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lnamknudsen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, War, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death
pamelas's review against another edition
4.0
Although I liked the book, there were times when the coarse language and coarse lifestyle almost turned me away. But I was mesmerized by Ma Bo's story. Unlike other memoirs of the Cultural Revolution, Ma Bo picks up his story abruptly, giving no background into his life before he decided to go to Inner Mongolia. He ends his story just as abruptly. I think I would have liked some context for his story, but perhaps it works, since he finds himself with other students, former soldiers and Mongolian herdsman about whom he--and we--know nothing. His experience in Inner Mongolia is a floating island, out of context, which is perhaps an apt way of looking at it.
His story is a good illustration of the fervor and devotion and then the total disillusionment of many of China's young people during this time. He himself admits to brutality . . . but then suffers brutality at the hands of others. He does seem to have learned from his experience.
His story is a good illustration of the fervor and devotion and then the total disillusionment of many of China's young people during this time. He himself admits to brutality . . . but then suffers brutality at the hands of others. He does seem to have learned from his experience.
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