Chairman Mao Would Not Be Amused: Fiction from Today's China

by Howard Goldblatt (Editor)

Chairman Mao Would Not Be Amused is a showcase for 20 writers from the new literary generation in China. Hard-core realism, experimental prose, and black humor; exoticism and eroticism;shocking tales of brutality, tender evocations of love, and engrossing mysteries all coexist in an anthology that spans nearly a decade, ten years that have witnessed a dizzying array of societal and political changes. Almost all of the stories appear in English translation for the first time. Includes Shi Tiesheng, “First Person”; Hong Ying, “The Field”; Su Tong, “The Brothers Shu”; Wang Meng, “A String of Choices”; Li Rui, “Sham Marriage”; Duo Duo, “The Day I Got to Xi’an”; Chen Ran, “Sunshine Between the Lips”; Li Xiao, “Grass on the Rooftop”; Yu Hua, The Past and the Punishments”; Mo Yan, “The Cure”; Ai Bei, “Green Earth Mother”; Cao Naiqian, “When I Think of You Late at Night, There’s Nothing I Can Do”; Can Xue, “The Summons”; Bi Feiyu, “The Ancestor”; Yang Zhengguang, “Moonlight over the Field of Ghosts”; Ge Fei, “Remembering Mr. Wu You”; Chen Cun, “Footsteps on the Roof”; Chi Li, “Willow Waist”; Kong Jiesheng, “The Sleeping Lion”; Wang Xiangfu, “Fritter Hollow Chronicles.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, China, Asia, Anthologies, Chinese Literature, Literary Fiction

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 31, 1995

About the author

Howard Goldblatt was a Research Professor of Chinese at the University of Notre Dame from 2002-2011 and is a translator of numerous works of contemporary Chinese (mainland China & Taiwan) fiction, including The Taste of Apples by Huang Chunming and The Execution of Mayor Yin by Chen Ruoxi. Goldblatt has also translated works of Chinese novelist and 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature winner Mo Yan. Notably, his translation of six major novels and collections of stories by Mo Yan contributed to the Award granted without the knowledge of Chinese by the Committee members. His translation of Notes of a Desolate Man by Chu Tien-wen garnered a 2000 National Translation Award, and he was a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2009.

Reviews

[Hotavio · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of short stories or "Scar literature" regarding Maoist China. I found there to be a great variety of literary styles and topics concerning 20th century China.
Some stories I enjoyed immensely, while others I didn't particularly care for. Among my favorite stories were those that implicated China's superstitions, including "The Cure", in which a family waits underneath a bridge to fish out the gall bladder of a recently executed town official. Another enjoyable story was the ghost story, "Footsteps on the Roof", dealing with isolation.
A couple of stories were so ribald, that I couldn't help but bust out laughing. Their topics were as edgy as their dialogue. The charm and innocence of the fairy tale styled "Fritter Hollow Chronicles" contrasts with the depravity that becomes of a small village when vengence is seeked upon the antagonist of a power struggle. "The Brothers Shu" is equally disturbingly upbeat in its array of abusive relationships.
A few stories that were drab in my opinion were "A String of Choices", which incessantly perpetuated the topic of a tooth ache as an ode to Eastern medicine, and equally painful was "Green Mother Earth", which was a mystical meandering with little implication.
All-in-all, I found it to be insightful into some of the historical apects of China, including the cultural revolution, dynastic China, and the Chinese Civil War.

[Marie-Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that I'm not quite sure why this anthology has such low average ratings here and on Amazon. While this is a somewhat uneven collection and has its share of duds, there is much here to admire and enjoy. Embracing a wide variety of themes, from ghost stories to love stories, absurdist fantasies to old-fashioned tales of hard scrabble village life, this volume showcases both writers well known in the West and those who've rarely or never been translated before. My favourite stories included Chen Ran's poignant, beautifully structured "Sunshine Between the Lips", Chen Cun's atmospheric, disquieting "Footsteps on the Roof", Bi Feiyu's wry "Ancestor", Wang Meng's comical and slightly absurd "A String of Choices" and Yu Hua's brilliant "The Past and the Punishments". Also well worth reading: "The Brothers Shu" (Su Tong), "First Person" (Shi Tiensheng),"Grass on the Rooftop" (Li Xiao) "The Sleeping Lion" (Kong Jiesheng) and "Fritter Hollow Chronicles" (Wang Xiangfu).

[Tegghiaio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenida colección de historias cortas de distintos autores chinos. Como suele suceder en estos casos la calidad de los relatos varía de uno a otro y es por ello que no le otorgo una puntuación mayor; no obstante, solo por haberme permitido descubrir la historia de Yu Hua, The Past and the Punishments, ya siento que valió la pena el resto.

Pero esa no es la única historia que resalta en esta colección, también me gustaron mucho The Cure (Mo Yan), The Ancestor (Bi Feiyu), Fritter Hollow Chronicles (Wang Xiangfu) y The Summons (Can Xue).

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chairman Mao etc. is a fair collection of stories that includes some heavily distilled modernist pieces, of which Wang Meng's A String of Choices, Duo Duo's The Day I got to Xi'an, and Bi Feiyun's The Ancestor are the prime examples of the literary techniques that developed in China during and after Mao, and though admittedly the nature of translation strips away the validity of this technical criticism, the stories' thematic progressions fit the mold of modernism just fine; even the mildly counterrevolutionary pieces depict an endemic brutality of life with critical tones pointed towards either authority, excessive filial piety, or modernity.

What's responsible for this cynicism? Are we pulling material from a culture where most of its literary works are characterized by deep complaints against itself? Or rather is it that our publishers are guided by a maladaptation of "the [West] wind prevails over the [East] wind" and self-selecting pieces that would paint an unfavorable view of a country that we Westerners perceive to be our foremost competitor? Goldblatt considers it to be the natural progression of Scar literature—the period of catharsis following the political vacillation between Hundred Flowers Campaign and the Anti-Rightest Campaign, the former a policy to open up conversations about the CCP and the latter the frenzied attempt to hit ctrl-z on the former. I would agree, though some of the fiction included are tender pieces where any criticism is incidental.

There is an additive factor to the existence of pessimistic modern Chinese literature on our American shelves though, and that is availability. The most accessible books would be the writings from the Zhiqing, the sent-down youths, who expatriated to a Western country for university and later wrote an autobiographies in English. The most popular of these is Wild Swans, though I've personally got Colors of the Mountain and Red Scarf Girl somewhere. These memoirs are already predisposed to be abundant in an honesty that lends itself well towards autocratic criticism.

Still, it's telling that such criticism not only abounds, but makes its way over to foreign soil. Guess he should've done a better job at censoring books.

[Additional Readings - I read these but couldn't find a way to use them this time]
[1] https://www.marxists.org/reference/ar...
[2] https://heiup.uni-heidelberg.de/journ...

[Joe1207 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last time I read Chinese literature was seven years ago with Mo Yan’s Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out. He’s called the Chinese Kafka, and his style is “hallucinatory realism.” I saw those elements again in “The Cure,” but other stories seemed to nail Kafka’s bureaucracy better, such as Wang Meng’s “A String of Choices” and Yu Hua’s “The Past and the Punishments.” But really, omnipresent state power is all over this collection—I imagine it’s hard to avoid if you’re writing about modern China. I enjoyed the critiques of “President Shi” of the Toothology Society, but the name was a coincidence: “A String of Choices” was published in 1987, and the translation may have muddled the connection anyways.

In fact, many stories seemed to focus on dentistry/teeth and organs; nearly every story includes defecating, urinating, or vomiting. I’m curious if it seems bawdy to me since I’m unfamiliar with Chinese culture and philosophy. I know very little of “qi,” but I imagine it plays an important role in these stories about medicine, sex, and marriage, much like “free will” in Western thinking. I also wonder if China’s history with opiates influences their literary heritage like '60s drug culture with modern American writing.

That’s assuming, of course, that this collection is a fair representation of a nation of 1.4 billion people, which it probably isn’t. Still, it was much-needed cultural exposure. I really liked Cao Naiqian’s “Five Tales of the Wen Clan Cave Dwellers,” Ge Fei’s “Remembering Mr. Wu You,” and Wang Xiangfu’s “Fritter Hollow Chronicles.” The standout story for me, bar none, was Su Tong’s “The Brothers Shu.” It was the longest, at 44 pages, but every page was nearly pitch-perfect. I’ll be keeping an eye on him in the future.

[S.E. Bourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Chairman Mao Would Not Be Amused" by Howard W. French offers a captivating and insightful exploration of contemporary China through a historical lens. French, a seasoned journalist, and China correspondent presents a nuanced analysis of China's transformation from Maoist ideology to its current state of economic dynamism and political complexities.

The title itself is evocative, hinting at a China that has diverged from the path envisioned by its former leader. French delves into the contradictions and tensions within Chinese society, highlighting the interplay between tradition and modernity, communism and capitalism, censorship and freedom of expression.

One of the book's strengths is its emphasis on personal narratives. French weaves interviews, anecdotes, and observations to provide a multifaceted portrait of China. From rural villages to bustling metropolises, he captures the diversity of experiences and perspectives across the country. Through these stories, readers gain insight into ordinary Chinese citizens' hopes, fears, and aspirations.

Moreover, French offers an incisive analysis of China's political landscape. He examines the enduring influence of the Communist Party, the rise of nationalism, and the challenges facing dissenting voices. His exploration of censorship and propaganda sheds light on the complexities of information control in the digital age.

At the book's heart is exploring China's relationship with its past. French skillfully traces the legacy of Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution, showing how they continue to shape Chinese society today. He also examines the tension between China's desire for global influence and its efforts to assert its cultural identity.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a collection of short stories by different authors, this book was hit and miss, but I enjoyed most of the stories.

Would recommend it for anyone interested in modern Chinese literature as it's a good introduction to lots of great authors.

[Cathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing in most of these stories is wonderful. It's the stories themselves, and the actions of the characters, that disgusted me: rape, violence, human organ harvesting -- ugh.

[Stephen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest English-language translation Audiobook on CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sono Lumin]

Could not get into it much. It was too depressing ... I did not identify w/ the characters.

[Sabrina]

Couldn’t finish because the library forced me to return it

[Joseph Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

From Publishers Weekly

In contrast to the utopian official literature of Communist China, the stories in this wide-ranging collection marshal wry humor, entangled sex, urban alienation, nasty village politics and frequent violence. Translated ably enough to keep up with the colloquial tone, most tales are told with straightforward familiarity, drawing readers into small communities and personal histories that are anything but heroic. "The Brothers Shu," by Su Tong (Raise the Red Lantern), is an urban tale of young lust and sibling rivalry in a sordid neighborhood around the ironically named Fragrant Cedar Street. That story's earthiness is matched by Wang Xiangfu's folksy "Fritter Hollow Chronicles," about peasants' vendettas and local politics, and by "The Cure," by Mo Yan (Red Sorghum; The Garlic Ballads), which details the fringe benefits of an execution. Personal alienation and disaffection are as likely to appear in stories with rural settings (Li Rui's "Sham Marriage") as they are to poison the lives of urban characters (Chen Cun's "Footsteps on the Roof"). Comedy takes an elegant and elaborate form in "A String of Choices," Wang Meng's tale of a toothache cure, and it assumes the burlesque of small-town propaganda fodder in Li Xiao's "Grass on the Rooftop." Editor Goldblatt has chosen not to expand the contributors' biographies or elaborate on the collection's post-Tiananmen context. He lets the stories speak for themselves, which, fortunately, they do, quietly and effectively.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The 20 authors represented here range from Wang Meng, the former minister of culture, to Su Tong, whose Raise the Red Lantern has been immortalized on screen.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

[Saturnq · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Pardon me as I write this review from the goodread app on my phone with a bad headcold**
Due to the fact that it took me almost six months to finish this book, I've had much time to reflect on the short stories it contains. I read three quarters of it within one week, and the rest slowly over the ensuing months. At first I found many of the stories difficult to understand due to each author's (and translator's) narration style. One story, Green Mother Earth, I still don't understand what was going on, but the descriptive imagery was interesting, disturbing, captivating. One story I only understood and enjoyed after re-reading is First Person. It begins with a man describing the apartment complex he is about to move into. As he "moves into" his new home, he also moves through time, with every flight of stairs on his way up to his unit, another season and year passes. The way many of the authors in this compilation ever so gracefully, and delicatly unfold a story with a single image that slowly unravels a new and often moody world is facinating (they also make it seem like an effect so easily achieved, props to the english translators!).
My favorite story, and to me the funniest and most universal for any reader is "A String of Choices". Basically it's the story of a poor man trying to get an infected tooth extracted, but due to both governmental and cultural bureaucracy, it takes many years and many philosophies to achieve this simple extraction. Capitalist or communist, American or Chinese, this sadly hilarious tale is highly relatable.
When first reading this book, I assumed that short-stories were just things I quickly forget, but there are a few tales here that stick with me and are the reason while I'll be hanging onto my copy of Chairman Mao Would Not Approve for a long time.

[GD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read one review which said this book wasn't as good as expected, but I go the other way and say it was better than I'd expected. I guess because most Chinese fiction I've read before was a bunch of academic crap wrttien to be shocking, girls exploring sexuality, people railing against the unfair government, etc., but this collection had some truly entertaining stuff! With the exception of one story, some surrealist nonsense called "Green Earth Mother" or something like that, I liked every single story. I would have given this book 5 stars if not for the aforementioned experimental piece of shit stuffed in there.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard book for me to rate. It was okay but not really something I would read again. It is interesting to see how different cultures look at literature. Some of the stories were just odd. Some of them were sad. Some of them were funny. It took me a while to finish it simply because it was difficult for me to concentrate on the different way it was written. But it was still a good book

[Megan Stolz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this collection. I'm not familiar with Chinese literature at all, especially contemporary. I know I judged it as a Western reader, which means I gave it a lower rating, but take that with a grain of salt. Like any collection of short stories, some of them I liked and some I didn't. Overall, I found it extremely interesting to read a collection of short stories from writers that I have never encountered before, in a totally new area of literature.

[Jgknobler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short stories from China, most written in the 1980's. I found none of them particularly compelling and all of them distressingly avant-garde (I think the editor wants us to be sure we know the Chinese can write in a modern style; it is also possible that many are deliberately obscure to avoid censorship). I longed for an emotionally engrossing story written in a straight-forward fashion, but there were none.

[Kimfu · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had an EXTREMELY difficult time getting into this book. I felt it was just too boring. But I think that might say more about me than about the authors of this short story collection.

I give "Chairman Mao Would Not Be Amused: Fiction from Today's China" a 1 on a scale of 10. But, again, that probably says just as much about me as about the book.

Note: The explanatory note, "Fiction from Today's China," actually means the China of the early '90's.

二零一六年： 第七本书

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as I was expecting, unfortunately. The stories weren't very exciting and I found were actually pretty boring. A lot of incest in the stories which I'm never too fond of. Overall the book was a disappointment. But I guess you should never judge a book by its cover because you may end up getting disappointed!

[Nava · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this book because one of these short stories was written by last year's Nobel literature laureate.
I liked one or two of them, very human, very alive. But some I frankly just didn't get. Maybe because of cultural references, maybe just because the storytelling style was different. Don't regret picking it up, but can't recommend it either.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I was not drawn into this collection the way I had hoped to be. I have read a lot of fiction by Chinese authors and I had hoped that this late 20th century collection of short stories from China would give me a better perspective, but it did not. I guess I should just admit to myself that the short story format is really not for me.

[Pollopicu · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of short stories by 20 chinese writers. A genre (scar literature) that emerged after the death of Chairman Mao and the fall of the cultural revolution. The stories lacked. There was only one story I enjoyed and that was "The Brothers Shu".

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great short stories are included in this collection. I didn't read them all before having to return this book to the library, but I feel like I was able to gain small insights into contemporary Chinese thought.

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://rantsravesreviews.homestead.co...

[40brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

a collection of short stories, a great look at post modern Chinese fiction

[Nick Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best collections of modern Chinese fiction I've seen. You can only take so much socialist realism (a contradiction in terms).

[ems · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite the extremely good title, this collection isn't particularly exciting (or cohesive).