Revolution Is Not A Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine

Revolution is not a Dinner Party takes place in Wuhan City in China, and begins in the summer of 1972. This book is a story about the Cultural Revolution in China, told through the story of a child's experience. The main character Ling is an only child from parents of Doctors. Her father was surgeon and her mother traditional doctor. Ling is a young child growing up with a bright future ahead of her, she loves spending time with her father, learning and playing. 

She enjoys the quality time she gets to spend with her father since he gives her his full attention. Ling’s father, Dr. Chang, was a loving and showed sacrifice for his only daughter throughout the story. Ling’s father teaches her English and also about America, since Dr. Chang has a old work colleague who he contacts through mail.

While Mrs. Chang was stricter and as Ling described her, she was beautiful and perfect in all that she did. Ling was a good friend with her neighbor Niu who was four years older than her. He was Dr. Wong’s son, Niu and Ling referred to each other as siblings. Mrs. Wong was very nice to Ling and would often treat her with gifts, and tell her that she wished Ling would be her daughter. The Wong family was more “modern” than the Chang’s they had more technology and lived in more American housing.

What happens’ next are the effects of the Cultural Revolution. 

First Comrade Li, moves into part of their living space. He is stationed there to conduct his purpose of enforcing the Cultural Revolution and praising Chairman Mao and his beliefs, and methods for creating a new China. 

There was a major change in their lives during this ending part of the Cultural Revolution. Things were getting out of control, it seemed like it was a drastic change from being able to be free, to taking all your rights away. Since Comrade Li moved in there were lots of changes ion the home. at first it wasn’t so drastic to Ling since she did not know what was actually going on. Because her parents did not explain to her the seriousness of what was coming. I believe that her parents did this in away to protect her. If she didn’t know much about the issue then she wouldn’t worry. But i think her parents should have explained to her what was really happening with the Cultural Revolution and the risks involved. Because when you know about an issue even at young age you understand it more and can help your family just by being informed. 

In the end everything starts to crumble for the Cultural Revolution, but only after Chairman Mao dies in 1976. Even though the chaos is not completely over, and there has been a tremendous amount of change in the lives of the citizens, there seems to be hope for the Chang family. After Chairman Mao’s death there is a fight for power between revolutionary groups.