Fountaindale Public Library

A stone is most precious where it belongs, a memoir of Uyghur exile, hope, and survival, Gulchehra Hoja

eng

autobiography

platesmapsillustrations

no index present

non fiction

A stone is most precious where it belongs

1369803755

Gulchehra Hoja

a memoir of Uyghur exile, hope, and survival

In February 2018, twenty-four members of Gulchehra Hoja's family disappeared overnight. Her crimes - and thus those of her family - were her award-winning investigations into the plight of her people, the Uyghurs, whose existence and culture is being systematically destroyed by the Chinese government. This book is Gulchehra's stunning memoir, taking us into the everyday world of life under Chinese rule in East Turkestan (called the Xianjiang Autonomous Region by China), from her idyllic childhood to its modern nightmare. The grandchild of a renowned musician and the daughter of an esteemed archaeologist, Gulchehra grew up with her people's culture and history running through her veins. She showed her gifts early on as a dancer, actress, and storyteller, putting her on a path to success as a major television star. Slowly though, she began to understand what China was doing to her people, as well as her own complicity as a journalist. As her rising fame and growing political awakening coincided, she made it her mission to expose the crimes Beijing is committing in the far reaches of its nation, no matter the cost. Reveling in the beauty of East Turkestan and its people - its music, its culture, its heritage, and above all its emphasis on community and family - this groundbreaking memoir guves us a glimpse beyond what the Chinese state wants us to see, showcasing a woman who was willing to risk not just her own life, but also the lives of everyone she loves, to expose her people's story to the world

adult