The Good Women of China : Hidden Voices

When I finished reading-I felt my soul had been altered' Amy TanFor 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 through 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. Her book will reveal the lives of Chinese women to the West as never before. "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. 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 female urge to nurture and cherish remains. Their stories changed Xinran's understanding of China for ever. Her book will reveal the lives of Chinese women to the West as never before."--BOOK JACKET Et kinesisk ordtak lyder slik: "I alle familier er det en bok som helst ikke leses høyt". Gjennom åtte banebrytende år fikk den kinesiske journalisten Xinran et nærgående innblikk i sine medsøstres skjulte historier. Som en av de første kvinner i Kina ledet hun sitt eget radioprogram. På sen kveldstid ringte kvinnene til henne for å betro sine hemmeligheter. Mange av disse fortellingene er nå samlet i "Stemmer i natten". Til sammen utgjør de en inderlig og hjerteskjærende skildring av kvinneliv i dagens Kina, full av lidelse, lengsler og uoppfylte drømmer. Xinran ble født i Beijing i 1958, ni år etter at Mao kom til makten. Hennes familie var fratatt både ære og eiendeler. I 1997 flyttet hun til London. The good women of China er hennes første bok This work presents women's stories collected by Xinran Xue when she was hosting a radio phone-in about women's lives in China. The stories reveal what it means to be a woman in today's China, telling of almost inconceivable suffering as well as love in the face of cruelty and politics