USA
First Language(s): Chinese
Second Language(s):
English
Sue Tong spent over thirty years in public health research, publishing extensively in academic journals. In recent years, she has turned to memoir and personal essays to preserve the memories that shaped her life.
What was your favorite book as a child?
Journey to the West (西游记) was my favorite book when I was a child.
What was the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?
For more than three decades, I focused on writing academic articles. Only recently did I begin writing personal essays, as a way to remember and reflect on the sorrow and loss of my childhood.
What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?
The most thrilling moment in my life came with the end of the Cultural Revolution in October 1976. My family and I endured immense hardship during those ten years (1966–1976), but we survived.
Do you listen to music while reading or writing?
No. I prefer silence — especially when I am writing — so I can give my full concentration.
Essay
A Farce in the Cultural Revolution
Issue Fall '25
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