Yu Hua’s novel, Brothers

A must-read article. Really. Go there now.

The Discussion: 9 Comments

Man, I wish I’d kept up on my Chinese lessons…maybe it’ll be translated one eventually.

September 4, 2006 @ 10:43 pm | Comment

I have an impression that the English version is either in the process of translation, or has even been completed. But I’m not 100% sure. So if someone knows, please leave a comment here.

Thanks Richard for the link. It’s indeed a well written article.

September 4, 2006 @ 11:00 pm | Comment

yeah, there will definitely be an English version – the article mentioned two major US publishers negotiating for the books.

September 4, 2006 @ 11:16 pm | Comment

Maybe I can try to get a gig translating the book. Has to beat translating news stories and real estate contracts. To be honest, though, I’m not that much of a fan of Yu Hua. Read a little bit if ‘Brothers,’ but ended up losing interest pretty quickly. From what friends who’ve read the whole thing tell me, I wasn’t missing much.

September 5, 2006 @ 2:07 am | Comment

I do like the idea that, “‘If you want to talk about modern China you must understand the Cultural Revolution,’ [Yu] said. “It’s not only about money. During the Cultural Revolution there was no stage for the individual, just the government. Now there is a stage for everyone. And you can see a show every day.”

I think much has been made of today’s go-go China as a response to the relaxation of controls and increasing economic choices. But there is also a part of it, at least for some generations, of go-go China as a reaction against their experiences during the GPCR. It’s something I don’t consider enough when I look at China today.

September 5, 2006 @ 3:08 am | Comment

ummm, great link…cant open that url without being a paid subscriber. i guess people that are members dont think about all us poor folk in china who dont have memberships.

thanks!

September 5, 2006 @ 4:11 am | Comment

I sometimes had the thought that this might be some sort of compensation for the uniformity forced on them during the CR , when I saw once again one of those fiftysomething Shanghai ladies with a hairstyle trying to compeate with the tower of babel. Don’t know if they still exist but some years ago they were not short in number.

September 5, 2006 @ 4:50 am | Comment

Chris, you need to register but it should still be free. Only “TimesSelect” and archived articles require you to pay. I certainly haven’t paid anything and can read the article.

September 5, 2006 @ 11:09 pm | Comment

Brendan, you’re missing nothing, the story isn’t anything new and when it comes to the CR, there is no need to read fiction when the reality is, itself, so difficult…I read the first part and regret the time I spent on it, but maybe the 2nd one is better…

Yu Hua being famous in the west as he is, I’m sure we can expect an english translation shortly, as well as the possibility of a movie.

September 7, 2006 @ 9:43 pm | Comment

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.