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Boy in the Twilight: Stories of the Hidden China
From the acclaimed author of Brothers and To Live: thirteen audacious stories that resonate with the beauty, grittiness, and exquisite irony of everyday life in China.
Yu Hua’s narrative gifts, populist voice, and inimitable wit have made him one of the most celebrated and best-selling writers in China. These flawlessly crafted stories—unflinching in their honesty, yet balanced with humor and compassion—take us into the small towns and dirt roads that are home to the people who make China run.
In the title story, a shopkeeper confronts a child thief and punishes him without mercy. “Victory” shows a young couple shaken by the husband’s infidelity, scrambling to stake claims to the components of their shared life. “Sweltering Summer” centers on an awkward young man who shrewdly uses the perks of his government position to court two women at once. Other tales show, by turns, two poor factory workers who spoil their only son, a gang of peasants who bully the village orphan, and a spectacular fistfight outside a refinery bathhouse. With sharp language and a keen eye, Yu Hua explores the line between cruelty and warmth on which modern China is—precariously, joyfully—balanced. Taken together, these stories form a timely snapshot of a nation lit with the deep feeling and ready humor that characterize its people. Already a sensation in Asia, certain to win recognition around the world, Yu Hua, in Boy in the Twilight, showcases the peerless gifts of a writer at the top of his form.
Yu Hua’s narrative gifts, populist voice, and inimitable wit have made him one of the most celebrated and best-selling writers in China. These flawlessly crafted stories—unflinching in their honesty, yet balanced with humor and compassion—take us into the small towns and dirt roads that are home to the people who make China run.
In the title story, a shopkeeper confronts a child thief and punishes him without mercy. “Victory” shows a young couple shaken by the husband’s infidelity, scrambling to stake claims to the components of their shared life. “Sweltering Summer” centers on an awkward young man who shrewdly uses the perks of his government position to court two women at once. Other tales show, by turns, two poor factory workers who spoil their only son, a gang of peasants who bully the village orphan, and a spectacular fistfight outside a refinery bathhouse. With sharp language and a keen eye, Yu Hua explores the line between cruelty and warmth on which modern China is—precariously, joyfully—balanced. Taken together, these stories form a timely snapshot of a nation lit with the deep feeling and ready humor that characterize its people. Already a sensation in Asia, certain to win recognition around the world, Yu Hua, in Boy in the Twilight, showcases the peerless gifts of a writer at the top of his form.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
29 people are currently reading
1051 people want to read
About the author
Yu Hua
122 books1,260 followersYu Hua (simplified Chinese: 余华; traditional Chinese: 余華; pinyin: Yú Huá) is a Chinese author, born April 3, 1960 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. He practiced dentistry for five years and later turned to fiction writing in 1983 because he didn't like "looking into people’s mouths the whole day." Writing allowed him to be more creative and flexible.[citation needed] He grew up during the Cultural Revolution and many of his stories and novels are marked by this experience. One of the distinctive characteristics of his work is his penchant for detailed descriptions of brutal violence.
Yu Hua has written four novels, six collections of stories, and three collections of essays. His most important novels are Chronicle of a Blood Merchant and To Live. The latter novel was adapted for film by Zhang Yimou. Because the film was banned in China, it instantly made the novel a bestseller and Yu Hua a worldwide celebrity. His novels have been translated into English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Persian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Serbian, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam and Turkish.
(from Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_Hua_...
Yu Hua has written four novels, six collections of stories, and three collections of essays. His most important novels are Chronicle of a Blood Merchant and To Live. The latter novel was adapted for film by Zhang Yimou. Because the film was banned in China, it instantly made the novel a bestseller and Yu Hua a worldwide celebrity. His novels have been translated into English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Persian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Serbian, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam and Turkish.
(from Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_Hua_...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
March 8, 2014
Love the short stories- interesting narratives- highly recommend this book
April 6, 2014
The short stories felt authentic and true, yet disturbing. Authentic in that they describe real events and real lives of regular people. Disturbing in that they are cruel, violent, and sad... :(
April 19, 2024
a lot of really sad stories and some that were hard to stomach but a very engaging read
November 15, 2013
Boy in the Twilight: Stories of the Hidden China is different from the other books I've read by Chinese authors, probably because it's a collection of short stories rather than a chronicle of one person or family. The stories are blunt and speak of universal problems and real people. Nothing is sugar-coated or overly sentimental. Wives cheat on husbands and husbands on wives, and a lack of basic communication can lead to the disintegration of a seemingly strong marriage. The subtitle Stories of the Hidden China isn't implying dark secrets of a Communist regime but the truth that the "hidden China" is just the same as any other country.
One of my favorite stories describes a man trying to get to a destination by bus, and how he strategizes to make sure he's at the front of the crowd at the bus stop and estimates where he needs to be standing in order to be first to get through one of the bus doors. I experienced just this same thing while I was living in Shanghai - anxious people standing in the street to wait for the bus, the frantic surge when it finally arrives, the general lack of any etiquette at all.
The translator, Allan H. Barr, does a fantastic job. The writing is beautiful and fluid, a great complement to the richness of the stories written by Yu Hua. And although the stories have some depth to them, the book is not difficult to read. My galley comes in at a slim 197 pages; I read it in just a few hours.
An excellent book for those who enjoy short stories and are interested in trying out one of China's most acclaimed authors.
More reviews at Book Lust.
One of my favorite stories describes a man trying to get to a destination by bus, and how he strategizes to make sure he's at the front of the crowd at the bus stop and estimates where he needs to be standing in order to be first to get through one of the bus doors. I experienced just this same thing while I was living in Shanghai - anxious people standing in the street to wait for the bus, the frantic surge when it finally arrives, the general lack of any etiquette at all.
The translator, Allan H. Barr, does a fantastic job. The writing is beautiful and fluid, a great complement to the richness of the stories written by Yu Hua. And although the stories have some depth to them, the book is not difficult to read. My galley comes in at a slim 197 pages; I read it in just a few hours.
An excellent book for those who enjoy short stories and are interested in trying out one of China's most acclaimed authors.
More reviews at Book Lust.
July 3, 2014
I really really really wanted to like this.
The more Yu Hua I read, the less I think I "get" it. Probably the mistake of reading translations of an author who is very deeply entrenched in his upbringing and culture. That's not a knock on Yu Hua - he produces art and is an incredible author. But I think it might just be a tiny bit past what I am able to digest and really dig beyond the face value of as a cultural outsider.
Anyway, you could still read this if you wanted to.
The more Yu Hua I read, the less I think I "get" it. Probably the mistake of reading translations of an author who is very deeply entrenched in his upbringing and culture. That's not a knock on Yu Hua - he produces art and is an incredible author. But I think it might just be a tiny bit past what I am able to digest and really dig beyond the face value of as a cultural outsider.
Anyway, you could still read this if you wanted to.
September 21, 2014
Dark, depressing and at times even disturbing. The first story in particular was beyond awful. I only pushed through because this was assigned reading for work and the author did write very well and keeps the reader engaged. I would have a really difficult time recommending this book to anyone though. I guess if you like stories filled with death, torture, infidelity and violence, this is the book for you!
February 25, 2014
Yu Hua's short story collection of working man's China is fascinating. It's a snapshot of hard-scrabble lives, colorful characters, and evolving attitudes that gave me a greater understanding of what it means to be Chinese. A thoroughly entertaining read.
January 10, 2026
Very interesting short stories book. Well written and superb translation work. Definitely not a lighthearted read/ not something I would recommend to somebody craving happy endings or resolutions with a very clear intention/message at the end of each story.
Some people have commented that this book feels cruel and depressing 'for no reason'. I agree with this take to some degree. But at the same time, I see this 'lack of purpose' in the suffering and misfortune of some of the faces through these stories as a reflection of daily life for the average working man.
This world can sometimes be incredibly nasty and cruel for no reason. The environment and culture we are exposed to when growing up deeply shapes our character and values. These fictional stories are just an excerpt of life in 90s China; little pieces of a very complex puzzle. Yet, any society at any point in history can relate to the, sometimes pointless, harshness of daily life.
I recommend this book to anyone that wants to expand their view of the world and life itself by gazing momentarily at the lives of Yu Hua's characters.
Some people have commented that this book feels cruel and depressing 'for no reason'. I agree with this take to some degree. But at the same time, I see this 'lack of purpose' in the suffering and misfortune of some of the faces through these stories as a reflection of daily life for the average working man.
This world can sometimes be incredibly nasty and cruel for no reason. The environment and culture we are exposed to when growing up deeply shapes our character and values. These fictional stories are just an excerpt of life in 90s China; little pieces of a very complex puzzle. Yet, any society at any point in history can relate to the, sometimes pointless, harshness of daily life.
I recommend this book to anyone that wants to expand their view of the world and life itself by gazing momentarily at the lives of Yu Hua's characters.
March 9, 2025
Easy to read but possibly too misanthropic to really say it's "breezy." This was a best-seller in China, from a famous author. It paints a picture of Chinese people as uncaring or callous, and its emphasis on miserable events makes it seem like contemporary life there is harsh. Family and friends let you down. That kind of stuff.
I thought it was a bit slight to be a "major" work. But I also thought there was just enough here that our book club could structure a discussion around it. Just barely, though.
I thought it was a bit slight to be a "major" work. But I also thought there was just enough here that our book club could structure a discussion around it. Just barely, though.
December 25, 2024
2.5 stars
April 9, 2015
This book was introduced by my lecturer.
Was skeptical at first, but the writer just has an awesome way of writing these different short stories.
These stories illustrated the lives of the people living in China between 1993 to 1998.
Wrote this book review as a submission to my lecturer:
Was it nature or nurture? This is what has been going through my mind while reading the book <. The book has an interesting way of captivating the readers mind. Interestingly, most of the short stories were told in such a way the start of the story is also the end of the story.
The most common theme I have seen throughout the book was the theme ‘upbringing.’ Most of the main leads in the stories became whom they are because of the socialization that were provided for them ever since they were young. It also reflected a common culture in China. 2 spectrums of attitudes can be in China’s culture though this book. Either the person has an attitude of a follower or the person a leader. This reflected the concept of ‘survival of the fittest’. The attitude that these main leads carry depends on the brought up of the family. The type of socialization the family went through.
Each stories draws a similarity – there is an infallible hero in all the hearts of the main leads. Some of their heroes were actually people that have been bullying them for years and year, for example, in the story of ‘timid as a mouse’; Yang Guo’s hero has always been Lu Qian Jin, although he has been bullying Yang Guo by beating him up and mocking at him. Another example will be the story of ‘appendix’; where how the two sons nearly killed their father because of hero-worship.
These similarities reflected how each main lead responded to their hero and each respond was cultivated by their upbringing and socialization from their family. Yang Guo was taught by his father in a way to treasure life and be careful with every action of his as each action has a consequence, which is usually negative to answer. Hence, Yang Guo has been succumbing to defeat because he always judges a situation with a negative consequence. Similarly to another example, the appendix story, the two sons were brought up in such a way elderly is dependable and their words hold power and authority. Hence, the two sons trusted their father’s words so much that they took it literally.
One of the stories that caught me deeply was ‘Why there was no music’. I was rather surprised by the storyline but yet was not caught in surprise by the response of Horsie. All these stories were wrote in the time period of 1993 to 1998. During this time period, China is still rather a conservative country. Hence, recording of sex video and sleeping with other people wives is not commonly heard. Due to the conservative nature and upbringing, it could also be the reason why Horsie remained silence when he found out his friend Guo Bin has been sleeping with his wife. Through out the story, male figures are being brought up echoing a higher authority and power. This was particular reflected in the story ‘timid as a mouse’ where Yang Guo mentioned “even girls – girls like Lin Lili and Sun Hongmei – give me a hard time”. Therefore, it is uncommon for male to wear a cuckold hat or to admit they are wearing a cuckold hat.
In the story ‘Why do I have to get married’ also emulated the conservative nature between relationships when Lin Meng tried all sorts of ways to divorce his wife, Pingping by pushing blames to anyone that came by to their house, as it is uncommon for divorces to happen. Without a reliable community (which cannot be seen through out the book), it is easy to attract rumors and tough to preserve one’s dignity.
This book challenges values and morals where each main and sub leads struggled with personal freedom and loyalty. In the book, although people were being strictly brought up and only socializes within their community, trust is still seems like a scarce commodity. Trust was being taken advantage of in the face of people.
In the story ‘On the Bridge’, his wife trusted him by giving him the consistent benefit of doubt that his husband is looking forward to doing something new, but her trust was being made use when what her husband wants was to get a divorce. In another example was the story of ‘No name of my own’. Laifa trusted people who call him by his real name. As he believes people who call him by his real name will be like Mr. Chen. However, in the end, he was made use by Xu Asan. By luring his dog out of his friend’s bed.
In conclusion, this book reflected the culture status of China where human sometimes too can be inspired by blind aspiration. Many of the story roles followed and responded blindly to their culture and upbringing. Hence, several tragedies can be seen in the stories. As such, as much as we want and need to adhere to the teachings of the respected infallible heroes, but do true loyalty comes with blind inclination and does it only comes with the price of personal freedom?
Was skeptical at first, but the writer just has an awesome way of writing these different short stories.
These stories illustrated the lives of the people living in China between 1993 to 1998.
Wrote this book review as a submission to my lecturer:
Was it nature or nurture? This is what has been going through my mind while reading the book <. The book has an interesting way of captivating the readers mind. Interestingly, most of the short stories were told in such a way the start of the story is also the end of the story.
The most common theme I have seen throughout the book was the theme ‘upbringing.’ Most of the main leads in the stories became whom they are because of the socialization that were provided for them ever since they were young. It also reflected a common culture in China. 2 spectrums of attitudes can be in China’s culture though this book. Either the person has an attitude of a follower or the person a leader. This reflected the concept of ‘survival of the fittest’. The attitude that these main leads carry depends on the brought up of the family. The type of socialization the family went through.
Each stories draws a similarity – there is an infallible hero in all the hearts of the main leads. Some of their heroes were actually people that have been bullying them for years and year, for example, in the story of ‘timid as a mouse’; Yang Guo’s hero has always been Lu Qian Jin, although he has been bullying Yang Guo by beating him up and mocking at him. Another example will be the story of ‘appendix’; where how the two sons nearly killed their father because of hero-worship.
These similarities reflected how each main lead responded to their hero and each respond was cultivated by their upbringing and socialization from their family. Yang Guo was taught by his father in a way to treasure life and be careful with every action of his as each action has a consequence, which is usually negative to answer. Hence, Yang Guo has been succumbing to defeat because he always judges a situation with a negative consequence. Similarly to another example, the appendix story, the two sons were brought up in such a way elderly is dependable and their words hold power and authority. Hence, the two sons trusted their father’s words so much that they took it literally.
One of the stories that caught me deeply was ‘Why there was no music’. I was rather surprised by the storyline but yet was not caught in surprise by the response of Horsie. All these stories were wrote in the time period of 1993 to 1998. During this time period, China is still rather a conservative country. Hence, recording of sex video and sleeping with other people wives is not commonly heard. Due to the conservative nature and upbringing, it could also be the reason why Horsie remained silence when he found out his friend Guo Bin has been sleeping with his wife. Through out the story, male figures are being brought up echoing a higher authority and power. This was particular reflected in the story ‘timid as a mouse’ where Yang Guo mentioned “even girls – girls like Lin Lili and Sun Hongmei – give me a hard time”. Therefore, it is uncommon for male to wear a cuckold hat or to admit they are wearing a cuckold hat.
In the story ‘Why do I have to get married’ also emulated the conservative nature between relationships when Lin Meng tried all sorts of ways to divorce his wife, Pingping by pushing blames to anyone that came by to their house, as it is uncommon for divorces to happen. Without a reliable community (which cannot be seen through out the book), it is easy to attract rumors and tough to preserve one’s dignity.
This book challenges values and morals where each main and sub leads struggled with personal freedom and loyalty. In the book, although people were being strictly brought up and only socializes within their community, trust is still seems like a scarce commodity. Trust was being taken advantage of in the face of people.
In the story ‘On the Bridge’, his wife trusted him by giving him the consistent benefit of doubt that his husband is looking forward to doing something new, but her trust was being made use when what her husband wants was to get a divorce. In another example was the story of ‘No name of my own’. Laifa trusted people who call him by his real name. As he believes people who call him by his real name will be like Mr. Chen. However, in the end, he was made use by Xu Asan. By luring his dog out of his friend’s bed.
In conclusion, this book reflected the culture status of China where human sometimes too can be inspired by blind aspiration. Many of the story roles followed and responded blindly to their culture and upbringing. Hence, several tragedies can be seen in the stories. As such, as much as we want and need to adhere to the teachings of the respected infallible heroes, but do true loyalty comes with blind inclination and does it only comes with the price of personal freedom?
January 11, 2015
I was very much looking forward to reading this collection of short stories by Yu Hua because he wrote the novel To Live, which made such a remarkable movie. I had yet to read that novel, but the opportunity to read anything from the author was welcome. Now that I've read this compilation of short stories, I will admit to being a bit underwhelmed.
The writing isn't bad, especially for translated material. There are sumptuous lines of imagery and one is immersed in these vignettes by the obvious skill Hua possesses. What I found so bland were the stories themselves; dull tales of infidelity, cruelty, and tragic innocence. He masterfully puts us in the living rooms and commuter buses and dusty rural settings, but then forces us to watch a parade of fools being cruel to each other. I got the feeling that the purpose was to shock the reader into believing these people are the "hidden" realities of China. Perhaps, although I never experienced such things in my travels there, but regardless, why is it so China-specific? These are universal tales about the ugliness of our existence.
As in any short story collection, there are some which are better (or worse) than others, and I found a few that held my interest. In the end, however, this was a chore to get through because I simply didn't care about the characters. Yu Hua does little to engender sympathy and the stories read like literary versions of the tv show "Cops." Random snippets of people doing inexplicably stupid or hurtful things, flashing into your mind and then gone, mixing in with the rest of the ugliness that is always there and readily available.
Many reviewers used words like "haunting" to describe this book, but I disagree. I believe the word "pointless" to be more accurate. Unless you live in a fantasy world, you know that the characters in this collection exist. I don't watch reality television nor do I want to subject myself to rubber necking these car wrecks in order to make myself feel more fortunate or superior. Boy in the Twilight is a cache of unsavory stories about miserable people. For reading pleasure, this is not my choice.
The writing isn't bad, especially for translated material. There are sumptuous lines of imagery and one is immersed in these vignettes by the obvious skill Hua possesses. What I found so bland were the stories themselves; dull tales of infidelity, cruelty, and tragic innocence. He masterfully puts us in the living rooms and commuter buses and dusty rural settings, but then forces us to watch a parade of fools being cruel to each other. I got the feeling that the purpose was to shock the reader into believing these people are the "hidden" realities of China. Perhaps, although I never experienced such things in my travels there, but regardless, why is it so China-specific? These are universal tales about the ugliness of our existence.
As in any short story collection, there are some which are better (or worse) than others, and I found a few that held my interest. In the end, however, this was a chore to get through because I simply didn't care about the characters. Yu Hua does little to engender sympathy and the stories read like literary versions of the tv show "Cops." Random snippets of people doing inexplicably stupid or hurtful things, flashing into your mind and then gone, mixing in with the rest of the ugliness that is always there and readily available.
Many reviewers used words like "haunting" to describe this book, but I disagree. I believe the word "pointless" to be more accurate. Unless you live in a fantasy world, you know that the characters in this collection exist. I don't watch reality television nor do I want to subject myself to rubber necking these car wrecks in order to make myself feel more fortunate or superior. Boy in the Twilight is a cache of unsavory stories about miserable people. For reading pleasure, this is not my choice.
February 14, 2015
I had read about this collection of short stories somewhere and bought it primarily because I work with so many Chinese students. I am always interested in learning more about their culture.
Of course, these stories were written between 1993 and 1998, according to the translator's note. That was a different time and, I think, a different China from now. These stories are not about the successful, wealthy business people or the highly educated. These are the stories of the blue-collar workers (if it's possible to use that term in regards to China), the masses who work hard and have little.
The stories certainly evoke a time and place. I was particularly struck by the descriptions of crowds, of apartments, of factory work. This is a very different experience.
But this collection of stories is not my cup of tea. They were all depressing, and I may be dense but I didn't see the point of some of the plots. There's quite a bit of cruelty. Perhaps, as an American, I am missing something.
Anyways, the translated English is not difficult to read, but it feels unnatural. Some of the English sounds quite British, in other places, very American expressions occur. And quite a bit of the phrasing sounds awkward. Translation is no easy job.
Overall, I'm not sorry I read this book, but I'm very glad it was a short one.
Of course, these stories were written between 1993 and 1998, according to the translator's note. That was a different time and, I think, a different China from now. These stories are not about the successful, wealthy business people or the highly educated. These are the stories of the blue-collar workers (if it's possible to use that term in regards to China), the masses who work hard and have little.
The stories certainly evoke a time and place. I was particularly struck by the descriptions of crowds, of apartments, of factory work. This is a very different experience.
But this collection of stories is not my cup of tea. They were all depressing, and I may be dense but I didn't see the point of some of the plots. There's quite a bit of cruelty. Perhaps, as an American, I am missing something.
Anyways, the translated English is not difficult to read, but it feels unnatural. Some of the English sounds quite British, in other places, very American expressions occur. And quite a bit of the phrasing sounds awkward. Translation is no easy job.
Overall, I'm not sorry I read this book, but I'm very glad it was a short one.
March 18, 2014
This is the first book of a Chinese author I've read. I can't say I'm interested in China, it doesn't fascinate me, unlike North Korea. Besides, I find the cover frightening.
But I saw very contradictory reviews on Amazon. In my experience when one person says "It's a wonderful book, let's read it, everybody!", and when the other says "Oh my god, it was terrible, why would someone want to read this book?!", this means that the book is not simple at all, and it's worth reading.
So Boy in the Twilight is a collection of small stories, which describe to us life in modern China. I have to admit, I know very little about the mentality of Chinese people, since I don't know anyone from China and am not familiar with their literature. This book was like a little adventure to the mysterious eastern soul.
The stories are independent, and I found only one connection between them, about the boys, whose father operated on himself. Each story is happening in a new place, new characters are introduced briefly, but vividly. The author definitely has a sense of humor, but the title story is really sad and can put off some sensitive readers.
Be assured, the rest of the book is not as distressful.
Read more at bookgeek.ru!
But I saw very contradictory reviews on Amazon. In my experience when one person says "It's a wonderful book, let's read it, everybody!", and when the other says "Oh my god, it was terrible, why would someone want to read this book?!", this means that the book is not simple at all, and it's worth reading.
So Boy in the Twilight is a collection of small stories, which describe to us life in modern China. I have to admit, I know very little about the mentality of Chinese people, since I don't know anyone from China and am not familiar with their literature. This book was like a little adventure to the mysterious eastern soul.
The stories are independent, and I found only one connection between them, about the boys, whose father operated on himself. Each story is happening in a new place, new characters are introduced briefly, but vividly. The author definitely has a sense of humor, but the title story is really sad and can put off some sensitive readers.
Be assured, the rest of the book is not as distressful.
Read more at bookgeek.ru!
September 20, 2015
I say to myself, "Let's try something different! Chinese. Modern. Short stories. Cool."
Myself and I sit down and read.
Myself remarks, "Ack! Bullying, violence, unhappiness - please let's do something else?"
I have to remind Myself, "We have a degree in literature. We have seen this in 7 different languages. Did you think the Chinese were going to write about rainbows and cuddle time?"
Myself resigned to herself replied, "I guess I just wasn't thinking. Sorry. But the eating of the pet dog really got to me."
"I think it was commentary. A kind of, 'This is why we can't have nice things, my countrymen,' moment," I replied, not wanting to admit that I too had wanted to quit the book then.
"What if it is all commentary?" she asked.
"Oh. I caught that in a couple of them but, now that you mention it, I think there were a few indictments on Chinese culture there. I wonder how many we missed?"
Myself got up from the sofa and headed for bed. Over her shoulder she declared, "We are not reading it again to find out."
As she turned the corner to go down the hall, without looking back she pointed her finger at me. A little gesture of accusation, I assume.
Looks like we are reading a craft how-to book next.
Myself and I sit down and read.
Myself remarks, "Ack! Bullying, violence, unhappiness - please let's do something else?"
I have to remind Myself, "We have a degree in literature. We have seen this in 7 different languages. Did you think the Chinese were going to write about rainbows and cuddle time?"
Myself resigned to herself replied, "I guess I just wasn't thinking. Sorry. But the eating of the pet dog really got to me."
"I think it was commentary. A kind of, 'This is why we can't have nice things, my countrymen,' moment," I replied, not wanting to admit that I too had wanted to quit the book then.
"What if it is all commentary?" she asked.
"Oh. I caught that in a couple of them but, now that you mention it, I think there were a few indictments on Chinese culture there. I wonder how many we missed?"
Myself got up from the sofa and headed for bed. Over her shoulder she declared, "We are not reading it again to find out."
As she turned the corner to go down the hall, without looking back she pointed her finger at me. A little gesture of accusation, I assume.
Looks like we are reading a craft how-to book next.
December 31, 2017
This is a nice set of stories showing life in China for everyday people. Being fiction, it is hard to say whether it is an accurate depiction of China, but it's probably pretty close. In these stories, focus rests briefly on brutishness, petty cruelty, small-mindedness, and all the other everyday evils of daily life, with two particularly ugly scenes setting the tone in the first 2 stories as a 'halfwit' man is tricked into becoming complicit in the killing of his only friend, and a small boy is tortured by a vendor for stealing an apple. There are some nice scenes, too, but not so many, or so frequently that we can forget that under the nice veneer, any of these people may posses a much crueler side, as simply another aspect of their very normalness. The people in these stories struggle with finding the balance between conformity and individuality, good behavior and servility, and the wrong step at any point can prove disastrous in a society where everyone is watching and eagerly waiting for their chance to get ahead of you without being seen to be trying too hard.
August 24, 2019
I have given this five stars because it is so brilliantly written and translated, as I have come to expect from Yu Hua. What a storyteller, I couldn't put the book down! It was gripping and at the same time somewhat depressing. Funny, yet so so dark. The stories contain all the interesting day to day context of modern China, but spiralled me into self questioning - is human nature really so different where I come from? No and yes and no. There is something so banal about human cruelty everywhere. Yet Yu Hua paints his characters without judgement. He lets us stand in unappealing shoes, and bear witness to undecorated humanity, its failure, its warmth, its messiness. We are never given the comfort of neat resolutions, or spoon-fed any deeper meaning to what bluntly is. That made the ending of every story feel uncomfortable, sometimes painfully so. I liked that, it felt life-like.
February 11, 2020
i truly don’t think this book is as gruesome and heinous as some people have reviewed it to be. don’t get me wrong, SOME of the stories are uncomfortable to read bc you wouldn’t think of people being that cruel, but for me that was only the first two stories that made me feel that way. apart from that, the rest was easy to get through. not saying they didn’t have bad things happen, but i just didn’t find them all that hard to read. at least personally.
this book wasn’t as good at ‘to live’ my for me bc not all the stories were as attention grabbing as others. but my favorite story in for sure was ‘their son’. that was one i wouldn’t have minded a few more pages of.
what i loved most about this book is that you were never 100% if the story you were reading was going to end good or bad. i think that’s what made it fun to read.
this book wasn’t as good at ‘to live’ my for me bc not all the stories were as attention grabbing as others. but my favorite story in for sure was ‘their son’. that was one i wouldn’t have minded a few more pages of.
what i loved most about this book is that you were never 100% if the story you were reading was going to end good or bad. i think that’s what made it fun to read.
January 15, 2020
I read these stories while living in China, only forty minutes away by train from Hangzhou, where Yu Hua grew up.
Daily, I am surrounded, for the most part, by a population who are living, and who have lived, lives entirely beyond my comprehension. Such are the circumstances of the cultural gulf, with no shared language or means of expression to bridge it.
So, it is with thanks to Yu Hua, that I feel I can, at least partially, read the legion of faces around me. From the costly sacrifices of mothers and fathers, to the frank and almost comical cruelty of young men, and more besides. Yu Hua sheds an unremitting light on China: fascinating, surprising and very real.
Daily, I am surrounded, for the most part, by a population who are living, and who have lived, lives entirely beyond my comprehension. Such are the circumstances of the cultural gulf, with no shared language or means of expression to bridge it.
So, it is with thanks to Yu Hua, that I feel I can, at least partially, read the legion of faces around me. From the costly sacrifices of mothers and fathers, to the frank and almost comical cruelty of young men, and more besides. Yu Hua sheds an unremitting light on China: fascinating, surprising and very real.
January 15, 2020
Moments of small tender realism of every day life mixed in with long waves of utter devastation. Not an easy book to read, for the most part. Enjoyed the witty open endings that were more grounded than your average short story open ambiguity free for all. Strong characters that felt believable, encased in dialogue that had the charming off-kilter feeling that comes from translated text. Title story left me nauseous. Final story left me smiling and humbled on the train. Not for the faint of heart, worth it for the consistency between stories to evoke a time and place many writers struggle to without falling into familiar patterns.
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July 22, 2025These are short, intimate vignettes about the way people interact with each other. There's nothing political here, just little views into the ways people behave towards others. Most are on the poignant side, but a few are funny. As I read this I wondered how the stories would sound to a Chinese person. Does behavior that would seem gratuitously cruel here seem normal there? It's always a question when you read a book from another culture-are you understanding it the way the author meant you to?
August 19, 2014
A disturbing look at the Chinese society and the people who are at the grassroots, the middle class, the hawkers and the complex relationships between them. The stories are wonderfully woven yet the outcomes are never good in the traditional sense, and more often than not devastating for the lead character. Yu Hua shows us that there are no bright and dark patches, only gray; that happiness has its roots steeped in despair.
October 15, 2014
These are very simple stories with elements of very basic or obvious irony. I wasn't really sure of the point of them, except to illustrate how mean and cruel people can be? Or maybe they are meant to get you to self reflect? If they were meant to be stories of "everyday life" in China, then I think they were hideous. The first story will probably haunt me for a very long time, and not in a good way.
December 23, 2016
Yu Hua's reflections are somewhat jejeune in this scattering of published works from the 90's. The characters are alternately primitive or simple-minded which tended to dull their appeal for me (and why do half the stories contain some dude with a meat cleaver?) Yu Hua's taken a stab at some worthy topics herein and it's interesting to see how Chinese fiction is evolving, but his voice still has room to mature in this unremarkable volume.
February 16, 2018
I liked the idea of the book more than what it actually offered - and it took quite a bit of effort to appreciate. As a Chinese American, I was hoping to connect with the book in a joyluck-esque way, but found that maybe this book is more appropriate for my parents' generation. Yu Hua is successful in making absolutely absurd moments mundane, and while the book may accurately paint post-cultural revolution China, it ended up feeling like just an OK read.
August 20, 2014
I don't have much experience in reading Chinese authors nor do I know much about Chinese culture. This book of short stories did not work for me. I am not at all into "happy happy" books (or films) but most of the characters seem too naive, selfish and simplistic. It might also be cultural, maybe I was not ready to read that book yet.
April 19, 2015
Shaina's rating: ★ ★ ★ ½
I still find myself mulling over the macabre "Appendix," which is impressive considering it's one of the shortest pieces in the collection. I enjoyed "Their Son" for its depiction of the generational disconnect between parents and their children. Overall, a solid collection of short stories, though only a couple were major standouts for me.
I still find myself mulling over the macabre "Appendix," which is impressive considering it's one of the shortest pieces in the collection. I enjoyed "Their Son" for its depiction of the generational disconnect between parents and their children. Overall, a solid collection of short stories, though only a couple were major standouts for me.
June 5, 2015
The kind of book you don't read as a pick-me-up. The kind of book you read when you are pensive, need some shock n awe in life, or when you want to cruise through short but pretty depressive stories in a couple of days. My kind of short stories and even I was surprised by the element of tragic twist in some.
October 15, 2015
I dipped into this book over a period of 2 weeks while travelling, and some stories are still fresh in my mind for their haunting quality (I especially liked Timid As A Mouse and Boy In The Twilight). A couple of others felt a little draggy. But on the whole, an enjoyable introduction for me into Yu Hua's work.
March 18, 2016
First of all, kudos to the translator.
These short stories are sometimes heavy, sometimes predictable but always depressing. I had to stop reading halfway through just to take a break and get out of the funk. There are no consequences or rewards for good or bad behavior. The one exception is "Friends."
Interesting read.
These short stories are sometimes heavy, sometimes predictable but always depressing. I had to stop reading halfway through just to take a break and get out of the funk. There are no consequences or rewards for good or bad behavior. The one exception is "Friends."
Interesting read.
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