After the Nightmare

by Judith Shapiro and Liang Heng

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394551532
• ISBN13: 9780394551531
• Release Date: May 1986
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Takes you back to the future in China

I'll be honest, I haven't had the opportunity to read Liang Heng's first book, "Son of the Revolution", but after this great read, I will be sure to pick it up. I originally came upon "After the Nighmare" after I got finished reading "The Tiananmen Papers" while looking for other books on the subject of the Tiananmen Square protests, and this book came up, although it was published about about 2 years before the protests began, and I'm glad I picked it up and read it regardless. This book took me on a journey to various places in the very mysterious yet intriguing land of China. Because of the fact that it was published 2 years before the Tiananmen Square protests, it is eerily prophetic as Liang Heng tells stories of the various people he encountered as he returned to his birthplace and how they have been personally affected by the Cultural Revolution as well as the reforms that came with the territory of it. As Liang explains most intimately, some came out on top as a result of the changes, while others were left with slim to none and slim just left town. I also found this book to be a very interesting journey in culture as the author explains the various elements that are distinct of China ranging from furniture to the ways that people stand in lines in comparison with that of the United States. From a cultural perspective, it's a great book for beginners who are interested in learning about Chinese culture in a nutshell. The final chapter ends the novel quietly yet still gives the rest of its book the profound respect it deserves, as he greets a prosperous future for his home land with open arms and at the same times, sends clear signals that warn of more revolution to come. Overall, this book is great on many levels, but it's even greater as a prequel to the tragic events that unfolded on June 4th, 1989 in Tiananmen Square.