I don't think the Dr's family behaved any different to a lot of families today.  Dad loaded and he marries a younger wife and the kids are miffed because they may miss out on their 'rightful' inheritance.  Happens all the time and causes many family break ups.  Even though they may not go to the lengths of shooting themselves.  Children of the first or second marriage often end up being bullied or worse by the other kids or even by the new parent.  

I think the Dr's answer to the problems with his family was a little over the top.  He could have given his children a decent share of his fortune but not so much that he left his new wife and daughter all but destitute.  Moving from a luxury home to a damp mosquito ridden mud hut that was in danger of major flooding if the banks of the river burst was a bit extreme.  But he must have been desperate to get them away from his grasping children and his saving grace was that he worked to get them into a better house and a better life after a year or so.

I have to admit that, while I did know some tiny bits about Pu Yi's life, I had absolutely no idea about how harsh things have been in China in that time. It sounds a bit like 1984 too, what with 'thought crime' and all. And having to bow at a portrait and being harshly punished if one didn't do it at an absolutely perfect ninety degrees is... wow.

Most shocking passage:

Quote:

As part of their education, my mother and her classmates had to watch newsreels of Japan's progress in the war. Far from being ashamed of their brutality, the Japanese vaunted it as a way to inculcate fear. The films showed Japanese soldiers cutting people in half and prisoners tied to stakes being torn to pieces by dogs. There were lingering close-ups of the victims' terror-stricken eyes as their attackers came at them. The Japanese watched the eleven and twelve-year-old schoolgirls to make sure they did not shut their eyes or try to stick a handkerchief in their mouths to stifle their screams. My mother had nightmares for years to come.

Poor grand-grandmother was really touching with her prayers of not reincarnating in a woman, rather than in a dog or a cat. I somehow didn't realize how harsh her life has actually been until reading that, which sort of brought back to my mind everything the poor woman has been through.

I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed at the doctor for changing his feelings towards his wife, they seemed so happy together until now

You know, while reading this chapter I couldn't help wondering how on Earth will the main characters' lives (the narrator and her sisters) be of any interest after all these very shocking times their ancestors had to go through. Modern life is so bland and peaceful compared to life back then.

I agree with you Kay, I also thought it was reminiscent of 1984 with "thought crime", unfortunately I have to keep reminding myself that this is not fiction.

The harsh realities of the great-grandmothers life is deeply disturbing. What she had to endure, and finally being shrewd enough to escape being poisoned is incrediable. Great that her mother-in-law was on her side, but what an awful position to be in. Homeless with a young son in tow. Feeling that she had to be overly grateful to her daughter for taking her in. And feeling like she'd rather be anything than a woman.... hard times indeed.

The Japanese led propaganda education is probably the most disturbing section of this chapter, but I would say the story of groping amongst corpses for the not quite dead to save comes a close second.  

I was shocked at the power the Japanese had over the Chinese at that time and I know that the Chinese/Japanese relationship in modern times is still not that great. The part where the author describes that the children were made to watch horrific executions was just awful (and reminded me of 1984), I also was shocked at the shooting of the schoolgirl and the story about the man that Dr Xia had treated that got tortured and murdered and then his wife drowned herself with their young baby. Just awful. I'm wondering if this book can get any more shocking but something tells me it will

i didn't connect with 1984 at the time of reading but see your points and now recognize the similarities...when they were bowing to the portrait it reminded me of terry goodkind's sword of truth series where the people of a cruel dictatorship have to bow and pray their allegiance to their leader at a temple every time the bells chime and though that book was fantasy i too have to remind myself that the events in THIS book are real!!!! It obviously shows where some authors get their inspiration from but it is one thing to know that and another to read examples of stuff you have only imagined before in fantasy novels happening in the years only just preceeding your own lifetime!! it is such a scary thgought that this stuff went on but the way this book is written is awesome because her writing skill possesses the ability to keep you wanting to read more even as you are horrified!!! the thing is stuff like this still happens today in some countries -it is just we don't get it thrust in our face and so go about blissfully unaware of what is happening across the other side of the globe. i think this book has even more impact on me because i am reading it in a small segment every time and the earlier comment about forgetting what has happened between weeks doesn't apply for me because it leaves me thinking about what i have read, wanting to discuss it and considering the wider implications of what is happening right now somewhere that i may not be aware of!!  vicky is horrified about some of the stuff i have told her about in this book and asks me what i see in such a horrible book but it is written in a way that is easy to read and a comfortable style and i feel i am learning something every time i read another chapter!! also it makes you respect the author and her family hugely for all they have had to go through....

I think the relationship was always going to get tough for Dr Xia and Grandmother. He gave up his family for her and his eldest son killed himself because of the marriage.  In a county where family is so important it was only a matter of time before the Dr realised the full extent of what he had done.  I have no doubt he still loved his wife but must have been full of remorse for what he had lost.

just as in afghanistan, the chinese people see the newly arriving russian forces as their saviours only to find their city getting looted and women being raped pratically on the streets.....r.e chang's mother fleeing the russians by hiding in the kindergarten labyrinth. It is also interesting to see whole japanese families being given reprisal for the actions of the men in their household and how shocking was it to read of whole families being lynched or poisoning themselves to escape revenge attacks....this book is soo relevent in light of what is happening at  mo in georgia and has prompted me to take an interest in what is going on over there because this book is slowly making me realise how little i truly know about what has gone on in the world and still goes on even now and how important it is that we take an interest in world affairs if only by some small chance that we might be able to help do something to stop such dreadful occurrences from happening or at least help repair the damage left when all the fighting and hullabo is over. i honestly don't think i would be taking so much note of what was going on in georgia if this book hadn't opened my eyes- how easy is it to walk around with our blinkers on , blindly ignoring the dreadful things happening to humanity as done by members of our own race.....it makes me despair that any of us are worth saving when we can treat other humans more despicably than we would an animal......sorry but this book has really fired my passion and i feel so frustrated that humanity cannot just BLOODY LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE AND HARMONY FOR FRACKS SAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For some reason I was horrified to read about what the Chinese did to the Japanese too. I know that it was sort of "an eye for an eye" behaviour and understandable as such but still...

All through this chapter I couldn't help thinking that the Chinese of that time and place had been really unlucky. All these armies they have to accommodate and not one of them actually helping them, only looting, raping women, and similar stuff.

Can you imagine people being killed over a few pounds of salt?

it didn't grab me like the first 3 chapters. I was, however, impressed at the strength of the author's Mother and her determination to not be married off lik earlier generations. It was also interesting to learn of the Russians part in Communist China. Looking foward to seeing how the book develops. Am also reading 'Bookseller of Kabul' at the moment. The unfair treatment of woman in these countries will never cease to shock me, it's so sad ...

It was so sad that Jung's mother would rush out to greet their "saviours" when the new soldier rolled into town, just to discover that looting and raping was the name of the game. Thank God she managed to escape being chased by the Russians, who knows what they would have done to her.

Then their own race the Kuomintang, again heralded as saviours, just continued the plight of these poor chinese people.

The widespread corruption was confusing at times. The mixture of Chinese names and organisations to get my head around was one thing, but the fact that the communists were joining the Kuomintang as spies and reporting back. I had to keep rereading sections to check I understood what was happening!

Finally I think Jung's mother was very enlightened and brave to not just allow an arranged marriage for herself and also to be choosy when she realised a potential suitor wasn't right. It was also very enlightening of Dr Xia to not just push her into a marriage and allow her to make her own decisions. He really does come across as a fundamentally good man.

The most shocking element has to be the absolute poverty and sense of depravation at this time. I mean to sell your daughter for 10 kilos pf rice??? Absolutely awful... The fact that varying currencies were so worthless and inflation was at 2,800,000% it's just minding blowing to get your head around it. Jung's mother and grandmother were very lucky that they continued to be able to feed themselves. There must have been so many people dying of starvation.

Jung's mother was so brave. She really stood up for what she believed in and I feel that is very comendable. Especially once she was arrested and held in prison, hearing and seeing the most horrendous torture around her. She must have been a very strong woman to make these experiences make her stronger and not just to submit to the Kuomintang demands. She was lucky that her mother had connections and she got out of prison before anything happened to her.

From what we're reading here, it is obvious to see why communism was so heralded by the people.