First session of the Modern Chinese Literature Online Book Club

Join us for the first session of our Modern Chinese Literature Book Club event where we'll introduce you to the story of Sissy Zhong (钟腻哥, Zhong Ni Ge), by Yan Ge (颜歌), (access the story in English here and in the original Chinese text here), translated by Nicky Harman. Our fun, interactive and informal book club will be run in English and focuses on the English translation. Proficiency in Chinese is not required to attend. Guided questions are provided on the Eventbrite page and below to help you consider the story prior to the session.  

For further information and to register to attend, please sign up here on Eventbrite.

To read the Chinese version of this event.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Questions to think about as you read:
 

1. Read the introduction to the story on Read Paper Republic (link above), and also Yan Ge’s biography (https://paper-republic.org/pers/yan-ge/ )

2. When did you become aware, as a reader, that there are undercurrents to this tale of an effeminate boy? What is left unsaid (eg the job of the girl in the salon, homosexuality, prostitution)?

3. How important is it that this story is told through the eyes of a child? (This is a device that Yan Ge uses often)

4. Consider how much local colour there is in this story – could it be another country, or any other small town? Does the local colour or lack of it make a difference to your appreciation of the story?

5. Think about Sissy Zhong’s father: do his feelings to his son change throughout the story and if so, how?x

Please note the discussion which followed is not included. The transcript (PDF) is available.