Tania Branigan: “Everybody thinks they would have been in the Resistance in wartime.”

Curious Reading Club pick this month is Tania Branigan's Red Memory, a vivid book of oral histories about memories of China's Cultural Revolution. I recount a funny Beijing taxi drawing moment and a long conversation about self censorship, personal guilt and what that means for resisting authoritarianism today.

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Rolly's Take

This blog resonates with those who grapple with the complexities of memory, identity, and moral courage amidst historical upheaval. It speaks to the reflective soul who ponders the fine line between personal guilt and collective responsibility, seeking deeper understanding rather than easy answers. Here, you’ll find an exploration of how the echoes of the past shape our present, and how the narratives we tell ourselves can both liberate and confine us. It invites you to confront uncomfortable truths and consider what the lessons of history mean in today’s world—a journey that feels both intimate and vast.