Reviews
"This collection is powerful and heartbreaking. It's a must-read for families who have adopted children from China, as well as for anyone who has an interest in what women's lives are like in the economic powerhouse China has become." Lisa See, "[Xinran's] program and now this book gave a voice to some of the poorest women in Chinese society, whose stories would otherwise never be heard& MESSAGE FROM AN UNKNOWN CHINESE MOTHER is full of heart-rending tales. They are shocking, simply told and augmented with passages that provide information about matters like the one-child policy, the history of orphanages and Chinese adoption laws&A very powerful polemic." -- New York Times Book Review, "No bleaker picture exists of the fate of Chinese female infants...thanMessage from an Unknown Chinese Mother." Spectator, "Xinran collects the heartbreaking stories of Chinese women forced to give up their baby girls….[she] is compassionate and remarkably adept at getting her interviewees to open up about their most painful memories." Publishers Weekly , Pick of the Week, “The core of Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother is the individual stories of women who have lost their daughters. One would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by them.� The Economist, “This is an extraordinary book told with generosity and warmth by a brilliant storyteller.� Financial Times, "This is an extraordinary book told with generosity and warmth by a brilliant storyteller." Financial Times, "The core of Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother is the individual stories of women who have lost their daughters. One would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by them." - The Economist, "I'm a longtime admirer of Xinran's writing. She has a rare gift as both a compassionate listener and a mesmerizing storyteller. In reading her books, I always feel as if I am in a room, listening with Xinran, as strangers unveil the haunting details of their lives that grab my imagination and my heart. " -Amy Tan, "This is an extraordinary book told with generosity and warmth by a brilliant storyteller." -- Financial Times, "This is an extraordinary book told with generosity and warmth by a brilliant storyteller." - Financial Times, "Xinran collects the heartbreaking stories of Chinese women forced to give up their baby girls….[she] is compassionate and remarkably adept at getting her interviewees to open up about their most painful memories." Publishers Weekly, Pick of the Week, "I'm a longtime admirer of Xinran's writing. She has a rare gift as both a compassionate listener and a mesmerizing storyteller. In reading her books, I always feel as if I am in a room, listening with Xinran, as strangers unveil the haunting details of their lives that grab my imagination and my heart. "-Amy Tan, "[Xinran's] program - and now this book - gave a voice to some of the poorest women in Chinese society, whose stories would otherwise never be heard... MESSAGE FROM AN UNKNOWN CHINESE MOTHER is full of heart-rending tales. They are shocking, simply told and augmented with passages that provide information about matters like the one-child policy, the history of orphanages and Chinese adoption laws...A very powerful polemic." -- New York Times Book Review, "A heartbreaking examination of the reasons why Chinese women give up their girls for adoption." - Kirkus, Xinran collects the heartbreaking stories of Chinese women forced to give up their baby girls.[she] is compassionate and remarkably adept at getting her interviewees to open up about their most painful memories. Publishers Weekly , Pick of the Week, Xinran collects the heartbreaking stories of Chinese women forced to give up their baby girls….[she] is compassionate and remarkably adept at getting her interviewees to open up about their most painful memories. Publishers Weekly , Pick of the Week, The core of Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother is the individual stories of women who have lost their daughters. One would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by them. The Economist, "Xinran collects the heartbreaking stories of Chinese women forced to give up their baby girls....[she] is compassionate and remarkably adept at getting her interviewees to open up about their most painful memories." - Publishers Weekly , Pick of the Week, "I'm a longtime admirer of Xinran's writing. She has a rare gift as both a compassionate listener and a mesmerizing storyteller. In reading her books, I always feel as if I am in a room, listening with Xinran, as strangers unveil the haunting details of their lives that grab my imagination and my heart. " -Amy Tan, "The core of Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother is the individual stories of women who have lost their daughters. One would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by them." The Economist, "Xinran collects the heartbreaking stories of Chinese women forced to give up their baby girls....[she] is compassionate and remarkably adept at getting her interviewees to open up about their most painful memories." - Publishers Weekly , Pick of the Week , "[Xinran's] program and now this book gave a voice to some of the poorest women in Chinese society, whose stories would otherwise never be heard… MESSAGE FROM AN UNKNOWN CHINESE MOTHER is full of heart-rending tales. They are shocking, simply told and augmented with passages that provide information about matters like the one-child policy, the history of orphanages and Chinese adoption laws…A very powerful polemic." -- New York Times Book Review, "A touching book...[Xinran] gives voice to the silent heartbreak of tens of thousands of Chinese women." -New York Post, [Xinran's] program and now this book gave a voice to some of the poorest women in Chinese society, whose stories would otherwise never be heard… MESSAGE FROM AN UNKNOWN CHINESE MOTHER is full of heart-rending tales. They are shocking, simply told and augmented with passages that provide information about matters like the one-child policy, the history of orphanages and Chinese adoption laws…A very powerful polemic. -- New York Times Book Review, "A heartbreaking examination of the reasons why Chinese women give up their girls for adoption." -Kirkus, [Xinrans] program and now this book gave a voice to some of the poorest women in Chinese society, whose stories would otherwise never be heard MESSAGE FROM AN UNKNOWN CHINESE MOTHER is full of heart-rending tales. They are shocking, simply told and augmented with passages that provide information about matters like the one-child policy, the history of orphanages and Chinese adoption lawsA very powerful polemic. -- New York Times Book Review, This is an extraordinary book told with generosity and warmth by a brilliant storyteller. Financial Times, "The core ofMessage from an Unknown Chinese Motheris the individual stories of women who have lost their daughters. One would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by them." The Economist, "A heartbreaking examination of the reasons why Chinese women give up their girls for adoption." - Kirkus, “Xinran collects the heartbreaking stories of Chinese women forced to give up their baby girls&.[she] is compassionate and remarkably adept at getting her interviewees to open up about their most painful memories.� Publishers Weekly , Pick of the Week
