Shanghai Remembrance

by Frank T. Leo, Joanne Parrent, James Deely

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561675962
• ISBN13: 9781561675968
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: American Literary Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.8" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

A Most Worthy Addition

Mr. Leo's Shanghai Remembrance is a worthy addition to the line of Chinese historical family sagas that would include Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth. Mr. Leo shares with the reader his poignant and fascinating family history through the tumultuous times of the first and second World Wars together with the Chinese Communist Revolution and the subsequent Cultural Revolution. Mr. Leo's focus on his family history is expertly interwoven within the historical context. Mr. Leo's artful interplay of his family history against the backdrop of Chinese history is thematically refreshingly subtle. Clearly acknowledging the personal and social ill effect of the Chinese Communist Revolution and painting an unflattering portrait of the devastating Cultural Revolution, Mr. Leo does not overstate his points, which is a pleasant rarity amongst today's authors.Mr. Leo's writing team paints a vivid canvas of scenery and settings fully availing themselves of the splendors of the English language. These illustrative descriptions combined with fully engrossing characters draws the reader into the novel and makes one feel like a surrogate family member throughout the course of the book. Mr. Leo's complex characters and characterizations are imminently believable and show a depth of perception and understanding. Even the characters which one gets a sense that Mr. Leo's views with disfavor are, nonetheless, also shown in the occasional balanced positive light. If there is to be any criticism, it would be that the book is too short. One would have liked to read further as to how Mr. Leo's personal history is reflected in his subsequent professional endeavors since arriving in the United States. Such a criticism is indeed a larger compliment as one reaches the last page of his book with sadness wishing for additional chapters; much like not to come to the end of a marvelous read.

A book for all ages!!

Mr. Leo's family history is a tribute to his mother, a modern woman living 9in a traditional society. His moving account about his mother's life from her marriage of choice (first time in Leo's family that the marriage was not arranged by the parents) to her determination to help her son out of China shows Mr. Leo's high respect and admiration for his mother. His story story is interesting and sometimes adventurous. His narration floats very well and is easy to read. The contrast of his life at home and that with his kidnappers (four month long) shows a typical parents-children relationship in old China. His description of their family life was so vivid that, while reading, one feels as if one can see those characters moving in front of one's eyes. Mr. Leo's story is a story of one family yet it provided historical background for that period of time, especially during the Japanese occupation. Mr. Leo's Shanghai Remembrance is also humorous and fun to read. It is a book for all ages.

Collapse of an Mandarin Family

This is a fascinating story of the collapse of an ancient and honorable Chinese family under the impact of Japanese occupation and Communist perfidy. The author traces his early life, an incredible kidnapping, and his final decision to flee Shanghai. I was glued to every page.

A journey in one mans life in china in a time of change

This is an outstanding book. I enjoyed reading about this family . The author does not preach about class differences or go on about the communists but merely tells the story of his life which is filled with drama and excitment. From the stories of his grandfather in the Imperial court to a dangerous and exciting childhood this book reads very well. I hope he writes another book beginning where this one ends. The 200 plus pages seemed to go by very quickly. I enjoyed learning about the life of this man and his family.

A chinese families recollections charm and entertain

This book is outstanding. It is a very insightful and entertaining book about Frank Leo and his family during a time of change in China. From stories of his grandfather in the Imperial Court to dramatic events in his childhood the reader is spellbound. There are all the elements of a great story and everything actually happened in real life. I hope he will write another book and pick up where he left off. I liked this book a lot and the 200 or so pages seemed to fly by. He does not preach about social change or the class system in china or dwell on the communists he just tells his story and in the process entertains you