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China Witness: Voices From A Silent Generation (2008)

by Xinran(Favorite Author)

3.66 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0701180390 (ISBN13: 9780701180393)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Chatto and Windus

review 1: I sought to read this book out of a great interest over the modern history of China from the standpoint of ordinary people from all walks of life. I appreciate the author's effort to tour China to document true but publicly-unavailable stories, yet she has annoyed me in many occasions for interrupting the interviewees from telling a full account. As a result, a potentially noteworthy personal history ends up as boring and long-winded "grandmother" story that I could not bear to read on. Not to mention the lack of footnotes, and bad editing with lots of grammatical errors. Certain stories are subtly captivating though, e.g the plight of an intellectual couple and the suffering of a righteous policeman. Although this book betters my understanding of China inspiring me to inv... moreestigate my ancestral history too, I am afraid that it is far from being a remarkable work for my collection. Thanks to the San Jose Library for making it available for loan.
review 2: Most interesting view, as this was a compilation of interviews of Chinese (who remained in PRC after 1949) by a Chinese journalist, Xinran, who grew up in China but now lives in London. Her sensibilities remain in sync with her interviewees, with the overlay of her western experience. The form, language and content of this book is, therefor, a wonderfully true reading of the mainland Chinese soul. What is unsaid is just as revealing as what is said. Poignant. less

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