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The Last Empress: Madame Chiang Kai-shek and the Birth of Modern China

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Front cover of the book The Last Empress: Madame Chiang Kai-shek  and the Birth of Modern China  (*Originally written on February 16, 2015. Revisited and reflected upon today.)   Ten years ago today, on February 16, 2015, I purchased The Last Empress: Madame Chiang Kai-shek and the Birth of Modern China by Hannah Pakula.     My decision to buy the book was deeply personal.    My grandmother and Soong Mei-ling were friends, and during the Chinese Civil War they worked together to establish orphanages for children in desperate need. Later, my grandmother followed Chiang Kai-shek to Taiwan, where she served as a National Assembly Representative ( 国大代表 ). She witnessed firsthand Taiwan’s remarkable transformation into a democratic nation—one in which citizens would eventually gain the right to freely elect their president.  Through her vivid storytelling, my grandmother shared invaluable insights into modern Chinese history. Her memories shaped ...
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When the Past Refuses to Let Go

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  When the Past Refuses to Let Go – A Reflection on My Mother Pattu – written by Saras Manickam  After five weeks of sounding like a walking cough machine, I finally had my coffee break today! And not just any coffee break—I paired it with a short story, “ My Mother Pattu ” (story number four). Managed to finish it in one go before our 8 p.m. Book Club with Jennifer Hu—yes, the Jennifer, a.k.a. Dr. Matthew Leong’s better half. Timing, people. It’s everything – No! Well, guess what?  Saras Manickam appeared at our Book Club Zoom!  I was surprised greatly and happily screamed It’s you, Saras! In Saras Manickam’s deeply moving short story “My Mother Pattu”, the narrator Lalitha offers readers raw glimpses into the emotional wreckage of her childhood. Two lines in particular left a deep impression on me: “ Why do you want to know what is no longer important?” and “There was nothing of my father in me, nothing, for he was not my father.” These words are not merely spoken ...
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Location: XJJM+25 Simpang Empat Semanggol, Perak, Malaysia
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