Customer Reviews

Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was excited to hear that another book about the Cultural Revolution was published. I always believe there should be more books about this period of history which should never be forgotten. But I was so disappointed after reading it.
This is a historical novel, but the author manipulated the fact to serve her purpose to make a melodramatic story, and totally ignored the accuracy of the year, the political condition and how Chinese would react at that time. Here are some clarifications.
The Cultural Revolution started in 1966 and the first few years was the most turmoil. It was common for ransacking people's home, having struggle meeting to condemn the class enemies. But after the first three years, the situation was much calmer. So the many things the author described were almost impossible to happen after 1972, such as, the teacher disappeared, doctors committed suicide, people got arrested, a public meeting held to humiliate the main character after Mao's death, etc. If there were only one or two mistakes, I could understand. But the inaccuracy was consistently throughout the book. Because the book was about an important piece of Chinese history, the accuracy of the political situation should be the essence of such a book.
Since I lived through the Cultural Revolution, I found the characters were not authentic. Eg: Mother wore a pearl necklace in 1972 (no one dare wear jewelry then); Father listened to Voice of America pretty openly which was a dead crime; educated people often drank coffee on the street in a western pastry; "I" longed to come to America and told Father "I love you," and even trying to whip a Red Guard with a metal belt in public...... All of these sound inauthentic. And, at age of thirteen or fourteen, the main character had such a clear view about Chairman Mao, even felt happy for his death. That was impossible even for most the adult.
I felt the author wrote the book with a strong desire to tailor the story to American's taste, which made this book less worthy. And the continuous mention of Golden Gate Bridge and the longing for it became annoying. This book could be misleading to Americans who want to know about China and the Chinese people.

"Revolution is not a dinner party, . . . A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another." - Mao Zedong.

Ying Chang Compestine's title of her first novel is nothing short of brilliant irony. Ms. Compestine, like her protagonist, Ling, survived Mao's Cultural Revolution (a time marked by constant hunger) to become the author of three cookbooks and a recognized authority on Chinese cooking and culture.

It's hard to pick a place to begin in recommending this book. First of all, it is a "cross-over" novel, which, in the trade, means a book for both young adults (10 yrs. and up) and general readership. I cannot think of a better book to be read by everyone in any family.

China, and all things Chinese, is a big part of our lives and will be an even larger part of our children's lives. This novel is as fine a start as any to better understand China's recent past.

The year is 1972 when the story begins and it ends shortly after Mao's death in 1976. Ling is almost nine years old in 1972, and it is through her eyes that we experience her fear and terror when, "Danger began knocking on doors all over China."

Ling is a bright and vivacious only child. She is the great joy of an easy-going father and the consternation of a perfectionist mother. The family lives in a hospital compound where her father practices Western surgery and her mother practices traditional Chinese medicine. The tie-in to our California Bay Area is a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge given to her father by his teacher, a visiting American doctor. It is her father's hope that some day Ling will travel to America and see the Golden Gate Bridge.

The picture of the bridge, which would be perceived as a bourgeois symbol to the marauding Red Guard, is finally hidden behind the framed portrait of Mao Zedong on their mantle. When Ling's parents burn books, letters, old photographs and other family mementos, the hidden picture of the Golden Gate Bridge becomes their icon of resistance.

Ling's creator not only came to America, but on a clear day, when coming through the Caldecott Tunnel from her home in Lafayette, California, she can now almost reach out and touch the Golden Gate Bridge.

Compestine tells Ling's story in language both youthfully direct and emotionally honest. In her father's eyes, Ling could do no wrong. With her mother, it was different: "I believed Mother was unhappy with me because she had never wanted to have a daughter." She wishes her mother loved her "the way I was, like Father did."

When Ling's father is taken away by the Red Guard as an enemy of the people, we remember her worry: "How could I learn every one of Mother's rules so I wouldn't upset her?" Mother and daughter must build a relationship to survive. In the ensuing four years, Ling experiences loss, hunger, betrayal, fear and confusion, all topics worth generating lively family discussions.

Here's what I recommend: after each member of your family has read the novel, go out to your favorite Chinese restaurant and celebrate. Talk about what is familiar in the story, what is surprising, or how you might have reacted if it had been your family. Go out and celebrate your family, celebrate your freedom.

When a tyrannical government thrusts millions of its citizens into social chaos for over a decade, outsiders tend to dismiss their suffering as "unfortunate." When one little girl personalizes the horror inflicted on herself and family, indifference is no longer possible.

The explosive effect of Ying Chang Compestine's Revolution is not a Dinner Party comes close to nuclear in its effect on her reader. The sheer barbarity of Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution bullies its way into the reader's psyche as surely as Chairman Mao himself unleashed his bullying thugs on all things civilized. The plight of a loving, family-centered child becomes the plight of all helpless people suffering a topsy-turvey distortion of the intellectual, moral, personal values that make life meaningful.

Gerry Tatham
Retired Professor of Literature

"Revolution Is Not A Dinner Party" is a wonderful story that relates to Chinese history during the time period of the Cultural Revolution. The story is exciting and has many twists and turns that grab the reader's attention. When I read this book, I did not want to put it down. "Revolution is Not a Dinner Party" is written so vividly and with so much care that this is one of my favorite books that I have ever read. Ying Chang Compestine is a fantastic author. I love this book and I recommend it to anyone ages 9 and up.

When two of my four children stop swimming in the ocean during vacation to sit and read a book cover to cover in a day, that's my idea of a well written novel. I, too, read this captivating fictional account of a young girl's experience through the Cultural Revolution. Having read many adult and children's books about China during this time period, I found this novel to be an incredible portrayal of events through a young girl's eyes. I would recommend this novel for the whole family.

"Revolution is Not a Dinner Party" is an exciting page-turner not to be read on an empty stomach (read it and you'll see why)! I had a hard time putting the book down and I have actually learned way more about the Chinese Cultural Revolution from reading the book than I have from my history class. Even though this is supposed to be for `young adults' and is written though the eyes of a young girl, I think that it's a book that adults would really like too. My family enjoys reading out loud to each other and we're always looking for books that we would ALL like. I added "Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party" to our list as my choice to read out loud next.

"Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party" is the most amazing book I have ever read. I finished it in one day, I couldn't put it down and everytime I was forced to ( no reading at the dinner table :( ) all I could think about was how excited I was to get back to it! I am very picky with books I read and very truthful about my opinions of them and honestly, this book is my absolute favorite. I recommend it to everyone even if you don't like historical fiction or Asian culture. You will still love this book. I've never been very fond of history, it's definitely not my favorite subject in school but Ying Chang Compestine has opened my eyes to Chinese history and culture. Before reading this book, I knew almost nothing about the Cultural Revolution and Asian culture. Ying Chang Compestine gives a great amount of detail and I got a fantastic insight of what life was life during the Cultural Revolution. If you don't read "Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party", you are definitely missing out on an awesome book. Ying Chang Compestine is an amazing author and her writing makes you feel as if you're in the room witnessing what's happening in the scene. I recommend this book to everyone and anyone.

Revolution Is Not A Dinner Party is a compelling read that all people must read. A story of hope, strength, and redemption, it kept me in my seat. It only took me an hour to read it, so if you have a little time on your hands, this book is a good option.
Ling is a young girl growing up during the Cultural Revolution, a period when Chairman Mao enforced all these rules, rations, and ideas upon the public. He especially encouraged young people to turn in their parents, and although Ling can never imagine anyone doing that, she sees terrors that many people don't ever see.
The book goes by very fast, all sorts of action take place. Ling's mother grows to apperciate her daughter, and Ling's father overcomes difficulties. I was very sad when Mrs. Wong was taken away; I think she was my favorite character by far.
The only point of the book that bothers me is that the author said that the worst abuses stopped in 1969, but all this takes place after. It still seems pretty bad for me. I think the author just wanted to include Mao's death in it, and it just didn't make sense to jump around.
Otherwise, this book was very enlightening and was extremely well written. A good book for everyone and anyone.

"Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party" Is an interesting book. It shows all the hardships people faced during the reign of 'Chairman Mao'. Ying Chang Compestine weaved a story that makes you want to cry happy and sad tears. It made me think of how lucky I am. A hard-to-put-down novel. If you liked this book, I would highly recommend "Chinese Cinderella" by Adeline Yen Mah. This book is good for children 11+. What I liked most about it as the symbolism, similies, and metaphors. Although I give this book high marks, I have to say (or rather, write!) it was a bit violent.

"A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery, it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained, and magnanimous. A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another."
~Chairman Mao

This is the story of a young Chinese girl named Ling and her family as they struggle to survive amidst the hellish revolution that swept China in the year 1972.

I'll admit, the cover of this book is definitely not what drew me in. Now that I've read it the cover seems to work well, it just didn't grab me right away.

The best part of this book was its heroine Ling. Her voice was so clear and believable. The sharp descriptions of both her physical surroundings and her emotions were compelling. Everything about her story felt honest and real. Also, the need to find out what would happen to Ling and her family kept me reading!

I would recommend this book to some readers, but not others. I'd say if you like reading historical fiction or stories about wars and revolutions you'd like Revolution is Not a Dinner Party. And although I enjoyed the book, when I'd finished I somehow felt that it was not perhaps very memorable . . . in other words, I don't know how long it'll stay with me. But it was still very much worth the ride.