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A review by _askthebookbug
Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution by Ji-li Jiang
4.0
• r e v i e w •
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"This is the most frightening lesson of the Cultural Revolution: Without a sound legal system, a small group or even a single person can take control of an entire country. This is as true now as it was then." - Ji-li jiang.
.
Although this memoir was written by keeping young adults in mind, there's clearly no age limit to sit back and learn about the Cultural Revolution from the POV of a teenager. What's horrifying was the fact that countless Chinese were brainwashed to believe that Chairman Mao's revolution was for the betterment of their lives. Back in the 1960s when the Cultural Revolution was just in its initial stages, people spent their days in fervour, counting on Mao to bring in positive changes. But a few months into the revolution, they began to realise how they now had to live in fear of being reprimanded for no fault of theirs. Intellectuals were mocked regularly and were even stripped of their titles. Children were turned against their parents, old people were treated brutally and students were encouraged to bully even their elders. Such was the horrors of the Cultural Revolution and Ji-li gives a firsthand account of what it felt like to witness Mao's growth.
.
Like any other teenager, Ji-li was anticipating the onset of the Cultural Revolution which believed in eradicating the four olds - old ideas, culture, customs and habits. Old signboards hanging on the shops were broken, cinema theatres were renamed, family heirlooms were destroyed. Ji-li dreamt of becoming a Red Successor who was entitled to take part in the activities carried out as approved by Mao. But trouble crept in when she realised that her grandfather was a landlord and as announced by Mao, they were then categorised under 'Black Family'. Rumours arose that her father was a rightist and was then imprisoned. Ji-li who was a brilliant student at school and led many events, faced her fellow students'wrath for being a black family. Many families like hers were stripped off their wealth, forcing elders to sweep the streets all the while publicly shaming them. Ji-li quickly realises how wrong the revolution's ideology was.
.
Ji-li recalls how she was pushed to denounce her parents and to show her support to Chairman Mao. While many families worshipped Mao, the Jiang's and others alike were struggling to survive in a cruel world. Many teachers were abused mentally and physically as flyers about them were pasted all over the cities. They were criticized and vile things were spoken about them. Ji-li finds one in her name and is traumatized by the accusations. It was only after Mao's decline that the citizens began to understand how inhumane and unfair the revolution actually was. Now living in The States, Ji-li mentions how she can't leave behind China. The Red Scarf girl turned out to be an eye opener, explaining the negative angle of what was considered as one of the biggest movement. Reading about innocent civilians being castigated was extremely hurtful. If you'd want to learn about the Cultural Revolution in simpler terms, then this book will impress you. I definitely recommend this.
.
Rating : 4.4/5.
.
"This is the most frightening lesson of the Cultural Revolution: Without a sound legal system, a small group or even a single person can take control of an entire country. This is as true now as it was then." - Ji-li jiang.
.
Although this memoir was written by keeping young adults in mind, there's clearly no age limit to sit back and learn about the Cultural Revolution from the POV of a teenager. What's horrifying was the fact that countless Chinese were brainwashed to believe that Chairman Mao's revolution was for the betterment of their lives. Back in the 1960s when the Cultural Revolution was just in its initial stages, people spent their days in fervour, counting on Mao to bring in positive changes. But a few months into the revolution, they began to realise how they now had to live in fear of being reprimanded for no fault of theirs. Intellectuals were mocked regularly and were even stripped of their titles. Children were turned against their parents, old people were treated brutally and students were encouraged to bully even their elders. Such was the horrors of the Cultural Revolution and Ji-li gives a firsthand account of what it felt like to witness Mao's growth.
.
Like any other teenager, Ji-li was anticipating the onset of the Cultural Revolution which believed in eradicating the four olds - old ideas, culture, customs and habits. Old signboards hanging on the shops were broken, cinema theatres were renamed, family heirlooms were destroyed. Ji-li dreamt of becoming a Red Successor who was entitled to take part in the activities carried out as approved by Mao. But trouble crept in when she realised that her grandfather was a landlord and as announced by Mao, they were then categorised under 'Black Family'. Rumours arose that her father was a rightist and was then imprisoned. Ji-li who was a brilliant student at school and led many events, faced her fellow students'wrath for being a black family. Many families like hers were stripped off their wealth, forcing elders to sweep the streets all the while publicly shaming them. Ji-li quickly realises how wrong the revolution's ideology was.
.
Ji-li recalls how she was pushed to denounce her parents and to show her support to Chairman Mao. While many families worshipped Mao, the Jiang's and others alike were struggling to survive in a cruel world. Many teachers were abused mentally and physically as flyers about them were pasted all over the cities. They were criticized and vile things were spoken about them. Ji-li finds one in her name and is traumatized by the accusations. It was only after Mao's decline that the citizens began to understand how inhumane and unfair the revolution actually was. Now living in The States, Ji-li mentions how she can't leave behind China. The Red Scarf girl turned out to be an eye opener, explaining the negative angle of what was considered as one of the biggest movement. Reading about innocent civilians being castigated was extremely hurtful. If you'd want to learn about the Cultural Revolution in simpler terms, then this book will impress you. I definitely recommend this.
.
Rating : 4.4/5.