I am enormously grateful to all of my thoughtful, funny, sharp friends who also happen to be mothers—many of whom were enlisted to read parts of this book or discuss the subject. Most memorably, and in no particular order, Alissa Sheth, Genevieve Connors, Barbara Demick (whose influence is woven throughout this book, but especially the prologue), Sana Sood, Uli Putz, Jamie Tarabay, Medha Kochhar Singh, Ellen Barry, Elizabeth Kennedy, Nilofer Azad, Amy Lazarides, and Lyndee Prickitt. Kehinde Komolafe, Elaine Wong, Holly Williams, Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt, Arpan Munier, and Tara Wilkinson, who I joked was the muse of this book (and who was, in a way, the muse of this book) also left their marks on these pages. I’m forever thankful to the Beijing baby group moms, especially Jennifer Ma, with whom I had a joyful—and supremely helpful—reunion when I went back to China for research. Elaine and Paul hosted me during that trip and fortified me with late-night conversation and Japanese whiskey. I am also grateful to the Delhi writing group—Anuradha, Jan, Sujatha, Manju, Amy, Mala, Gopika, et al.—for readings and dinners that brought such a strong sense of community, inspiration, and support.
Tommy Yang and Nicole Liu, my friends and former colleagues from the Los Angeles Times in Beijing, also provided me with invaluable assistance in China. Duc Nguyen helped me brainstorm subtitles. My sincere gratitude also goes to the smart and patient people at Doubleday and the Robbins Office for their work on behalf of this book.
I’d be lost without Tom, who has always encouraged my work in every conceivable way and who did not flinch at the prospect of an honest (but inherently biased) account of our most fraught and challenging days. I can’t begin to express my gratitude and love.
And, finally, my most true and enormous thanks and admiration to the women in this book. Xiao Li, Pooja, and Mary will forever give me strength and push me forward to do what needs to be done. They have been brave in every possible way, and they have taught me more than they’d ever guess. I bow down; I touch their feet.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Megan K. Stack is the author of Every Man in This Village Is a Liar, a finalist for the 2010 National Book Award. As a war correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, she reported from dozens of countries and was posted to Jerusalem, Cairo, Moscow, and Beijing. She was a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in international reporting.
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Women's Work Page 36
