Bai Lu tells the story of her rebelliousness against first the Confucian and then the Communist way of life and the discrimination she endured because of her class background and gender. This is a book about a bold, honest, fascinating woman of China and opens up doors closed to us about Chinese culture during Mao's era. It also reveals cultural differences which help us understand what motivates others who have grown up in an ambiance and era different from ours. Although historical, this book reads like an interesting novel.