I didn't care for the artwork but this was a fascinating look at life in China from the cultural revolution to the present. ( )

A Chinese Life: It's a very interesting book, very bold premise, but by God it ain't worth 700 pages. Now, I'm sure there's enough modern Chinese history to constitute 700 pages, but if there is, it wasn't done well here. It feels biased, even short-sighted at times, and while it does feel sincere, and certainly made me curious to learn more about this country, I don't feel that the book itself completely succeeded in it's mission. *sigh* ah well, I'm happy that I read it. ( )

It was really going strong until about 2/3 of the way through, about when they took an interlude to discuss how to address Tianamen Square (which they didn't), and then the plot seemed to drop off...or just ran out of steam for me. Nevertheless, reading this definitely expanded my understanding of the Cultural Revolution and China's race to catch up with the rest of the world after Mao died. The artwork is frantic and a bit muddy, but in that it does a terrific job at conveying the frenzy of every stage along the way. ( )

A fabulous black & white graphic novel book about life in China from 1949 to the present day, really interesting, explaining many segments of Chinese History during this period. Lots about Chairman Mao and Chinese History through the eyes of an average man. It is funny in parts, like when in the early pages, it described how parents were tying to get their young children (who do not yet speak) to say with their first words, good things about Chairman Mao or singing “The East is Red” instead of the first words being mammy & daddy!!! Did this really happen? This book introduces many events that I did not expect. Much thought as been given to this books story line, which I think is exceptional, this is the first time I have read any of established author Li Kunwu work, and I have to say that I am very impressed, very impressed indeed, this book will appeal to people interested in learning about Chinese History in a different, more relaxed kind of way, that the normal academic path. I didn’t expect much from a black and white novel, but gave it a chance and was highly impressed..... ( )

An excellent book. A biography of a man that grew up during the great famine and the cultural revolution. The book does not gloss over the details of China's darker past. Well not too much. Li Kunwu is a member of the Chinese Communist party so he gives the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 as dismissive paragraph, but does admit they happened. But his explanation, that the crackdown, including the deaths are seen in China as just part of progress, though shocking, give an honest appraisal shared others in his nation. Exceptional art accompanies the remarkable story. . ( )