Along with my desire to take a break from the world of producing reality television, came an even deeper desire to get involved in doing something of greater value to help society. So much of what we see on television has to do with exploiting stupid decisions made by stupid people who are single handedly deconstructing the integrity of the human race i.e. Jersey Shore. Reading books that teach us lessons about worldly issues and open our eyes to all the injustices out there can elevate our thinking and hopefully inspire us to get involved. China Doll is one of those books.
Could you imagine that somewhere out in the world right now there are hundreds of babies laying in a dark room with no one to feed them, change their diapers, hold them, love them, protect them, or tell them that everything is going to be OK? A room where they lay dirty, helpless, cold and scared, and the only company they receive are the rats that are feasting on their faces? This room that I speak of exists. It's called the Dying Room, an underground orphanage that no one was ever supposed to know about.
China Doll is a novel that explores the controversial issue of the one child policy in China. It is an unlikely union that intertwines the music industry with politics and brings to light the cultural differences amongst the world's largest super powers.
I remember learning about the one child policy when I was in high school. The problem is that when you are 15 and sitting in Social Studies class, the only thing that you can fully comprehend is the fact that your hair is frizzy, the boy you like won't so much as look in your direction, and your friends keep passing you notes that asks a question requiring you to check either the "yes" or "no" box. The last thing that you are equipped to handle is the gravity of the one child policy.
For those of you who need a refresher course, here are the CliffsNotes. In 1979 the Chinese government initiated a policy that permitted only one child per household due to the extreme overpopulation in the country. In some cases, if the family resides in a rural community they may be able to have two children if the first child is a female or disabled. Since males are clearly preferred in order to preserve the family lineage, this begs the questions... what happens to those children, the females in particular, who are born after the first child. What happens is called infanticide, the practice of intentionally killing an infant. The family often hands off their child to a government official and the child is then brought to a private and secluded building to be placed with the other children who have lost in the lottery of life. There they lay, until they die.
China Doll takes you on a journey that integrates Chinese society and policy with an American pop icon who can be compared to a Lady Gaga of sorts in terms of how influential the character seems to be. Her name is Nola, and what starts out as a goodwill tour around China soon turns into an unexpected leap into motherhood and a full on battle fueled by the unexpected love for a child.
Nola Sands was leaving her first concert in Beijing absorbed in the cheers from her fans when an unidentified woman comes running up and throws a baby into her arms. The confusion over how anyone could just throw their child away is compounded when Nola learns why a mother would rather put their child in the hands of a complete stranger rather than the Chinese government.
There are a few things I loved about this book, it's not only the style of writing but the message it delivers. It forces you to look inside yourself and ask questions based on your own personal trials and tribulations. I think there is something that has happened to all of us in our lives that we may not know how it is going to affect us until a situation presents itself, and you find yourself doing something you never thought you would. With China Doll, there is a parallel storyline that deals with Nola's past and explains why she feels so protective of the little baby girl who was thrown into her arms.
The other thing I enjoyed about this book was how it entertains you almost like a movie is playing in your head, all the while educating the reader.(In fact, I would love to see this book adapted into a feature film). There are even song lyrics that accompany the story that make you get more emotionally invested in the moment. I always said life would be so much more interesting if it were put to music. Same holds true for books, even if you can't hear the song.
Another interesting element is how you come to learn how the government justifies their policy and makes no apologies for the way in which they govern their country. They fear that wavering could compromise the goal of controlling the population and threaten their economic growth and stability. I mean... birth control? Condoms perhaps? Sterilization? Are these not better options than death? And might I also add how the obvious often seems to be completely overlooked. What about the two people conceiving the child? Because they didn't happen to fall victim to being the second child in their family, they seem to bare no responsibility to make sure that the situation never comes to pass where they have to abandon a child of their own.
Aside from the bigger picture in which China Doll focuses, it is also a story about the human condition, loneliness, greed, despair, guilt, loss and love. Even if you don't read this book, before you continue on in your day, think about these children and make a conscious decision to at least recognize what is going on in this world. Although there has been huge strides in the campaign to put an end to infanticide, the fact remains there are still over 1 million children who vanish every year in China, most likely to this very fate.
China Doll Book Trailer:
