Falling Leaves- Discussion Director

Prachi Ankoti

Mrs.Pasic

Language and Literature

Monday, 16 May, 2016

For this Literacy Circles meeting, I was the Discussion Director. Falling Leaves is a second and a detailed version of Chinese Cinderella, a book I read before for my book report by the same author (Adeline Yen Mah). The difference between the two books is that Falling leaves is a much more detailed compared to Chinese Cinderella. Falling Leaves also talks about the adulthood of the author, although it does not in Chinese Cinderella. Falling Leaves is a very emotional book, as the author suffers a lot of cruel and mean things in her family, which makes her feel unwanted. 

1. What did you think of the part when Adeline's grandmother had to get her feet bound just so they could look pretty?

My answer: I think it is a very cruel thing to do to three year girls, just because Chinese men found it attractive. Back when girl's feet were bounded, it was the symbol of the family's wealth. 

Rhianna felt it was unfair and disgusting because feet don't grow naturally that way.

2. How did you feel about Adeline getting beaten up by her siblings?

My answer: I felt very sad because as a sister I would never do that to my younger brother. Adeline was beaten up by her siblings but as well as her parents. This is one of the reasons why Adeline also felt unwanted in her family.

Katy stated: I feel that the way Adeline is being treated is exceptionally cruel, and that she does not deserve to be tortured, both mentally and physically, by her siblings, considering that she has never done anything wrong or meant any harm to them. However, I also feel some understanding towards the siblings and their perception of Adeline, given the circumstances. With the knowledge that Adeline’s birth caused the death of their mother, and resulted in the arrival of their cruel, abusive stepmother to the family, Adeline is seen as the underlying cause of their misery. Therefore, it is natural that one could feel disfavor, to some degree, towards Adeline. The children strive to get their parents’ love and acceptance and often tend to copy their parents’ behavior. Since Adeline is the youngest and disliked by her parents, she is seen as an easy target. Children are not able to form independent opinions and they tend to take their parents’ views as the ones that are valid. By adopting them (even if they are wrong), they believe they will get their parents’ approval.In the particular case, Adeline is the victim of unfortunate events and should be treated fairly by her family.

3. Why did everyone in Adeline's family think Adeline as a bad luck?

My answer: Adeline was thought to be as a bad luck, because Adeline's mother died away giving birth to her. Adeline doesn't remember her mother, as her mother died 2 weeks after her birth, although she did know her mother was very dear to everyone else in her family.
Ines: Because Adeline's mother died giving birth to her.

4. Why was Aunt Baba the only one who took care of Adeline? 

My answer: I think because Aunt Baba felt very pity for Adeline, because everyone in Adeline's family were very mean and cruel, including her father. Aunt Baba was a very kind and a caring woman, who never got married. She took care of Adeline, as if she was her mother. Aunt Baba kept Adeline's report card and certificate in a safe, to show Adeline how proud she was of her.  

Nurul said because Aunt Baba didn't have any children, so she expressed her affections to Adeline.