It's true. There are many 'fictionalized' events, undeniably fabricated, that make categorizing this book a memoir problematic. In fact, if you read Gary Krist's NY Times review of the book, I think you'll find that his criticisms are pretty accurate. In the books defense though, I think that much of what created the hardships and hard feelings that are carried around and throughout by family patriarchs and matriarchs can only be conjured by the younger generations in this way. I think the book is a testament to the very fine division between memory and history.

Read Krist's review on the fictional fiction. Obviously not for those with strict ideas about biographies and autobiographies. Don't expect penetrating character portraits or seamless integration between the presentation of China's history and their family's narrative. Though the relationships drawn between the two are there. Educational for me as to how one Chinese family dealt with the internal politics to come to peace. For what I see of my family in this book, it was a relief to see the familar in someone else's and a comfort to see their openness about it.

Winberg Chai' mother, Ruth Mei-en Tsao Chai, died unexpectedly. He then found out that his mother had secretly arranged to be buried alone, instead of in the share plots that his father had purchased years ago. Winbery then felt that, as Ruth's first-born son, he has the obligation to explore the family history to reconstruct his mother's life and to seek the answer of his mother's fateful decision. This book is about Winberg's family history and memoir. He finished this book with the help of his daughter, May-Lee Chai. I read some book reviews before I picked up this book at the library. I disagreed that this book is full of "fictionalized events." I think this book provides very good discussion about family history and its roots. It is an enjoyable reading. I like it.

I strongly disagree with the previous reviewers who slammed this book. Every memoir is intrinsically biased: that is the very essence of autobiographical writing, to tell a story from a unique perspective. Those familiar with 19th and 20th Chinese history will no doubt be amazed by the achievements of the Chai family and will apreciate the historical tie-ins.