20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth - Hardcover

Guo, Xiaolu

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0701181559 ISBN 13: 9780701181550

Publisher: Chatto & Windus, 2008

Synopsis

'So I was the 6787th person in Beijing wanting to act in the film and TV industry. There were 6786 young and beautiful, or ugly and old people before me trying to get a role. I felt the competition, but compared with 1.6 billion people in China, 6786 was only the population of my village. I felt an urge to conquer this new village.'

Life as a film extra in Beijing might seem hard, but Fenfang - the spirited heroine of Xiaolu Guo's new novel - won't be defeated. She has travelled 1800 miles to seek her fortune in the city, and has no desire to return to the never-ending sweet potato fields back home. Determined to live a modern life, Fenfang works as a cleaner in the Young Pioneer's movie theatre, falls in love with unsuitable men and keeps her kitchen cupboard stocked with UFO instant noodles. As Fenfang might say, Heavenly Bastard in the Sky, isn't it about time I got my lucky break?

About this title

Review:

'Xiaolu Guo has a light touch and her novel is fresh and readable' -- TLS

`her atmospheric, unusually physical narratives are alive and attractively insistent, inspired variations on the theme of quest...' -- Irish Times

'A poignant and playful coming-of-age story and a love-letter to a Beijing rarely seen by Western readers' --The Bookseller

'All of Xialou's engaging and sometimes touching `fragments' are accompanied by a photograph depicting city life.' --The Herald

`[a] graceful, subtle novel ... a piece of art that portrays human determination through evocative photos and simple narration.'
--Sunday Herald

Book Description:

A brave young woman negotiates Beijing life in search of love and friendship in the daring new novel by Xiaolu Guo, Orange Prize shortlisted author and 'one of China's most successful literary exports' (Guardian)

About this edition

• Publisher: Chatto & Windus
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0701181559
• ISBN 13: 9780701181550
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208