THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF AMNESIA Tiananmen Revisited

The Tiananmen Square massacre was 25 years ago, but author Louisa Lim makes it relevant again by telling the stories of participants and a nonparticipant, a general who thought the order to attack the students was not valid. She narrates the book herself, which gives the material greater intimacy. Her reading is even, and her accent doesn't interfere with understanding the material. She uses small personal stories to paint a broad picture of how China has sought to downplay the impact of the independence movement, which was more than just one protest in Beijing. Her stories stand in stark contrast to the official Chinese position. She also discusses how the protests continue to affect the lives of those involved. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2014]