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Becoming Madame Mao
- Narrated by: Andi Arndt
- Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
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Becoming Madame Mao
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Editor reviews
"Behind every good man," the old saying goes, "is a great woman." When that man passes away, however, sometimes the reputation of the woman quickly tarnishes. This is exactly what author Anchee Min looks at with her audiobook Madame Mao. Jiang Qing, known colloquially as Madame Mao or "white-boned demon", rose to prominence with her husband Mao Zedong and became one of the most controversial figures of the People's Republic of China. Performed with a fierce and energetic delivery by veteran Andi Arndt, Madame Mao is a powerful examination of the events that led to Jiang Qinq's demise.
Summary
From the best-selling author of Red Azalea, this extraordinary novel tells the stirring, erotically charged story of Madame Mao Zedong, the woman almost universally known as the 'white-boned demon,' whom many hold directly responsible for the excesses of the Cultural Revolution. Bringing her lush psychological insight to bear on the facts of history, Min penetrates the myth surrounding this woman and provides a "convincing, nuanced portrait of a damaged personality" (Entertainment Weekly) driven by ambition, betrayal, and a never-to-be-fulfilled need to be loved. With all the compressed drama and high lyrical poetry of great opera, Becoming Madame Mao is a "remarkable accomplishment.... Madame Mao is finally given her own voice" (Ha Jin).
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What listeners say about Becoming Madame Mao
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- ania
- 08-03-17
Not very clear narrative
And a bit convoluted. Nowhere near as good as Wild Swan. Madame Mao narrator voice very annoying.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Liz
- 11-05-22
Strange mix of first + third person
Agree with the other reviews that this tricky to follow - there's a shift from third person descriptive to first person emotive all the way through. sometimes in the middle of paragraphs (or even in the same sentence). most odd.
The sample is compelling and I thought i'd give it a go. I'm not entirely sure that was a wise choice. for the first third i kept considering returning it. But having struggled through it gets better further on. The history is compelling - but the characters lack sympathy and depth.
it's an interesting writing style. For me it's not a great fit - and I'll not try more of her work. You might enjoy it - I suggest you look at the kindle sample on amazon and if that appeals - which will presumably show more of the first/third person shifts than the audio sample - if it does, jump in here.
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