Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah

     Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah.  The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter.   I can not understand why this adult woman kept thinking her family would change the way they treated her.  Time after time they cut her, emotionally, physically, financially, and socially.  Yet she kept thinking, as is the custom, that family is everything and there would be a happy ending. 
    Also, while her childhood included times she, especially, and her siblings sometimes, were deprived is some ways, the family was always wealthy, with staff to cook, wash, clean and care for the home.  So while she was treated cruelly by her family all of her life, she didn’t have the additional misery of poverty.   Private schools and scholarships for higher education gave her the opportunity to travel and obtain well paying jobs as a doctor. 
    Like a fairy tale of old, the wicked step-mother was the main problem.  That and a father who allowed his young second wife so much power.   The step-mother set up siblings for a life time of competition, lying, and secrets.  The unimaginable wealth that was kept from the children is still a point of wonder for me.  Why didn’t someone do something, when they were financially successful adults, to get the goods on that woman?  They seemed like lemmings on the way to the cliffs.
    I learned a lot about family loyalty in the Chinese culture, but why was it never applied evenly amongst this family?
    The political history of China escapes me with its turns and twists.  Even in a novel, I lose track of all the ins and outs, all of which effect this family. 
    6/10 in my ratings. For more reviews see: http://queenbeewritings.blogspot.com/