Yan Lianke (trans. Cindy Carter), _Dream of Ding Village_

Yan Lianke's harrowing, often macabre novel, based on a true incident, is a searing indictment of personal and governmental corruption and materialism.  Attempting to alleviate poverty, the villagers of Ding Village, in rural Henan Province, China, begin selling their blood plasma, creating a rampant HIV epidemic.  A tragic chain of events ensues, dissolving the bonds of family and community life.

For those interested in finding out more about the events that inspired Dream of Ding Village, Caijing Magazine provides a synopsis of the Chinese plasmapheresis industry.