Title: Chinese Cinderella
Author: Adeline Yen Mah
Page 162-205
Summary
At the age of 12 to 14, Adeline lived in a convent school in Hong Kong. For her entire 2 years of school, Adeline did not receive a visit and only received a letter from a playwriting competition. Adeline’s life at the school was depressing yet, she managed to be the TOP of her class. While other students had pretty western clothes, Adeline only had the necessary stuff to dress herself. Like a school uniform and a small brown dress for Sunday’s “visits”. Miserable, Adeline described her appearance, as well as staying in school even in holidays. Suddenly, one day; Adeline decided to apply for a playwriting competition. Adeline wrote a play about an Africa girl reflecting her own feeling about her life. Then, at the end of her final draft, Adeline dedicated the play to her grandfather. Many months passed, there was no reply. During her long anticipation of a response, her dear Ye Ye (grandfather) died. All hopes seem destroyed, no person to support the protagonist. The climax was Adeline’s future. After her graduation, will she go to college? Will she be forced to marry someone because of Niang? However, in an instant, a ray of hope appeared; it was the victory in the international writing competition. The narrator’s father became elated and proud of her. Finally, Adeline requested to study abroad with her siblings in England. The father agreed, but he decided a profession that Adeline did not had in mind. She gladly accepted and went to college. The dénouement was a letter from Aunt Baba; reminiscing an old folk tale called Cinderella. The last sentence of the memoir was nostalgic. The final sentence is “Your future is limitless, and I shall always be proud of you, my Chinese Cinderella” (Mah 197). (Like the ending!!!)
Quote
“I knew I looked ghastly with my dirty school uniform, scuffed and smudgy tennis shoes, straight, unpermed hair, bitten fingernails and swollen eyes from crying. Standing beside her made me feel especially worthless, plain and small” (Mah 187).
Reaction
Adeline Yen Mah has a lot of humor, suspense, drama, and even misery. From every page, the reader gets intrigue until the end. There is a lot of imagery and the narration is excellent. From page 162 to 205, there are countless events to wrap up the story. The climax is whether Adeline would attend college or end up the same as Big Sister. The resolution is the father’s acceptance of her daughter going to college as well as winning the playwriting competition. Most readers agree the dénouement concludes exceptionally. It was the perfect ending of the whole plot in Chinese Cinderella. In order to support the statement of Mah’s great use of imagery and extraordinary narration, the quote below is evidence. The narrator is the 14 years old Adeline. Being described after her Ye Ye’s funeral in a limousine with her family; Adeline was sitting next to her stepmother (Niang). The quote expresses the thoughts of Adeline comparing herself with Niang.
*I rate this book a 4.8 out of 5!!! (^.^)/
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Chinese Cinderella (Page 123-161)
Title: Chinese Cinderella
Author: Adeline Yen Mah
Page 123-161
Summary
As a punishment, Jung-Ling’s father and stepmother transferred Jung-Ling back to Tianjin. The separation of her from her dear Aunt Baba and her Ye Ye (grandfather) was heartbreaking. Also the timing of such as unreasonable judgment was absurd. In September 1948, Jung-Ling transfers to a foreign convent school. There was a civil war occurring in China at that time. The Communists and the Nationalists were in battle for the control over China. In the story, the Chinese citizens view the Communists as the dark side and were taking over Tianjin and Beijing. All the desperate people were fleeing Tianjin to Shanghai or a safer place. Meanwhile, the new school was foreign. Meaning, all the classes were in English, which Jung-Ling had no clue about it. As the year goes, fewer students were in the class until Jung-Ling was the only one left. The days became slower and lonelier. Adeline or Jung-Ling felt homesick. By the way, the nuns called Jung-Ling Adeline. In 1949, Niang’s sister, Reine Schilling finally rescues Adeline from the convent. She was a nice person to the narrator. Aunt Reine explains to Adeline about them traveling to Hong Kong, the location of her family. During the ship trip, the Schilling family treated the narrator with kindness and Adeline became attach to them. However, as Adeline returns with her family, she became distant with the Schilling because of Niang. On the other side, Adeline was reunited with her grandfather. He thought her the significance of being Chinese. At the end, Adeline is left alone (again) into a Hong Kong boarding school for several years.
Quote
“I would give everything in the world to be with you and Ye Ye again back in Shanghai…Don’t Forget me” (Mah 135).
Reaction
Jung-Ling adopts a new name from the convent nuns or Mothers. Her name became Adeline. In the story, the reader (s) learns more about the unwanted daughter’s loneliness at the school in Tianjin. Each word Mah uses to describe the narrator’s feeling is so vivid. The quote above makes the reader sadden. The quote comes from Adeline’s letter to Aunt Baba. The words reflect the feeling of Adeline wanting to reunite with her dear family. The desire to leave the boring place the school has become. After several pages later, the actions of Aunt Reine relieves the concerns of the reader over little Adeline. But still, Adeline’s return with the Yen family has not affected her current relation with her family.
Author: Adeline Yen Mah
Page 123-161
Summary
As a punishment, Jung-Ling’s father and stepmother transferred Jung-Ling back to Tianjin. The separation of her from her dear Aunt Baba and her Ye Ye (grandfather) was heartbreaking. Also the timing of such as unreasonable judgment was absurd. In September 1948, Jung-Ling transfers to a foreign convent school. There was a civil war occurring in China at that time. The Communists and the Nationalists were in battle for the control over China. In the story, the Chinese citizens view the Communists as the dark side and were taking over Tianjin and Beijing. All the desperate people were fleeing Tianjin to Shanghai or a safer place. Meanwhile, the new school was foreign. Meaning, all the classes were in English, which Jung-Ling had no clue about it. As the year goes, fewer students were in the class until Jung-Ling was the only one left. The days became slower and lonelier. Adeline or Jung-Ling felt homesick. By the way, the nuns called Jung-Ling Adeline. In 1949, Niang’s sister, Reine Schilling finally rescues Adeline from the convent. She was a nice person to the narrator. Aunt Reine explains to Adeline about them traveling to Hong Kong, the location of her family. During the ship trip, the Schilling family treated the narrator with kindness and Adeline became attach to them. However, as Adeline returns with her family, she became distant with the Schilling because of Niang. On the other side, Adeline was reunited with her grandfather. He thought her the significance of being Chinese. At the end, Adeline is left alone (again) into a Hong Kong boarding school for several years.
Quote
“I would give everything in the world to be with you and Ye Ye again back in Shanghai…Don’t Forget me” (Mah 135).
Reaction
Jung-Ling adopts a new name from the convent nuns or Mothers. Her name became Adeline. In the story, the reader (s) learns more about the unwanted daughter’s loneliness at the school in Tianjin. Each word Mah uses to describe the narrator’s feeling is so vivid. The quote above makes the reader sadden. The quote comes from Adeline’s letter to Aunt Baba. The words reflect the feeling of Adeline wanting to reunite with her dear family. The desire to leave the boring place the school has become. After several pages later, the actions of Aunt Reine relieves the concerns of the reader over little Adeline. But still, Adeline’s return with the Yen family has not affected her current relation with her family.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Chinese Cinderella (Page 85-122)
Title: Chinese Cinderella
Author: Adeline Yen Mah
Page 85 to 122
Summary
More despair Wu Mei or Yen Jung-Ling, actual name, experiences because of Niang. The 17 year old Big Sister marries a man named Samuel Sung and leaves the house. Yen Jung-Ling thought if her stepmother arranges a matrimony to her, she is better of leaving the house. She would not tolerate it. Since her school life was sacred to her. Despise being mistreated in her OWN house; in her school everyone respected her. Even Wu Chu-Mei invits Jung-Mei to her birthday party, which she is not allow to go. Mei accepts but as the concenquences follow, she is unfairly punish by her father and Niang. During "election" day, Jung-Ling is elect as president and won the election with her friends. After that, her friends plan to visit her house with good intentions. Mei’s parents are not please of commotion. The results are horrible. The friends discover how Jung-Ling is treated, Niang suggest separating the fifth daughter from her dear Aunt Baba, and Jung-Ling had to follow her parents back to Tianjin. More miseries await to the unwanted daughter of the Yen family.
Quote
“I watched him tossed sausage rolls, chicken sandwiches and chestnut cake with nonchalance to a delighted Jackie, who jumped to catch the morsels between his powerful jaws” (Mah 104).
Reaction
The protagonist faces more obstacles of her dream to live somewhere else, far away from her cruel family, except from her Aunt Baba and grandfather. Haughty Niang (mother) still treats Yen Jung-Ling with coldness. There is nepotism of second wife’s children than the first wife children. Between these pages, the reader gets more details of the fifth daughter’s life and the witch stepmother she has. For example, the wanting to go to a friend’s birthday party led to the short time starvation in Jung-Ling’s room. She witnesses the Fourth Brother carelessly wasting food and the stepmother’s dog enjoying it. The quote above, gives the reader a strong imagery of the moment the main character saw the food go to waste. Analyze each word Mah chose; there are SAT vocabulary words and powerful adjectives.
Author: Adeline Yen Mah
Page 85 to 122
Summary
More despair Wu Mei or Yen Jung-Ling, actual name, experiences because of Niang. The 17 year old Big Sister marries a man named Samuel Sung and leaves the house. Yen Jung-Ling thought if her stepmother arranges a matrimony to her, she is better of leaving the house. She would not tolerate it. Since her school life was sacred to her. Despise being mistreated in her OWN house; in her school everyone respected her. Even Wu Chu-Mei invits Jung-Mei to her birthday party, which she is not allow to go. Mei accepts but as the concenquences follow, she is unfairly punish by her father and Niang. During "election" day, Jung-Ling is elect as president and won the election with her friends. After that, her friends plan to visit her house with good intentions. Mei’s parents are not please of commotion. The results are horrible. The friends discover how Jung-Ling is treated, Niang suggest separating the fifth daughter from her dear Aunt Baba, and Jung-Ling had to follow her parents back to Tianjin. More miseries await to the unwanted daughter of the Yen family.
Quote
“I watched him tossed sausage rolls, chicken sandwiches and chestnut cake with nonchalance to a delighted Jackie, who jumped to catch the morsels between his powerful jaws” (Mah 104).
Reaction
The protagonist faces more obstacles of her dream to live somewhere else, far away from her cruel family, except from her Aunt Baba and grandfather. Haughty Niang (mother) still treats Yen Jung-Ling with coldness. There is nepotism of second wife’s children than the first wife children. Between these pages, the reader gets more details of the fifth daughter’s life and the witch stepmother she has. For example, the wanting to go to a friend’s birthday party led to the short time starvation in Jung-Ling’s room. She witnesses the Fourth Brother carelessly wasting food and the stepmother’s dog enjoying it. The quote above, gives the reader a strong imagery of the moment the main character saw the food go to waste. Analyze each word Mah chose; there are SAT vocabulary words and powerful adjectives.
Chinese Cinderella (Page 42 to 84)
Title: Chinese Cinderella
Author: Adeline Yen Mah
Page 42 to 84
Summary
Wu Mei (fifth daughter) has more complications with her family. As the two children of Niang are being spoiled with nice stuffs, the other five siblings are jealous. In Chinese New Year, the Fourth Brother and the Little Sister receive new western clothes. However, the rest only receives new “ancient” and traditional Chinese clothes, which made them mad. The five siblings plan to defy Niang. The head of group is Big Sister, except their plan fail as Niang brides Big Sister with high quality of clothes and a better room. Aside of Mei’s life with her complicated family, in school Mei feels more elated with her friends. Everyone in her class assume Mei as “genius” due to her perfect grades. In her childhood, Mei developes the desire to write short stories and is praise by her classmates such as Wu Chu-Mei. She becomes Mei’s best friend. In August 1945, the Second World War ends by the United States victory over Japan. Many American soldiers establish in Shanghai and the eight year old Mei is happy. Anyhow, as the memoir goes on, Mei attaches with her Aunt Baba and grandfather since her siblings are not trustworthy. One day, the Huang, friends of the family, give gifts to the seven children. The seven presents are ducklings. Mei was so excited to have a pet and named her Precious Little Treasure (PLT.) Therefore, with a heartbreaking incident that causes the PLT’s death. Mei desires to leave her family becomes stronger. The main conflict is between Mei and almost all her family.
Quote
“The little duckling cocked her head to one side and looked at me with dark, dewy round eyes” (Mah 73).
Reaction
During the story, there is a dual narrative voice from little Mei to older Mei. Adeline Yen Mah does an excellent job combining both voices. Her writing style and Amy Tan’s writing style are similar. Due to the narration style as well as the vocabulary use to describe the narrator’s emotions and thoughts. The narration is subjective, omniscient, and on first person point of view (POV). Also, Mah’s imagery use is one of the qualities that make her story more realistic. Look at the quote above. Mei is describing her PLT when she met her. Mah does not use simple adjectives. Instead of “cocked” she could pick “moved” and the phrase “dark, dewy round eyes” could be replace with a simple “black eyes.” The quote has strong imagery as well as strong connotation.
Author: Adeline Yen Mah
Page 42 to 84
Summary
Wu Mei (fifth daughter) has more complications with her family. As the two children of Niang are being spoiled with nice stuffs, the other five siblings are jealous. In Chinese New Year, the Fourth Brother and the Little Sister receive new western clothes. However, the rest only receives new “ancient” and traditional Chinese clothes, which made them mad. The five siblings plan to defy Niang. The head of group is Big Sister, except their plan fail as Niang brides Big Sister with high quality of clothes and a better room. Aside of Mei’s life with her complicated family, in school Mei feels more elated with her friends. Everyone in her class assume Mei as “genius” due to her perfect grades. In her childhood, Mei developes the desire to write short stories and is praise by her classmates such as Wu Chu-Mei. She becomes Mei’s best friend. In August 1945, the Second World War ends by the United States victory over Japan. Many American soldiers establish in Shanghai and the eight year old Mei is happy. Anyhow, as the memoir goes on, Mei attaches with her Aunt Baba and grandfather since her siblings are not trustworthy. One day, the Huang, friends of the family, give gifts to the seven children. The seven presents are ducklings. Mei was so excited to have a pet and named her Precious Little Treasure (PLT.) Therefore, with a heartbreaking incident that causes the PLT’s death. Mei desires to leave her family becomes stronger. The main conflict is between Mei and almost all her family.
Quote
“The little duckling cocked her head to one side and looked at me with dark, dewy round eyes” (Mah 73).
Reaction
During the story, there is a dual narrative voice from little Mei to older Mei. Adeline Yen Mah does an excellent job combining both voices. Her writing style and Amy Tan’s writing style are similar. Due to the narration style as well as the vocabulary use to describe the narrator’s emotions and thoughts. The narration is subjective, omniscient, and on first person point of view (POV). Also, Mah’s imagery use is one of the qualities that make her story more realistic. Look at the quote above. Mei is describing her PLT when she met her. Mah does not use simple adjectives. Instead of “cocked” she could pick “moved” and the phrase “dark, dewy round eyes” could be replace with a simple “black eyes.” The quote has strong imagery as well as strong connotation.
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