Journal Entry 1 by LeishaCamden from Alna bydel, Oslo fylke Norway on Wednesday, February 04, 2009

From the front cover:

''Unforgettable'
The Times

'Extraordinary'
Jon Snow

'Demands attention'
Observer'

From the back cover:

''These are stories that must be read' Amy Tan

'This is a book from deep in the heart of China. As shocking as it is revealing ... An extraordinary and eye-opening read' Jon Snow

For eight groundbreaking years, Xinran presented a radio programme in China during which she invited women to call in and talk about themselves. Broadcast every evening, Words on the Night Breeze became famous throughout the country for its unflinching portrayal of what it meant to be a woman in modern China. Centuries of obedience to their fathers, husbands and sons, followed by years of political turmoil had made women terrified of talking openly about their feelings. Xinran won their trust and, through her compassion and ability to listen, became the first woman to hear their true stories.

This unforgettable book is the story of how Xinran negotiated the minefield of restrictions imposed on Chinese journalists to reach out to women across the country. Through the vivid intimacy of her writing, the women's voices confide in the reader, sharing their deepest secrets for the first time. Their stories changed Xinran's understanding of China forever and her book will reveal the lives of Chinese women to the West as never before.

'Xinran's 'Good Women of China' are all strong, strikingly resourceful characters who offer unforgettable insights into the past and present of Chinese women's lives' The Times

'The Good Women of China demands attention' Observer

'[Xinran] writes compassionately but unsentimentally, dramatising the stories like gripping fiction' Daily Mail'

This is a trade paperback edition from Vintage Books, published in 2003. The book was originally published in 2002.

I've read this book before, another copy, in Norwegian ... I thought it was fantastic, deeply moving. I want to reread it before I release this copy.

I bought this book at a flea market, I think ... ? 

Journal Entry 2 by LeishaCamden from Alna bydel, Oslo fylke Norway on Tuesday, May 19, 2009

I've read this book now, I finished it yesterday. It was an extremely moving read, even though I had read it before (and remembered more and more as I read). The book tells a number of stories about women's lives in China, going into detail about specific individuals from various places in the country and from different social backgrounds; all of this interwoven with stories from the author's own life and situation. There's a lot to learn about Chinese history in this book, and from an angle that often isn't covered in more standard history books. Although this is a collection of personal histories, it also reveals a lot about Chinese society and its development in the 20th century.

Xinran writes in a very personal style that makes the reader feel so much of what she feels. She must be a very strong person to have lived with all these stories for so many years, and to go out of her way to find more of them. This book makes me want to write her a letter to tell her how moved I was by her work. Maybe I will one of these days. :-) Because I truly find this one of the most moving books I've read for a long time.

The story about Shouting Hill is perhaps especially poignant ... in particular in regard to what the women there told Xinran about how they felt about their lives. If you read the book you'll know what I'm referring to. It's quite thought-provoking in regard to the way we live our lives in the modern world today. 

Journal Entry 3 by LeishaCamden at Donated for release, Donation -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, September 17, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (9/17/2009 UTC) at Donated for release, Donation -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Donating to my new OBCZ, FriendsFT-OBCZ, for release. :-) 

Journal Entry 4 by FriendsFT-OBCZ from -- wild release somewhere in Oslo, Oslo fylke Norway on Thursday, September 17, 2009

Thank you!! Will be released very soon. :-) 

Journal Entry 5 by FriendsFT-OBCZ at FriendsFT-OBCZ in Oslo Sentrum, Oslo fylke Norway on Thursday, September 17, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (9/17/2009 UTC) at FriendsFT-OBCZ in Oslo Sentrum, Oslo fylke Norway

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Released in the zone! 

Journal Entry 6 by Travelina from Ullern bydel, Oslo fylke Norway on Friday, May 21, 2010

I passed the Friends of fairtrade shop today, and went in to buy devine chocolate. Finding this book was a great bonus. 

Journal Entry 7 by Travelina at -- wild release somewhere in Oslo, Oslo fylke Norway on Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (7/7/2010 UTC) at -- wild release somewhere in Oslo, Oslo fylke Norway

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I have read the book, and would definitively recommend reading it. I have given the book to Lillibeth. 

Journal Entry 8 by Travelina at OsloS-OBCZ in Oslo Sentrum, Oslo fylke Norway on Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Released 3 mos ago (2/1/2012 UTC) at OsloS-OBCZ in Oslo Sentrum, Oslo fylke Norway

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Released at the meeting at La Baguette today. 

Journal Entry 9 by Ingalill at Oslo Sentrum, Oslo fylke Norway on Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Brought it home after todays bc-meeting.
I have read one previous book by the author and am curious to know
if this is more of the same.
Great find -)