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The Good Women of China : Hidden Voices | 
 enlarge | Author: Xinran Xue
Category: Book
Buy New: $16.14
New (5) Used (8) from $12.84
Rating:  42 reviews
Sales Rank: 1340810
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.6 x 1.1
ASIN: B000AXRTL0
Publication Date: October 8, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
An unprecedented, intimate account of the lives of modern Chinese women, told by the women themselves -- true stories of the political and personal upheavals they have endured in their chaotic and repressive society
For eight groundbreaking years, Xinran hosted a radio program 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 fear under Communism, 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, these women confide in the reader, sharing their deepest secrets. Whether they are the privileged wives of party leaders or peasants in a forgotten corner of the countryside, they tell of almost inconceivable suffering: forced marriages, sexual abuse, separation of parents from their children, extreme poverty. But they also talk about love -- about how, despite cruelty, despite politics, the urge to nurture and cherish remains. Their stories changed Xinran’s understanding of China forever. Her book will reveal the lives of Chinese women to the West as never before.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 37 more reviews...
 One of the most depressing book I have ever read November 22, 2008
I knew what I was getting into when I bought this book. I don't mind if any of these recollections are made up or not. Because in my heart and in my bones, I know these stories are true.
I grew up in Chinatown LA. I heard stories about life in China prior to the war, during world war 2 and what it was like after the communists took over. Sadness, tragedy, suffering and inhumanity toward little baby girls, young women, mothers, so many women. I watched so much of the oppression of Chinese women in the USA confines of Chinatown, so of course what is happening to women in China is accurately recounted in this book. I am glad the author wrote it. The voices of the suffering of these women should never be forgotten, but it is still hard to read, hard to fathom and hard to accept.
 An emotional lesson August 21, 2008
While doing a research paper about Chinese femininity, I stumbled upon this book and thought at first glance that I could use it. To my surprise, it ended up changing my paper and my life.
There is no other book that captures the pain, misery, or humanity of the Chinese woman's experience. Yet, it is still hopeful and encouraging. Each chapter deals with a different woman's story. The topics range from love, sexual abuse, suicide, and acceptance. Some passages were so difficult to read that I cried, or flew into an angry rage. While other passages made me hopeful. This is a book where you are best to discover its contents for yourself, so I will leave this summary vague.
I highly recommend this book. If your interests are in Chinese history, women's issues, or just great life stories that provoke strong reactions, this book will truly satisfy you.
 Interesting short stories November 6, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is an easy read. As someone else mentioned, you can read the short stories on the subway or in short breaks. The stories are simply written. If you are not familiar with Chinese culture, you may find them shocking. They give you a nice overview on the topic.
The introduction of the book where the author is almost mugged and has her manuscript almost stolen is unbelievable. What author has only one copy of her hard earned work? This is not a big deal, but it created doubt in my mind about the truth of the other stories. This work is non-fiction supposedly. How much did the author exagerate? Of course, the mugging story could be completely true and in that case I apologize to the author for questioning her.
For more in depth understanding of Chinese culture and society I recommend the following:
Wild Swans
China Wakes
China Road
For outstanding fiction try Ha Jin books.
The Dark Side of Chinese Culture October 28, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I read this book a couple of years ago and can still recall how shaken I was after only the first chapter. Yes, I was shocked, although I shouldn't have been as I am quite familiar with Chinese history and culture and have a pretty clear idea of just how insanely tulmultuous and bleak China's very recent past has been. This is a startling book, one that every Sinophile should read. Although China is often depicted as 1.3 billion customers, or the next superpower, or what have you, the fact remains that the mindet remains anchored to ancient history. You realize (or I realized) that they can build all the skyscrapers they want, but until they start treating each other (both men and women) humanely, they will never be anything but pathetic. There is no book that could adequately cover the topic of women and China, but this volume is a good starting point. I have only one reservation: the author is rather big on herself and this sometimes gets in the way of her otherwise finely written accounts. But still, she deserves a lot of credit. Read this book.
Troy Parfitt, author
Amazing August 4, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I read this book feeling my heart hurt many times. It has given me a much better perspective of the hardship many Chinese women must contend with after the Cultural Revolution.
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