Lloyd Fernando: in Malaysia, a good novel about the tensions in a multiracial society.

Llyod Fernando (1)Lloyd Fernando (1926-2008) is an important figure in the intellectual life in Malaysia; university professor, champion of the English language, lawyer, novelist. His best-known novel, “Green is the colour” (1993), was difficult to find but was republished in 2012 (1) in Singapore.
This is a good novel, which still looks pretty topical, on the tensions within a multiracial society.The race riots of the 13 May 1969, which caused hundreds of deaths and led the government … Lire la suite

Qiu Xiaolong: “Blue Dragon, White Tiger”, a Chinese political thriller.

Qiu Xiaolong ParisWe often spoke of Qiu Xiaolong, a good writer and a pleasant character. His latest novel “Blue Dragon, White Tiger ” is a real success, a somewhat special investigation by Inspector Chen Cao as inspired by recent political events in China including the Bo Xilai case, a “red prince ” who has just been sentenced to life in prison .
Qiu Xiaolong will soon be in Paris to present his novel, a book which like … Lire la suite

Xiao Hong died more than seventy years ago, the promotion by the media.

Xiao Hong 3Xiao Hong is one of the most important novelist of 20th century Chinese literature. She died in Hong Kong in 1942 after a literary career of less than ten years which had in China a great impact. She remains very popular especially with a female audience .

Xiao Hong and Hong Kong media :
In 2012, the anniversary of her death had resulted in several events. Novelist known and admired in China, who died … Lire la suite

They talk to Xinran:”China Witness”, the confession of a generation.

Xinran, mémoire de Chine.They were twenty years old in 1949 with the victory of Mao Zedong, they get older, their numbers are decreasing …. Xinran , who has published an international success ” The good women of China “, has confessed this generation in her book “Memories of China ” (translated into English as “China Witness” (2)) and which has just been published in France as a paperback( 1)

I met Xinran twice for an interview and I

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Shamini Flint and Barbara Ismail, crime stories from Malaysia to Beijing.

Shamini Flint 6In Asia, we have been reading a lot of detective novels but the masters were Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. Things change, two writers tell us that Asia and particularly Malaysia can be a particularly suitable environment. Shamini Flint has even sold the worldwide rights of her books to an English subsidiary of the Hachette Group. Both novels were translated into French (1 ) and the third one will be released within a few days. … Lire la suite

Hwang Chun-ming: also for literature, Taiwan is not a part of China.

Hwang-Chun-mingHwang Chun-ming is one of the most famous Taiwanese writers. Born in Taiwan, attached to the island, to the ordinary people, the language and the culture, he is one of those who have supported the search of their roots.

The collection of short stories “I love Mary ” which has just been published (1) in a French translation, is an expression of his talent. It is uncommon, after a few months, to remember all the … Lire la suite

Mu Xin, a Chinese scholar lost in New York.

Mu XinMu Xin, writer, painter, poet, had to wait 80 years and his return to Wuzhen, his hometown, to be recognized after living twenty five years in Queens, Forest Hills ..

Wuzhen (Zhejiang) , a tiny little Venice
A small town between Hangzhou and Suzhou, built on canals, proud to be the birthplace of the great writer Mao Dun (1896-1981) , but who must now share the glory with Mu Xin. He was born in 1927

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Chen Kaige, a youth during the Cultural Revolution.

Chen KaigeThe cycle “Literature and Cinema ” which I mentioned a few weeks ago, led me to a wonderful film by Chen Kaige, “King of the children ” but also to read several short stories by A Cheng ( 1) and especially an outstanding book by Chen Kaige , “A Chinese Youth ” ( 2) which is, in my opinion, essential to “feel” what was the Cultural Revolution and the transfer of millions of young people

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Murong Xuecun: a cynical novel by a corrupt lawyer.

Murong XuecunMurong Xuecun is not yet forty years old. He is one of the brightest writers of a generation which is now being translated.These writers, like Han Han and Annie Baobei, are born with the internet. Three years ago, I regretted the small number of translations of this young generation, therefore we can welcome the release of “Dancing in the red dust”, translated by Claude Payen who is also the translator of “Leave me alone: a … Lire la suite

A meeting with Liu Zhenyun: famine and loneliness

sam_0480_convertedZhenyun Liu is one of China’s best-known writers; many awards for his novels, a great success for the many films based on them. He was in Paris a few days ago to present two of his books: ” Remember 1942 ,” an essay on the famine in Henan Province and a novel: ” A word is worth a thousand words“, a text on communication and loneliness, which was awarded the main literary prize in … Lire la suite

The cult writer Wang Xiaobo: sex as resistance to oppression

Bertrand Mialaret | Mychinesebooks.com

WANG_X~1Wang Xiaobo, who died in 1997, is a cult writer in China, especially among students. Sites, and forums are devoted to him and the anniversary of his death is the occasion of numerous commemorations.This is why the release in France of his novel “Future World”(1) is an important event, especially as his most famous work ” The Golden Age ” is very difficult to find in French (2).

Three holes in Lire la suite

Au musée Cernuschi à Paris, expo impériale pour les bronzes chinois.

oiseau_detailLe Musée Cernuschi à Paris présente actuellement une remarquable exposition de bronzes de la Chine impériale, des empereurs Song (960-1279) à la dernière dynastie des Qing.

Paradoxalement, ces pièces sont moins bien connues que les bronzes antiques car considérées comme tardives et imitant les modèles anciens ; le Musée Cernuschi avec plus de mille pièces en possède l’une des plus grandes collections au monde.

Ces objets sont certes moins spectaculaires que les bronzes de la … Lire la suite

Geling Yan and Ha Jin, the memory of the Nanjing massacre reappear with their novels.

9782081273115The Nanjing massacre and the 300,000 victims are one of the most tragic episodes in the history of the 20th century. It is rarely mentioned in Europe while the atrocities committed by the Japanese army during the storming of the former Chinese capital in December 1937 continue to poison relations between China and Japan.
Many films but few novels, apart from the book by Ye Zhaoyan, were devoted to this drama . But two

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