Her Land
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Summary
In the villages of the Jiangsu plains and the countryside of Zhejiang's small towns, most of the women the author sees live plain, silent lives. With the patience of sifting rice grains, she sifts out the weeds of sensationalism and the chaff of pretense, faithfully recording their joys and sorrows, so that they are no longer distant silhouettes but seem like some elder female relative or woman friend of the reader's own.
The author tells the stories of "them"—neighbors, friends, customers, fellow vendors at the same market—and also of "us"—herself, her adoptive mother, her grandmother, aunts and sisters... As a firsthand witness, she records the admirable, lovable, pitiable, and perceptible sides of ordinary women, and with an equal gaze records the essence of life and living.
Editor's review
As an editor, I believe the book's greatest value lies in its deft combination of the "local" and the "universal." The story is rooted in Hong Kong's distinctive urban texture and cultural context, with the city's pulse and breath visible between the lines, yet its portrayal of the modern female condition transcends geography and invites broad empathy. Chen Hui's writing is restrained and dense; she excels at using seemingly plain dialogue and scenes to gradually reveal the turmoil within her characters and the marks of the times. Reading Thérèse Desqueyroux is like taking a deep urban walk and a glimpse into the soul. This book is not only a story about "them" but also a mirror reflecting "us," inviting readers to ask: What is home? Where is one's native place? For readers who enjoy observing human nature, savoring textual texture, and are interested in urban women's issues, this is a sincere work not to be missed.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in observing Hong Kong's social culture and urban life
- Fiction lovers who prefer delicate depiction of characters' inner lives and slice-of-life narrative
- Readers concerned with modern women's living conditions and identity issues
- Readers who appreciate literary works with concise, powerful prose rich in implication and resonance
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking strong plot, fast pace, and dramatic twists
- Readers hoping for clear problem-solving or inspirational content
Reading tips
- Read at a relatively slow, immersive pace, paying attention to descriptions of environment and subtle character actions, which often carry rich subtext
- Read alongside the author Chen Hui's other works (such as Records of Fragrance Gathering) for a fuller understanding of her creative trajectory and style
- As you read, reflect on your own experience of city life; the characters' situations may offer another angle from which to view yourself
About the publisher
Tianjin People's Publishing House publishes across such fields as classic works, foreign literature, architecture, social culture and social sciences, with 749 relevant titles in the collection. In the areas of classics and scholarship, works such as Wang Guowei's Renjian Cihua and Fei Xiaotong's From the Soil and Fertility and Reproduction reflect a sustained attention to social culture and classic texts of thought. Architectural books are represented by Liang Sicheng's Annotated Yingzao Fashi and A History of Chinese Architecture, showing an emphasis on architectural heritage and building traditions. In foreign literature, translations of Sholokhov's And Quiet Flows the Don and Tolstoy's War and Peace and The Death of Ivan Ilyich, through the work of translators such as Li Gang and Yu Dawei, form a substantial series of translated works. Overall, the press combines classic texts, scholarly works and fine translations, with a publishing character oriented toward humanistic depth and the dissemination of knowledge.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 她们
- 命
- 玉坠
- 杨梅干
- 单刺仙人掌
- 眼泪
- 无相
- 哑巴姑娘
- 菠萝头
- 阿妮和她的狗
- 我们
- 养母
- 奶奶王成英
- 我妈的私房钱
- 姐姐
- 婚姻的支点
- 姨奶奶
- 大姑妈
- 姑姑的鸭蛋
- 后记 每天的日子
FAQ
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About the author
Chen Hui, born in 1978 in Rugao, Jiangsu, now lives in Yuyao, Zhejiang. Known as a "vegetable-market woman writer" because she has long worked as a market vendor while writing, she began writing in 2010 and published her first essay collection in 2018. She has since released several books, including In the Market, in the World and Where There Are Flowers, recording the everyday lives of ordinary urban people in a sincere, understated style drawn from the people and events around her. Eleven of her titles are held in the collection, spanning essays, medicine, foreign literature, biography and management, among them a work on classical pediatric texts, a biography of Churchill's mother, and a study of online brand communities. Public information about her education, awards and personal history is limited, so no further details are given here.
