The Cry of the Silkworm

The Cry of the Silkworm by Shi Naseer is the moving and thought-provoking story of Chen Di, from the traumatic events of her teenage years in rural China in the 1990's to the early 2000's in Shanghai where she battles with feelings of love and revenge.

Chen Di's life in her home village is one of casual brutality,feeling unwanted as a girl during China's "one child" policy and the appalling reality of that,enforced contraception and abortion by the authorities,not least the local "enforcer", with villagers wanting a son disposing of unwanted baby daughters. When tragedy strikes her family Chen Di is ostracised ,finding acceptance and compassion only from one of her teachers and finding solace in education.
In Shanghai Chen Di finds both job and proficiency at martial arts. She also discovers that 2 of the greatest influences on her young life are in Shanghai so has the chance of both violent retribution and potential romance.

This is an exceptional book and an excellent insight into life and culture in China,both rural and in the big city at the turn of the century and not least shows the effect of authoritarian, and often quite appalling, government policies on a diverse range of people. There are no cardboard characters in this book, they're multi-facetted people and a big part of the plot is Chen Di trying to balance good and bad behaviour,her own as well as that of others, as she battles her way through the moral maze.

A remarkable and involving book.

There’s nothing I love more than a multigenerational story. Focusing on Chen Di, this book brings to life the recent struggles faced by families in China, and the one child policy. Chen Di not only faces abuse from her grandfather, but when her all important younger brother is born, she is torn over the love he receives, while she is still beaten. While she is eventually sent to school, despite her families wishes, her schooling experience is swayed by her teacher and his dangerous ideas.

Weaving together 1990 and early 2000s China, this book tackled the incredibly complex subject of family planning and intervention by the government, and just how far those in power are willing to go. There were several scenes that were uncomfortable to read and the entire book was heavy with pain and suffering. I’ve not read a book that shines the light on China’s family policies in an unwavering and honest way before. This was a gripping and incredibly poignant debut that doesn’t shy away from the horrific reality that so many families suffered at the hands of China’s policy. Unparalleled and incredibly well written.

I really enjoyed this book. It tells the story of Chen Di, a Chinese girl born with a birthmark in a rural area of the country at the time when the One Child Policy was being brutally enforced.

The social impact of this policy is demonstrated in terms of how the individual villagers' lives are affected, often adversely, by the policy of late abortions. Chen Di's family also suffers greatly as a result of this.

Widespread suffering was probably inevitable, given the cultural obsession with having sons and the depth of misogyny prevalent at the time (it has yet to be fully addressed in Chinese society, as elsewhere, even today).

The characters are well-drawn, even if at times the story flow and dialogues seem a little abrupt. But the reader is brought deeply into the lives of Chen Di, her parents and grandfather, Teacher Jia, the other villagers, the brutal bureaucrats, and the people Chen Di meets after moving to Shanghai, notably Lin Feng and Master Mu.

The story provides an indictment of China's One Child Policy, even as it acknowledges that some of the policy goals aimed at improving people's economic status may have been achieved. Worth a read.

Oh my gosh this was an absolute masterpiece. I was completely captivated by Naseer's beautiful writing style from the very beginning. The plot revolves around a young girl named Chen Di who lives in a rural part of China. The story is set against the backdrop of the country's one child policy and explores various topics that are often overlooked by society.

One of the most striking aspects of the book is the portrayal of the abuse that girls had to endure, simply because they were considered inferior to boys. It also sheds light on the desperation of parents to have a male child and the infanticide that occurred when multiple females were born. The book also delves into the psychological impact that such policies had on children.

Despite the dark and disturbing nature of its themes, the book is beautifully interwoven with Chen Di's story, both as a child and a young adult. The author has done a remarkable job in telling a story that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

I believe that this book is an important contribution to literature as it sheds light on the harsh realities that many people had to endure under the one-child policy. It provides a glimpse into the abuse that girls had to endure and the indoctrination that was instilled in people's minds over time. I am grateful to the author for writing such an impactful book that raises important issues in a beautifully written way.

I want to thank Netgally, the publishers and the Author for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review with thanks.