The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices
9 journalers for this copy...
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.
Picked up at the meet up in Liquid
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4 by
ElesarStar at
Liquid, Coventry City Arcade in Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, January 12, 2007
Released 14 yrs ago (1/13/2007 UTC) at Liquid, Coventry City Arcade in Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom
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Taken to the meet
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6 by
purple-pixie at
Nuneaton, Warwickshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 11, 2010
An amazing account of the lives of ordinary Chinese women during the second half of the twentieth century. I can't imagine I'll ever forget some of these stories, they are so powerful and touching.
Sending to my 2010 bookobsessed birthday partner as an extra, after-birthday surprise!
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7 by
purple-pixie at
Nuneaton, Warwickshire United Kingdom on Friday, May 11, 2012
Released 8 yrs ago (5/11/2012 UTC) at Nuneaton, Warwickshire United Kingdom
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Sending to saskiasosmile as part of the wishlist tag game.
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8 by
saskiasosmile at
Whitby, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
This book was offered to me by purple-pixie, travelling together with the Wish List Tag Book The Shadow of the Wind. Thanks so much. From the bit I have heard about it, and what I have already read, leafing through, it is facinating.
Many thanks!
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9 by
saskiasosmile at
Whitby, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Sunday, April 17, 2016
I have now read this amazing book.
Available for others again.
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10 by
saskiasosmile at
Whitby, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, January 05, 2017
Released 4 yrs ago (12/29/2016 UTC) at Whitby, North Yorkshire United Kingdom
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On its way now, to Lamilla who suggested a book trade for this book.
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11 by
Lamilla at
Мінск / Minsk, Minsk Belarus on Wednesday, February 01, 2017
Arrived today. Thank you for the book and the card!
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12 by
Delphi_Reader
at
Δελφοί - Delphi, Fokida Greece on Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Lamilla very kindly offered The Good Women of China through the "One book a month offered 2017" thread in the RABCK forum and here it landed, in my hands in Delphi, Greece.
Thank you once again Lamilla! And thank you Safrolistics for registering and everyone for keeping it on the move. It seems a very interesting book!
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13 by
Delphi_Reader
at
Δελφοί - Delphi, Fokida Greece on Friday, December 22, 2017
This is a very interesting collection of stories, offering some insight on a quite different culture during past few decades. They are mostly stories told to Xue Xinran while she presented her radio program in Nanjing from 1989 till 1996 or in person on her trips around China or through some other diverse circumstances. And there are a couple of hints of her own life story too.
The book didn't disappoint. Well, the content did actually although I wasn't surprised... I don't know what's more disappointing, reading of patriarch standards, female suppression, love betrayals, forced marriages, rapes, exiles and the like on times of war and extreme political turmoil or hearing of a young woman wondering on the early '90s if she'll get pregnant in case a man holds her hand... Some very sad and moving stories here and lots of food for thought.
Unfortunately this book didn't avoid the usual problems non-fiction books often feature. I feel there has been a stronger editing on some stories than the author claims. I find that on many incidents the author appears too naïve but still somehow lucky, so coincidences work to her favor in order to achieve her purposes, while on other incidents she acts like some sort of super-hero, somehow getting lots of attention and appreciation from the women who open up to her for no apparent reason. Some stories' elements were far too superficial too, while some of Xinran's assumptions about the women's choices and lifestyle were completely wrong. Often I kept wondering on the credibility of the narrator.
Yet, this is a quite foreign culture and way of thinking, so maybe the author is genuine and it's just my own background not allowing me to get how some things work(ed) in China.
A worthwhile read for sure, thank you for sharing!
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14 by
Delphi_Reader
at
Hostel Athens Backpackers in Athens - Αθήνα, Attica Greece on Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Released 3 yrs ago (1/16/2018 UTC) at Hostel Athens Backpackers in Athens - Αθήνα, Attica Greece
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Released in Athens Backpackers Hostel's lobby. Let's see where this well-traveled book will head next...
Good Luck and don't forget to write home from time to time : )
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15 by
AnonymousFinder
at
South Hero, Vermont USA on Saturday, September 22, 2018
Fascinating stories that were pretty heartbreaking but gave me a much better understanding of life in China for women especially during the cultural revolution. Given to me by my sister from Alaska.
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16 by
agoering at
Burlington, Vermont USA on Sunday, January 13, 2019
This book was given to me by a coworker. Important book to read. Looking forward to its next journey. It is starting to fall apart a little
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17 by
Macarm at
Asheville, North Carolina USA on Saturday, October 03, 2020
A friend gave me the book and I had saved it in my light weight backpacking bin. I've had it awhile and I just went on a backpack to Harper's Creek, NC and I had time to read in the evening after hiking. I was very moved by the heart wrenching accounts of these women's lives.