Books like Waiting by Ha Jin
Lin Kong, a diligent medical professional, has secretly loved Manna Wu—a bright, contemporary woman—since his youth. Yet, bound by the expectations of his rural village, he remains married to the wife his family selected for him. Year after year, he visits her to plead for a divorce, only to lose hope when she ultimately refuses. Their fragile truce is strained by the hard grip of traditional customs and the ever‑watchful Party that could condemn any discovered adultery. Over more than a decade and a half, Lin’s passionate yearning becomes a test of endurance, illuminating the clash between modern desire and entrenched cultural norms in contemporary China.
First publish date: 1999
Genre: Psychological Fiction/Relationship Drama
Authors: Ha Jin
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