Yan Lianke, born in 1958 in Henan Province experienced hunger and deprivation during the "Great Leap Forward", a push to grow the economy that produced "seismic hunger" instead. "The Years, Months, Days: Two Novellas" is a window into feelings of desperation and hunger while yearning for the betterment of family and society.
The first novella, "The Years, Months, Days" tells of the mass exodus from a village as a result of extreme drought. The "Elder", 72 years old, becomes its sole inhabitant. He remains, fearing he would be unable to survive an anticipated three day journey. Staying with Elder is "Blindy" a stray dog, so named by Elder because he was blinded by the sun's rays. The duo try to raise a fledgling corn seedling. How can they keep it watered and protected from the sun and predatory animals? It becomes apparent that the corn seedling is failing. Elder is forced to exercise extreme measures to insure the potential future of the village.
In the second novella "Marrow", the yearning and desire of Fourth Wife Yu is to harvest her abundant corn crop. She has farmed alone on mountainous land furthest from the village. Yu Village aka Four Idiots Village is so named because her three daughters and son have epilepsy.In addition, they cannot even count to ten. Her husband, Stone Yu has taken his life rather than raise his four idiot children. Fourth Wife Yu wants to ensure her children's happiness. She is able to marry off Eldest Daughter to a cripple and Second Daughter to a one-eyed husband. Third Daughter, however, wants to marry a "wholer". Fourth Wife Yu happens upon a way to fulfill this dream. A medicinal soup made using the bones of a blood relative will cure Third Daughter. Additional familial bones are needed to normalize the other children. What to do?
"The Years, Months,Days: Two Novellas" by Yan Lianke is a fantastical, well-written tome. Having enjoyed "Dream of a Ding Village" as well, it is no surprise to this reader that Lianke is considered to be among the best contemporary Chinese writers.
Thank you Grove Atlantic and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Years, Months, Days".