Reviews - Nacer Mujer En China

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I’ve been learning Chinese for three months, hence my major book-reading slow down. And no, I didn’t read this book in Chinese (I would have to be a genius, right? But that would make me feel better about the amount of time it took me to read it). I don’t believe in learning a language without knowing the culture associated to it, hence this reading choice – and to be honest, it’s not like I needed any other reason besides the “women’s stories” part.

Now, besides starting to learn Chinese, I’ve started my internship. So the only time I’ve found to read semi-regularly is during my lunch break. I do not recommend this system for this book. Let’s just say there were a couple times I ordered food in vain.

I’ve been going for nonchalant up until now. That’s probably the wrong tone.

Xinran wanted to find out more about women in China. What she found was pain and suffering, embodied in the most varied forms. These women come from different places (both geographical and emotional), times and social roles. But they are all united in their misery, like a patchwork of broken tissue.

Even in their diversity, male violence against women is a constant almost throughout – men that fail to accomplish their promises, men that pray on women to fulfil their sadistic needs, men that do not acknowledge women as people. Don’t get me wrong. Xinran is not going after men and neither am I. Simply, the cruelest crimes committed against women always seem to be “justified” by a societal male dominance. There is a chapter concerning university girls and they do seem to feel empowered by their sexual liberation, not knowing that that will always be a flawed short-term empowered that borrows from the ever established power of men.

Each chapter touches sensitive issues, some with particularly disturbing imagery – such as that of the girl who kept flies as pets. Some images are so strong and some incidents so coincidental we might wonder whether Xinran fabricated them. True or false, all the stories are certainly true to someone.

The chapter in the village particularly impressed me. The ability of the world (and China itself) to ignore such places is unbelievable and horrifying. Just imagine, a village where girls are kept in the bed all day because they have no clothes to be allowed to come out!

This book is not without its flaws. Xinran has a tendency to be over-emotional in her portrayals. Even if it’s aesthetic choice, it didn’t fall well with me. I always prefer the upsetting truths to be presented objectively, Orwell-style – they speak for themselves. You don’t have to tell me that you cried when I can’t even finish my lunch because of what I just read on your book.

Finally, there was a certain tone in the homosexuality chapter that I really disliked. For such an open-minded person, Xinran was a bit too hesitant on treating homosexuality the way it should be treated – as a natural thing, not something you have to somehow “accept” or “tolerate”.

Aside from that, recommended reading for humanity.

spacem0nkeyyy's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

rosa44's review

5.0

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

"«¿Por qué no quieres ver a tu padre?»«¿Qué te llevó a dibujar una mosca, y por qué la hiciste tan bella?»Para responder a Yulong tendré que recordar y volver al infierno. Pero Yulong ha sido desterrada al infierno por mi culpa. Por lo que debo hacer el viaje. No puedo negarme."

"Solía soñar con que mi dolor podía desaparecer de alguna manera, pero ¿puedo hacer desaparecer mi vida? ¿Puedo hacer desaparecer mi pasado y mi futuro?"

“No pienses jamás en un hombre como en un árbol a cuya sombra puedes descansar. Las mujeres no son más que abono descomponiéndose para fortalecer el árbol… No existe el amor verdadero. Las parejas que parecen amarse permanecen unidas para provecho propio, ya sea por dinero, poder o influencia”.

"Queridos mamá y papá: Lo siento, no puedo seguir viviendo. No deberíais haberme salvado. No hay nada en mis recuerdos aparte del mundo hundiéndose y la crueldad y violencia de aquellos hombres. Es todo lo que me queda en este mundo, y no puedo vivir con esos recuerdos cada día. Recordar resulta demasiado doloroso. Me voy."