Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng

This is an incredible book! My friend Mary lent it to me, and I wasn't too excited to read a book about life in prison during Chairman Mao's regime. I had it for awhile before I started reading it. Then my friend Briant Davis suggested that we read this book for our book club. He thought it might help people understand his Chinese wife, Jasmine. Now I had a reason to read it, so I could decide if it would be appropriate for our book club or not...

And read it, I did. Even though Cheng's life is hard, it's not depressing or oppressive to read about. It's actually amazing to read about. The way the Chinese government treats this woman is almost unbelievable. So many things about her situation are hard to believe and understand! For example:

• they interrogate people over and over again
• they keep detailed records of what is said
• nothing is forgotten
• possessions confiscated are kept for years
• there are spies everywhere
• mandatory meetings with scripted agendas and actions
• nothing to read but Chairman Mao
• no freedom to choose anything
• painted signs and slogans that are expected to be believed
• police and government make many, many mistakes and aren't allowed to own them or admit them
• prison life is horrible
• people were expected to learn a profession (even medical doctors) by doing it, not studying it

Maybe it's trite to say it, but how could all of this happened? Was no one thinking or speaking out at all? How did this once-great society turn so completely ignorant and close-minded? It's an amazing look at a culture gone BAD!

The real message in this book for me was Cheng's courage and persistence. She refused to admit her "guilt" so matter what. She is an amazing person! She stood against unbelievable odds and stood firm, despite all kinds of physical, emotional, and spiritual torture.