A beautiful memoir of the important period when china began to recover from its political traumas and open to the outside world. She has bared the intimate details of a young womans life while opening our western eyes to what it was like to grow up in china in the recent era. A workers memoir of the new china 9780307472199 by zhang, lijia and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. A spirited memoir by a former chinese factory worker who grew up in nanjing, participated in the tiananmen square protest, and ended up an international journalist. Other books by lijia zhang gilbert van kerckhove, author. The book is subtitled a workers memoir of the new china.
Lijia zhang lijia zhang is spirited, insightful and funny. She studied journalism in england, and her book socialism is great. A workers memoir of the new china by lijia zhang at. The book finishes as, posttiananmen, the public security bureau take her in for questioning. Her coming of age coincides with chinas great opening up in the 1980s and 1990s. Apr, 2008 here are the 10 best books of 2020, along with 100 notable books of the year. She wants to be a journalist, wear western clothes and indulge in romance. Her writing has appeared in the new york times and newsweek, and she has been interviewed on cnn, npr, and the bbc. A workers memoir of the new china by lijia zhang available from rakuten kobo. Jun 19, 2008 lijia zhangs socialism is g reat i went to a party a few weeks ago where i was introduced to a woman who immediately struck me as someone who is determined somebody with a strong will and an interesting story to tell. Books to borrow books for people with print disabilities internet. When she was asked by someone in the audience to describe what the 1980s was like.
A spirited memoir by a former chinese factory worker who grew up in nanjing, participated in the. The title is somewhat misleading and was chosen by the publisher, the author had suggested the frog in the well, as we were told by zhang. With a great charm and spirit, lijia zhang recounts her rebellious journey from disillusioned factory worker to an organizer in support of the tiananmen square. A workers memoir of the new china by lijia zhang 2008, hardcover at the. April 14, 2008 composed in beautiful english, this remarkable memoir by a former chinese factory worker delineates her efforts to buck the strictures of socialism and broaden her lifes experience. Or try any of these new books that our editors recommend.
We dont know when or if this item will be back in stock. Her first novel, lotus, about prostitution set in modern day shenzhen, was published in 2017. What makes this memoir so compelling is zhangs honesty and lack of pretension. Her memoir is like a brilliant minature illuminating the sweeping historical forces at work in china after the cultural revolution as the country moved from one of stark repression to a vibrant capitalist economy. Her memoir is like a brilliant miniature illuminating the sweeping historical forces at work in china after the cultural. Aug 15, 2020 of the other books by lijia zhang i should mention her first book socialism is great. View lijia zhangs profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community.
I was recently at a book talk in beijing where lijia zhang was talking about her new book, a memoir of her teenage years in the 1980s china called socialism is great. Dec 01, 2008 from a worker at a rocket factory to a budding intellectual, lijia zhang s life story is amazing but not more so than the transformation of china. Socialism is great a workers memoir of the new china ebook. Throughout the book, doyle remains open and candid, whether shes admitting to rigging a hig. A workers memoir of the new china, published by atlas books in 2008 and random house in 200. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. One of them do not say we have nothing by madeleine thien looks great. Zhang didnt want to be a worker, but because her father had political problems, her chances of access to a. Apr 27, 2011 socialism is great a workers memoir of the new china ebook. China received selfinflicted sufferings from the culture revolution, which continues to linger there today, even though china is now the most powerful economic engine in the world. By 1989 she was one of the leading organisers of the largest demonstration of nanjing workers in support of the democracy movement in tiananmen square. Zheng lijia speaks at teds beijing on her book, socialism is great.
Lijia zhang author of lotus meet your next favorite book. Book socialism is great by lijia zhang harper collins india, delhi 2008 price rs 45. A workers memoir of the new china 9780977743377 by zhang, lijia and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. A workers memoir of the new china by lijia zhang 2009, trade paperback. She coauthored china remembers oup, 1999 and her memoir socialism is great. A workers memoir of the new china reprint by lijia zhang isbn. Well yes, found it back in my library and to my great shame i somehow never read up. What makes this memoir so compelling is zhang s honesty and lack of pretension. A workers memoir of the new china by lijia zhang 2009, trade paperback at the best online prices at ebay.
Her personal life narrative and her desire to participate in an awakening china offers a. Support for that theory might be seen in lijia zhang s socialism is great. Sexism and beautyism remembering the past literature and. Lijia zhang writer, journalist, public speaker freelance linkedin. She describes herself as a communicator between china and the world and has given talks at conferences about contemporary china. Sexism and beautyism remembering the past literature. It is a memoir of a young woman who grew up in an impoverished chinese household a household chiefly managed by women, while the men of the house are either missing or whiling away time elsewhere. Jun 02, 2008 by narrating the changes in her own life, zhang chronicles the momentous shift in chinas economic policy. She has given lectures at stanford university, harvard university, and the university of sydney. Zhang s book is a personal memoir, not a political one. Lijia zhang worked as a teenager in a factory producing missi. Recent books have their own thrill, but theres just as.
Zhang was growing into adulthood during the birth pangs of new capitalism and democratization in china in the 1980s. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Her articles have appeared in many international publications, including south china morning post, japan times, the independent london, washington times, and newsweek. It is this china that is chronicled in lijia zhangs socialism is great. Lijia zhang is a courageous woman who has written an extraordinary autobiography. Women from the young lijia to her grandmother worked. Lijia zhang worked as a teenager in a factory producing missiles designed to reach north america, queuing every month to give evidence to the period police that she wasnt pregnant. In the oppressive routine of guarded compounds and political meetings, zhangs disillusionment with the glorious cause drove her to study english. From a worker at a rocket factory to a budding intellectual, lijia zhangs life story is amazing but not more so than the transformation of china.
Lijia zhang worked as a teenager in a factory producing missiles designed to reach north. Zhang was growing into adulthood during the birth pangs of. Socialism is great by lijia zhang gilbert van kerckhove, author. She earned a masters degree from goldsmiths, university of london, and a. A workers memoir of the new china is a memoir of her time working in a. May 05, 2009 support for that theory might be seen in lijia zhang s socialism is great. Lijia zhang, a former rocket factory worker, is a journalist based in beijing. Well i finished it, it took longer than i thought as the book is pretty long 358 pages of small print. In the oppressive routine of guarded compounds and political meetings, zhang s disillusionment with the glorious cause drove her. Lijia zhang is a chinese writer, journalist and public speaker. Her memoir is like a brilliant miniature illuminating the sweeping historical forces at. Book overview lijia zhang worked as a teenager in a factory producing missiles designed to reach north america, queuing every month for the period police to give evidence that she wasnt pregnant. It is a very readable and interesting piece of autobiography, and its readability is largely down to the authors command of english. A workers memoir of the new china has been published in eight countries.
May 20, 2019 description with a great charm and spirit, socialism is great. Lijia zhang worked as a teenager in a factory producing missiles designed to reach north america, queuing every month for the period police to give evidence that she wasnt pregnant. Her articles have appeared in many international publications, including south china morning post, japan times, the independent, washington times, and newsweek. Socialism is great a workers memoir of the new china. What instances of this lack of integrity and honesty appear in the book.
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