Voices of Reason

There are few people I admire. Very few. I like a lot of people. But I don’t like them to the point where I will take their recommendations seriously.

Lately, Providence has seen fit to change that. Thank goodness.

A friend, that I am getting closer to with each consecutive conversation passed along a recommendation of a book to me: It’s called ‘The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices’ (kudos should also go to the translator of this book because translating a work so intense from the Chinese language takes an a lot of skill and insight.)

So sure was I of his thoughts/feelings about this book that I ordered myself a copy. When I went to amazon.com to find it there was a blurb about it from one of my favourite authors, Amy Tan – who wrote that after reading this book she felt ‘her soul had been altered’ – how much more powerful does it get than that? I found one of their bargain copies for $.86 (yes that’s 86 cents!). Of course I had to pay $3 something in shipping but I know I will cherish this book.

For years now I have collected and read Asian literature. Especially enchanting to me are the voices of the women form these countries – where often times the women are treated as second class citizens (of course while I feel that in America we as women DO live better lives – please reference how I really feel by reading the lyrics of the Laurie Anderson lyrics to 'Beautiful Red Dress' - let’s just say I think we could be doing better closing that gap of inequality.

So where was I? (damn tangents) – oh yeah – so it really inspires me and intrigues me to read about people in these cultures. And when those women’s voices somehow manage to make it outside the ‘Iron Curtain’ so to speak – it’s a revelation….

So do yourself a favour – go find this book or others of this nature and walk a mile in someone else’s shoes….