Huang writes this book about his family and it is centered around a coffin that his father had made for his grandmother. I enjoyed this book because it provided a glimpse of what it was like to grow up in the 70s and 80s in Communist China.
Huang notes that in communist China burial was illegal and every one was cremated. His grandmother made his father promise that he would bury her. This caused considerable strain in his marriage as he agreed to do so. Huang notes “I was often vexed by her adherence to the old ways” when speaking of his grandmother.
His father tried for years to gain admission into the communist party and he was finally admitted. Huang notes “Party membership rekindled his hope in life.” It was about the same time that grandmother asked for a coffin. Huang’s father often feared what owning a coffin would do to his standing in the party.
At school Huang was being taught “Only Chairman Mao and the communist party are your closest relatives, said our teacher. If your parents or relatives engage in any counterrevolutionary activities you should not hesitate in reporting them or publicly denouncing them it is a true test of your revolutionary will.” Huang wondered about the coffin but his father taught him to never betray your family.
As Huang read outside of the classroom he noted “I had learned a different set of values. Friendship could transcend ideologies. Friends protected and made sacrifices for each other.”
When his father died Huang reflected “For all his loyalty to the party, when China was freed from the radical ideological control of chairman Mao and began slowly to prosper he and millions of workers, the vanguard of the proletariat, who underwrote communist China were left behind confused and disillusioned. He died because his lungs had been scarred by years of exposure to industrial pollutants. His heart broken by the unrealized 6.5 yuan promotion and the depth of corruption that had twisted the ideals of the party he supported.”
Overall this was a quick read that presented many ideas to think about. I give it 4 out of 5 stars
Paris Grimm stepped out of his Rolls Royce Black Badge Cullinan and pulled his sunglasses over his eyes. His personally customized $1,350,000 SUV, his sunglasses, and his suit matched in a perfect shade of jet black. As he stepped toward the nondescript building ahead of him his entourage of four body guards flanked him on both sides.
As they approached the building they were greeted by a single man also dressed in a black suit.
“State your business.”
“I am here to see the Master.”
“State the oath. All of you in unison.”
“Is that necessary?”
“Do you wish to see his eminence? Are you prepared to walk down the dark corridor? If so you must state the oath now or I will ask you to leave.”
Paris Grimm stared at the weasel of a man blocking his admittance and imagined him strapped to a board while his flesh was peeled from his skin. A door man for the Master had no right to issue orders to the most powerful lieutenant in the organization. Especially not today. Today Paris Grimm was going to become the Master.
Several seconds passed in silence before the weasel spoke again. “I will inform ...
