Who are they?
Any recommandation?

Is it just me or one never sees anybody with a book in hands? Or are they reading only in the comfort of their home?

b.

Have you read anything by the Frenchlover lately?

You can only really read at home when you need to be 100% attentive in public to avoid hazardous spit and rogue bicyclists.

But you might want to check out the NY Times top 100 for 2005 list that just came out:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/books ... &th&emc=th (not sure if you need to be a member.)

Personally, I'm into non-fiction almost exclusively (history major.) I'm happy to give my recomendations unless you are looking for fiction! In which case I can only recomend Umberto Eco as the most brilliant author I can imagine. Oh, and Tom Robbins.


Frenchlover, etes-vous auteur?

Errr, I meant CHINESE contemporary authors...
I guess it is not that obvious then.
Let me see if I can edit this title.

Thx anyway.

b.

Mianmian, Amy Tan, .... okay, I'm joking. I know, I know You know. No but, are you looking to read in Chinese or english? What kind of stuff?

Everyone reads at home here.

Maybe it's like Japanese people and eating.


But here they don't want to bring the peace and quiet out in the open. It would be uncouth.

I dont know much about chinese contemporary authors. I imagine that the latests years of hmmmm of cerebral confinement in terms of topics they might or might not cover might have reduced the quality of work they can produce.

I like some of the authors in the 30s though, specially Lu Xun and Lin YuTang.

Both are very unusual though. They are the exception of the rule. Both are very critical, very observant, and mostly gifted with a capability to analyze their countrymen without the fear of discovering something unpleasant.

You can find LuXun in most bookstores (in English) and I found the Lin YuTang I have in the Shanghai Library store.

I have some that I could lend to you in case you are interested.

take care man,
Hc.

Thx HC.
I noticed before this Lin Yutang you mention. Still have to go get a copy of his book though.

Others?

b.

Sooooo, where are the local posters when you need them...?

b.

I know vert little about Chinese contemporary authors except Liu Yong (á?ü-). He is good at telling small stories with a sense of fairness and humor. Most of his books are very easy to understand and follow up. Could be a not bad choice.

But if you are really interested in reading something valuable from Chinese authors, Chinaski's recommendation is very nice. Especially for Lu Xun's writings which contain quite cynical and profound comments. Basically his books are not for entertainment but its your choice too.

Hmm one of my favoriate books is <Family> <Spring> <Autumn> (<?ò><?o><??>) by Ba Jing (°í?e). The whole series is about a feudal family and its struggle and revolting, you are likely to get a general idea of the culture of old Chinese city family in 20th century.

Guo Mo Ruo(1ù?-è?)/Mao Dun (???ü)/Lao She(à?éá) are all excellent literature masters though none of them has anything to do with "contemporary" in my opinion.

Hope it helps.

Thank God... and Lemongrass... Finally!

Much appreciated LMG and will try to find your Liu Yong (if I just show up with his name, someone will know for sure, right?)

However, that's all for contemporary ones? I am really puzzled and you also start referring to the oldies (not back to the Pavillion admittedly).

I tried to find My Country, My People recommended by HC and went to the exact same shop where he bought it. Broken arms these people. Seems "they never had it..." I'll spare you the dialogue.

Thx again. Oh, any specific title in mind?

b.

Benoist_Shanghai wrote:Is it just me or one never sees anybody with a book in hands? Or are they reading only in the comfort of their home?

I've seen people reading in the metro. And in bookstores, of course. I don't know what they are reading, though, because I don't know enough Chinese for that.
Maybe you could ask for contemporary Chinese authors in some bookstores?
Moa

try Yu Qiuyu, he is good, could u read chinese?

try Yu Qiuyu, he is good, could u read chinese?

try Yu Qiuyu, he is good, could u read chinese?

hey haniest,
can you please write Yu Qiuyu in chinese characters?
thanks!

Beniost no problem. I believe anyone working in a bookstore would definitely know who Liu Yong is. I would like to recommend ??ó??°D?ó??·(Ying Chuang Xiao Yu) and ????2?è?éú?·(Piao Bo Ren Sheng). Can you read in Chinese btw?

Forget about the others if you prefer contemporary authors only.

One more good book: ???óêé <?§3?> (Qian Zhong Shu <Wei Cheng>)

And kika, Yu Qiuyu in Chinese is óà??óê. One famous writing from him is <é??ó±ê????(Shan Ju Bi Ji).

Happy reading everyone.

Benoist I bought a copy of My Country My People for my neighbour this weekend in the Sanxi Nan Lu subway station bookstore.

It's in the English section, in the wall opposite to the entrance, right in the middle of the middle shelf if not mistaken.

Book's color is light blue/purplish.

HC, thx, I'll try my luck there.
Lemongrass. Thx again. Will check also.

b.

I agree with previous suggestions such as ?3?? Lu Xun and °í?e Ba Jin.

Also, an author called óà?a Yu Hua Just brought out a book called D??ü Xiong Di, but one he had out before called ??×? Huo Zhe is also really good. I have seen it recently with a bright red cover.

I also like books by ??í? Su Tong who wrote ?T?a3éèo which the film "Raise the Red Lantern" was based upon.

For a sort of "young" book there are those books by ê??? Shi Kang like ????ó?ó?. It is a long time since I read it, but it is written from the perspective of a young student.

If anyone has any more suggestions, I am also interested...