60 pages 2 hours read

Maxine Hong Kingston

The Woman Warrior

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1976

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston is an experimental memoir that intertwines the author’s childhood in California with her mother's youth in rural China, along with folklore, legend, and myth. The narrative explores themes of identity, cultural heritage, family secrets, and the challenges of navigating between different cultural expectations. Sensitive topics include suicide, adultery, and mental health struggles.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Maxine Hong Kingston's The Woman Warrior has received acclaim for its lyrical prose and inventive blend of autobiography and folklore. Reviewers praise its exploration of identity and cultural conflict, though some find its structure and narrative style challenging. Overall, it's celebrated for its depth and emotional resonance, despite occasional critiques of its complexity.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Woman Warrior ?

Readers who enjoy The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston typically appreciate narratives that blend memoir, myth, and cultural history. Fans of Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club or Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake will find Kingston's exploration of Chinese-American identity and generational storytelling captivating.

Recommended

Reading Age

14+years

Lexile Level

880L

Book Details

Themes

Identity: Gender

Relationships: Family

Genre

Asian Literature

Chinese Literature

Education

Topics

Women's Studies (Nonfiction)

Education

Gender / Feminism