Candy

by Mian Mian | Literature & Fiction | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 0316563560 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Tsjara of Zaandam, Noord-Holland Netherlands on 8/12/2010
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Tsjara from Zaandam, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, August 12, 2010
Blurb: Candy is a harrowing tale of risk and desire, the story of a young Chinese woman forging a life for herself in a world seemingly devoid of guidelines.
Hong, who narrates the novel, drops out of high school and runs away at age seventeen to the frontier city of Shenzen. She falls into a relationship with a young musician, and together they dive into a cruel netherworld of alcohol, drugs, and excess, a life that fails to satisfy Hong's craving for an authenthic self, and for a love that will define her.
Mian Mian's fresh, strident, and brutally hones voice illuiminates the anguish of an entire generation. This startling novel is a blast of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll that opens up to us a modern China we've never seen before.


Since it said on the cover that this book was (is?) banned in China, I got curious of course and bought it (in Hong Kong at a book fair).
The first half or so of the book read quite fast, but after that it got a bit boring. The main characters weren't likeable, rather self-obsessed. They didn't do anything and just hanged around, drinking and using drugs, living off their parents money. The use of language was a bit strange/awkward sometimes, I don't know if that is because of the translation or meant like that. I'm not sure what to think of this book. However, it was an interesting look into the youth (sub-)culture of China.

Excerpt: "My mood was like my lover's hair. Love, for me, was partly a mood, just like that ultradopey bullshit music that I sometimes liked to listen to. That kind of music made me jumpy, but when I felt tense, I felt happy. When I felt tense, I also had to have chocolate. My youth wasn't over yet; fate wasn't going to abandon me. My youth and nerves were as intimate as each other's shadows. I was destined to eat chocolate forever, and every piece of chocolate I had ever eaten would live forever in hallowed memory!"

Reserved for ApoloniaX's East Asian VBB (2nd round)





Journal Entry 2 by Tsjara at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Friday, August 27, 2010

Released 13 yrs ago (8/27/2010 UTC) at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed to sing-on-a-star today (who picked it from the East Asian VBB).

Happy reading!

Journal Entry 3 by sing-on-a-star at Manchester, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Thursday, September 2, 2010
On my door mat when I returned home this evening. Really looking forward to reading this.....anything banned just begs to be read by me! ;) Thank you Tsjara for sending it along with the beautiful postcard and the chocolate (highly appropriate and dark choc is my favourite!) It's going to be my energy boost on the long charity bike ride I'm doing this weekend!

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