'Becoming Madame Mao' by Anchee Min

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

'Becoming Madame Mao' is a novel based on the life of Mao's wife, who was heavily involved with the Cultural Revolution and became one of the most nototorious figures in the PRC. Although it is a novel, the writer, Anchee Min, states that she has tried to stick to the facts as closely as possible, using direct quotes from diaries, memoirs and letters where at all possible.

It's a really interesting read, and very accessible even if you don't know a lot about Chinese history. The only thing that slightly threw me was the style of writing. For some reason, Anchee Min keeps switching between first person and third person narrative, and I never entirely understood why. As far as I can tell, there is no third person narrator who might be adding in commentary of any kind. It doesn't jar nearly as badly as it could do, but it did confuse me somewhat.

Overall, however, definitely recommended.

Comments

third person narrator

[rosalux.livejournal.com]

It seemed like Min used the third-person narrator to show how constructed Jian Qing's character was, how she made herself into a new person repeatedly, partly consciously and partly unconsciously.

The fractured feeling felt deliberate to me, as if the only way to explain the Cultural Revolution and "Madame Mao", and even Mao's own persona, was that dissociated tone and lack of personal continuity.

[anait.livejournal.com]

I remember reading a book about Madame Mao/Jian Qing when I was taking a class in Chinese history. I can't remember the name of the book, but I think it was more of a straight-up biography and not a novel.

I remember being fascinated by the story of her early years, up until she married Mao. What rosalux says above, about her constantly transforming herself. I may have to check out this book.