To the Edge of the Sky

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Touching and heart-warming true history - Rated
This is an historic tale told by one girl who lived through life in Communist China. It is a pleasure to read - depsite the harrowing subject matter - and leaves you with a real sense of what the human spirit can achieve. With the help and kindness of those around her, Anhua did manage to achieve more than many Chinese people and eventually she escaped to the West but this book does not shy away from describing the full horrors that other people suffered. If this hadn't been narrated by Anhua there would have been times when I would have wondered if it could be true - but the fact that she is saved from the most horrendous situations because of her parents' heritage shows just how corrupt and fickle the Chinese system was. A touching read.

Absolutely wonderful - Rated
Anhua, the daughter of two revolutionary martyrs, tells us the story of her experiences growing up in communist China and experiencing Maos descent into madness. Along the way, we are introduced to some of the incredible individuals that have crossed her path and thus, we are made aware of the bravery of the people of China during the period. This story tells of love, suffering, loss, pain, fear, pride, winning and losing, finding ones self. It tells of humanity.

Not only is this book incredibly informative, but its throughly entertaining. No autobiography has grasped me to the extent that this has acheived. Anhua tells her story in such a way that it is hard not to understand her expereinces. Obviously, we can never truly feel the horrors of such periods as the cultural revolution but this book takes us one step closer. Ultimately, we are given hope. If any book could save lifes, its this one.

A Great read - Rated
This book I read sometime ago but each time in passing the bookcase I remember what a catching, highly informative and drawing read it is. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone.

One of the top 10 best books I have read - Rated
Wanting to learn a little more about China and its people, I picked this book up in a Charity shop. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. Her account of what happened in China during Mao's cultural revolution is an eye opener to the sufferings of the Chinese people. This book is written in an easy to understand style with the Honesty of someone who experienced what it was like to be there.

Buy this book. You will not be disappointed !!

One of the best of its kind. - Rated
I have read quite a few biographies and novels set in China during the last century. Many women have written about their experiences in such volatile and changing times and obviously some are better told than others. This, for me, is one of the better ones. Gao's parents were committed Communists who had a high rank in the party. Their status helped protect her after their death, when the Communist regime failed its people and then persecuted them. Gao's tale is told chronologically and catalogues many of the events and their affects on the people in China generally, as well as direct effects on herself and family friends. For a moving, yet ultimately uplifting, version of what it was like for a young woman in China then this very well written book is one to go for.

I don't read as much as I would like these days, but this is one of only a few books I have rated 5 stars and definitely one of the best books I have read in 2003.