The Good Women of China

It’s taken me awhile to finish “The Good Women of China” by Xinran. I thought just now about why it has taken so long, when I read almost a third of it in one day. The reason I gave myself was that my unconscious mind was telling me it could only manage smaller chunks at a time. Such was the power, the tragedy and the compelling pages of unbelievable accounts of inhumanity of men against women, a cruel dictatorship called Communism and deep cultural traditions that filled the pages with compelling tales that had to be told. I am not at all puzzled about why I know so little about the author, simply known as Xinran. Apart from a brief chapter portraying some of her own childhood, She has a son, but that is all that is known about her adult life. No doubt she wants to be kept anonymous for fear of Chinese government persecution. Almost certainly no man is never mentioned in her own relationships. Why would she be encouraged to find one?  Her own journalism over many years had told her over hundreds of stories, noting that when women come into contact with men, invariably bad and terrible things happened, hearts are shattered and lives broken beyond repair.

What I do know, is why at the beginning of this book she recalls that she risked her own life when being mugged of her handbag. She fought off the attacker determined to keep what was in her possession. In her bag was her newly finished manuscript of this book. To have let it go, along with all the women’s lives and tales would have been unthinkable to her. It would have been a further insult and offense to the women she was representing with her own words and theirs.

The Good Women of China is a unforgettable read for anyone concerned about the rights of women against violence, injustice, inequality and fighting for humanity and dignity. It is a collection of short stories about many different types of Chinese women experiences of living and how their lives have shaped and scarred them. How they have been made both weak and strong. These are tales where there are no happy endings. You are left wondering and sometimes hanging in mid-air as to what happened next ,or you sit in silence for a bit thinking before you can dare go on. Chapter two: The Girl Who Kept a Fly as a Pet was for me the most compelling, haunting and numbing. It was the most poignant and moving for me personally. I could say it was the most beautifully written for the most beautiful girl, only this word is so opposite to the pages of the most heart-breaking story I have ever read concerning childhood sexual abuse.

I have been left wanting to know more about China and the Period of the Cultural Revolution, which in history in comparison feels like The Reign of Terror after the French Revolution. It has left me with never wanting to part with this book but not knowing if I could ever read it again. The Observer book critic said it “demands attention” and this is the reason for this blog. Because it does demand as bigger audience as possible.

Xinran came to live in England in 1997,.How she managed to escape Communism I do not know. All that we are told is that she has set up a charity to help women find adoptive children living abroad and for the children living in destitution in China. It is called The Mother’s Bridge of Love. You can find it at www.motherbridge.org

I am glad that I found this book. Actually, it was found for me by my husband and I am truly grateful for the Waterstones assistant who recommended it to him. I would like to go into the shop and find her and tell her what she has allowed me to discover. There is another book by Xinran called “Sky Burial”. That will certainly be a book that will need to be read. I do hope Xinran has found some peace with her work, and that the nightmares of the many tales she has been told can be eased by her labour of love for these people she cares so much about.

The Vision

No, I haven’t by any means abandoned this blog site. I know I have been absent on here for a while since its creation, but while the stats have been few, I have had very meaningful contact with lovely caring people who have seen this site with heart lifting comments on here and on e-mail.

You see this site is so important, it’s like a fine wine or a wonderfully prepared meal, it’s all in the timing, the maturity and the planning. Because this site is not a five minute wonder but here to stay, as long as my life and writing ability remains, (and of course while wordpress have a site), I will refine and develop this little page of cyberspace.

Time is always precious and these blogs needs research and planning. Not a collection of short stories or postings that comes simply from the imagination or happening of the day. The vision is simple in both the short and long term.This site must be all about promoting other websites concerned with human rights, not just with links but with advertising and promotion. A collection of facts and information, sources from as many corners of news as possible. I would like theme months, blog series and in some cases, if appropriate where one blog can feature on both of my sites under onethoughtfulwoman.

All the time I am thinking. How can I attract people to this blog? This is where I am asking anyone to give me ideas. You see I am not doing this for some ego trip -look at me and my ideas ride. I believe that as long as you are the facilitator to aid and get things done, even if those ideas are to other people’s credit, then that’s great because if a job gets done or a cause promoted then the end result is there. That is what I care about. This is what I am about.

As my computer knowledge becomes better so I might be able to make this visually more appealing. Widgets to be added. I would love to see shared reads, book titles, and international days recognising a cause. I need to know how to do all this and I need people power. I NEED YOU.

Send me any ideas or anything you want me to go off and find out about. If you want a charity promoting tell me and I will do my best to do it and find out about it. There must be so much that can be done. Commitment on my part and imagination is the key. 

Please continue to watch this page. It is very important to me.

I wanted to give you an update to let you know what my intentions are.

Keep watching and reading Please.