into the book but as i turn the pages it is getting much better. The book shows just how hard it would be to live in a country with a communist leaders. Just being affiliated with a party like Liang's mother was is enough to destroy a marrage and ruin lives of the family. It would be extreemly hard on the kids if their parents got devorced for the reason of party affiliation. The book also goes into the amount of chage a family would have to go through in these times. Evacuating a city would sure make a few people want to be close to people around the country. If they didn't then it would make them adapt and meet more people.

Son of The Revolution-Winkman

So far I am thirty pages into the book. I found the first ten to fifteen to be a little on the boring side of things. However, as the book has progresses it seems to become more and more interesting. So far the book has given me an idea about how harsh the Comminist party is in China. It was really brutal how Liang's father divorced his mother just because she was affiliated with the rightist party. I thought the coolest part of the book so far has been when the city was evacuated due to a proposed attack from Chiang Kai-shek. I liked this section because it forced Liang Heng and his family into a different enviornment where they had to get along with different people.

Wild Swans - Jung Chang

As of page 160, this book has been slightly confusing in the way it is laid out. This story is told from the point of view from a woman. She recounts the stories of her great grandmother, her grandmother, her mother, and I'm assuming herself. She switches back and forth between logistics of what is going on at the points in the story, and the personal details of her family. From her mother being a Communist, to her grand mother having to bind her feet, no part of the girl's lives are left out. Like the book Princess, which I read for the middle east section, China is male dominated, although it is not as bad. It makes me sad, still, to hear about her grandmother was forced to bind her feet, because feet that were over four inches were considered ugly, and the men in society would not look to her for marriage. There is not a lot of information other than that so far in the book that is worth saying in this blog, so I guess I'll say more when I'm farther along (since this book has about 500 pages)

KimWildGinger

So, so far in this book i can't decide if i really like the whole Mao movement or how it is affecting wild ginger. I think that she is turning into a robot with all her obsessions over the sayings and her hatred for her father and mother, it's weird. I think that Maple is the less aggresive of the two. She seems to be more timid when it comes to Hot Pepper and all the other kids. Evergreen also seems to be a lot more calm than Wild Ginger and seems to almost be along for the ride concerning the Mao movement whereas Wild Ginger is very much into it and seems to let it take over her whole life style. All in all i like this book so far, but I'm really curious to see how the relationship between Wild Ginger and Maple will turn out. Will Wild Ginger let her devotion to Mao override her freindship with Maple or will she stay true to the friendship?