A Chinese proverb says, "Falling leaves return to their roots." In Chinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her painful childhood and her ultimate triumph and courage in the face of despair. Adeline's affluent, powerful family considers her bad luck after her mother dies giving birth to her. Life does not get any easier when her father remarries. She and her siblings are subjected to the disdain of her stepmother, while her stepbrother and stepsister are spoiled. Although Adeline wins prizes at school, they are not enough to compensate for what she really yearns for -- the love and understanding of her family.
My Thoughts
This novel was written with the straightforward elegance Adeline has no doubt possessed since she was in kindergarten. It was a simple retelling of her lonely childhood, surrounded by a father who ignored her, siblings who mercilessly bullied her or scorned her achievements, and a cruel stepmother who seemed to gleefully embody the archetypal "evil stepmother." Her only refuge is her beloved Aunt Baba, who recognizes the repulsive way in which her parents treat her. But since Aunt Baba is also at the mercy of Adeline's parents, she can do nothing to stop the atrocities -- instead she does the only thing she can do, which is give Adeline the recognition she deserves and encourage her scholastic success. Just before they are separated (after evil stepmother declares Aunt Baba to be a bad influence), Aunt Baba reiterates her belief in Adeline:
Despite the woeful childhood Adeline had, she had the smarts to make a better life for herself. Although her father did not show any love for her, he did provide her with opportunities at good schools to help nurture her starving brain and paid for her to study medicine in England. It may not have been her passion, but it was certainly a fantastic ticket to freedom. And in the end, she was able to write like she had always wanted to, share her triumph with the world and "prove them wrong."
Tea Pairing
I read this novel this afternoon while drinking green tea with pear, beetroot, spirulina, red rose buds and ginkgo biloba. Its flavour was grassy with a slight sweetness from the pear, and had a calming effect while I was drinking it, but reading up on the properties of beetroot, spirulina and gingko, it's no wonder I decided to capitalise on the fantastic weather and go for a run with my dog :)
"...You must never forget the dream. Try to do your best at all times. You have something priceless inside you which must not be wasted. I've always known that. You must prove them wrong! Promise?"I do wonder what Niang's (the evil stepmother) story was and what made her become such a vile human being. I can understand favouring your own children over those of your husband's previous wife's, but to go through such lengths to make a young girl feel so unwanted, so hideous, seems beyond natural selection and just plain sadistic. As Rumpelstiltskin from Once Upon a Time remarked on an episode, "evil is not born, it is made."
Despite the woeful childhood Adeline had, she had the smarts to make a better life for herself. Although her father did not show any love for her, he did provide her with opportunities at good schools to help nurture her starving brain and paid for her to study medicine in England. It may not have been her passion, but it was certainly a fantastic ticket to freedom. And in the end, she was able to write like she had always wanted to, share her triumph with the world and "prove them wrong."
Tea Pairing
I read this novel this afternoon while drinking green tea with pear, beetroot, spirulina, red rose buds and ginkgo biloba. Its flavour was grassy with a slight sweetness from the pear, and had a calming effect while I was drinking it, but reading up on the properties of beetroot, spirulina and gingko, it's no wonder I decided to capitalise on the fantastic weather and go for a run with my dog :)
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