Review on Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
BOOK REVIEW :(CHINESE CINDERELLA: THE SECRET STORY OF AN UNWANTED DAUGHTER- ADELINE YEN MAH)
‘I’m nothing. Less than nothing. A piece of garbage to be thrown out.’ (Page 207) This were the lines that shattered my heart to pieces upon reading. A book that moved me, changed me and brought me to tears; Chinese Cinderella: The Secret Story of An Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah, published by Delacorte Press in 1999. A masterpiece that I vividly remember although it has been years since I last set my eyes on it.
The title speaks for itself and gives the reader an idea of the genre and theme of the book. It is thought that a millionaire’s child would be born with a silver spoon and all the riches money could buy but that was not quite the case for our Adeline. A girl who was very tender at age and at heart. She was neglected by her father, scorned by her stepmother and frowned upon by her siblings. All in all, what she felt was not love from her family but only abhorrence. She had undergone far too many blows for someone her age. A read that will engender sensitivity and sympathy even among the biggest,buffest and strongest person.
Chinese Cinderella took off by giving the readers the main reason for the despise her siblings felt for Adeline. Her biological mother died of a fever two weeks after giving birth to Adeline but Adeline was mistook to be the reason of her mother’s death.- 'But then Mama died giving birth to you. If you had not been born, Mama would still be alive. She died because of you. You are bad luck.' (Page 3) ‘It all stems from mama dying when you were born. Things were much nicer when she was alive. You made her go away’. (Page 74) - As portrayed by the heart-piercing words uttered by her siblings, they were discourteous people who had no regards for Adeline’s feelings. Encouragement from her Aunt Baba and Ye Ye (Grandfather) was her only source of strength. Unfortunately, they were not always by her
‘I’m nothing. Less than nothing. A piece of garbage to be thrown out.’ (Page 207) This were the lines that shattered my heart to pieces upon reading. A book that moved me, changed me and brought me to tears; Chinese Cinderella: The Secret Story of An Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah, published by Delacorte Press in 1999. A masterpiece that I vividly remember although it has been years since I last set my eyes on it.
The title speaks for itself and gives the reader an idea of the genre and theme of the book. It is thought that a millionaire’s child would be born with a silver spoon and all the riches money could buy but that was not quite the case for our Adeline. A girl who was very tender at age and at heart. She was neglected by her father, scorned by her stepmother and frowned upon by her siblings. All in all, what she felt was not love from her family but only abhorrence. She had undergone far too many blows for someone her age. A read that will engender sensitivity and sympathy even among the biggest,buffest and strongest person.
Chinese Cinderella took off by giving the readers the main reason for the despise her siblings felt for Adeline. Her biological mother died of a fever two weeks after giving birth to Adeline but Adeline was mistook to be the reason of her mother’s death.- 'But then Mama died giving birth to you. If you had not been born, Mama would still be alive. She died because of you. You are bad luck.' (Page 3) ‘It all stems from mama dying when you were born. Things were much nicer when she was alive. You made her go away’. (Page 74) - As portrayed by the heart-piercing words uttered by her siblings, they were discourteous people who had no regards for Adeline’s feelings. Encouragement from her Aunt Baba and Ye Ye (Grandfather) was her only source of strength. Unfortunately, they were not always by her