The Fat Years - Chan Koonchung

The Fat Years is a novel that caught my attention when I read an article about it on BBC News. It is apparently quite popular in mainland China despite being banned. The author had to publish it in Hong Kong to escape censuring by the Chinese government and the English publisher makes the most of this fact by proudly proclaiming it on the cover. The book was first published in Chinese in 2009 and has appeared in English translation for the first time earlier this year. Somewhere between a thriller and near future science fiction, The Fat Years is a novel that is clearly written by someone from a very different literary tradition and cultural background. It made me wonder if I have enough knowledge on the subject matter to fully appreciate it.

In the year 2013, China has entered a new period in its history, an era of rising living standards, widespread contentment of the population, increasing political influence on the world stage and a social stability that appears to be unshakable. For two years not, the communist party has taken the nation down the road of this Golden Age of Prosperity and Contentment. Why is it then, that nobody can clearly recall the events that lead up to this momentous announcement by the Chinese government? A whole month during a vicious global economic crisis seems to have disappeared from public consciousness. Contentment may be near universal, there are always people who ask awkward questions and won't stop digging for the truth.

I guess the publisher foresaw the problem I mentioned in the introduction. The novel opens with a lengthy preface by Julia Lovell, translator and lecturer in modern Chinese history and literature at the University of London. It comments on the human rights situation in China, the censorship by the Chinese government and the level of success of this policy as well as censorship in modern Chinese literature and the reception of Chan's novel. Normally I am not too fond of lengthy prefaces, I like to make my own mind up about books, but in this case it is recommended reading. Ms. Lovell did not translate the novel. That job was done by Michael S. Duke, who adds a translator's note at the end of the novel. It mostly deals with the political and social developments portrayed in the book and how realistic the might be. Again very much worth reading but finish the novel first or you will have it's ending spoiled for you.

Chan's novel is sure to strike a nerve with readers in the west. It is not hard to see the criticism on the Chinese government worked into the novel. He mentions the situation in Tibet, the suppression of the Falun Gong the Uygur unrest in western China, the Tianamen protests of 1989, the failed policies of Mao's Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. Have your president mention any of these is guaranteed to cause a diplomatic incident these days. Usually followed by some large business deal being made with a rival. In the novel Chan portrays the Chinese government as a government who feels that for the good of the people, they ought to be in charge. Their new style of leadership allows the people 90% freedom, which, the leaders think, is vastly preferable for the majority of the population over the chaos that would be the result of the communist party loosing its grip on power. It's a disturbing thought, and one that contains more than a bit of truth.

Political and social changes in China are discussed throughout the novel but the focus on the early part is mostly on the mystery of the missing month. There is a sense of fear and suspicion in the characters that know the month has gone from the collective consciousness of an entire people. Questioning the course of the government and state approved history is dangerous to say the least. And what if they are the only ones to remember? Some characters question their sanity, some display paranoid behaviour but they do continue investigating the matter. They are an interesting bunch of people.

Chan does some things that would have a western editor roll their eyes. In fact, I very much doubt this would have left the slush pile in the US. Things like show, don't tell, avoid info dumps, and don't stick the climax of your novel in the epilogue need to be ignored to enjoy this novel. It contains lengthy passages describing the characters' motivation and history and does not shy away from discourses on politics and economics. The most unusual thing about the novel is probably the 80 page epilogue, which takes the shape of a lengthy monologue and is the dramatic highlight of the novel.The translator actually comments on the different perceptions of Chinese and western readers. Despite the rambling character, lean towards the Chinese view. It is a piece of writing that captures the euphoria and megalomania in equal measure. Clearly not feasible, but with enough realism to make the western reader feel uncomfortable about the way Chinese leaders see their position in the world.

I suppose I can see why the Chinese government would not be thrilled with the publication of The Fat Years. I think the answer to the riddle of the missing month is so over the top however, that nobody would take it too seriously, including the censors in China. It does offer the western readers a glimpse of life in urban China that we don't often get to see. It shows a level criticism of the government, discussions on various historical events that are usually taboo and a number of frank comments of sexuality that  from an author living in Beijing rarely encountered by the western reader. It probably lacks something of the excitement of reading a banned book that it would have for someone living in mainland China but it is well worth reading nonetheless. As long as the reader has a little patience with the writing style, that is.

Book Details
Title: The Fat Years
Author: Chan Koonchung
Publisher: Doubleday
Pages: 318
Year: 2011
Language: English
Translation: Michael S. Duke
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-385-61918-9
First published: 2009

New York: The Novel - Edward Rutherfurd

For some reason not entirely clear to me at the moment I attempted to read Edward Rutherfurd's latest novel in the busiest week of the year at work. I rather enjoyed a number of his books but they tend to be epic, time consuming reads. Much to my own surprise I managed to finish it in time to write the review this weekend. Rutherfurd writes historical novels using what I think of as the Mitchener approach. Instead of focusing on people the main character is the book is a place. Usually a city. In this case, as the title suggests, it is New York. His timing is impeccable. In 1609 Henry Hudson claimed the region for the Dutch, four hundred years later this event has been widely commemorated in the city.

Rutherfurd chooses to begin his history of the city a bit later than what is usually considered its founding. The book starts in 1664, when New Amsterdam is already a flourishing colony about to be taken over by the English, and takes us all the way to present day New York with an epilogue that is set in 2009. All the main characters in the book are fictional but Rutherfurd also shows us glimpses of historical figures ranging from Peter Stuyvesant to Abraham Lincoln and from Enrico Caruso to J.P. Morgan.

The backbone of the book is formed by successive generations of the fictional Master family. This family of Dutch and English origin is present in the city almost from it's founding and witnesses the growth and change of the region. As their fortune rises and falls with that of the city, they interact with many groups that have inhabited New York though the ages. Secondary characters contain members of the local Lenape tribes, Dutch, English, Irish, German, Italian, Puerto Rican and Jewish immigrants as well as slaves and their descendants.

There is an awful lot to say on the history of New York, more even than could fit into this 860 page hardcover. The author has had to make some choices and as always these are debatable. I do not know an awful lot about the history or New York, in fact, I learned a great deal reading this book, so to me it seems Rutherfurd covers most of the important events to some degree. I found the part of the role of New York in the War of Independence particularly interesting. The Master family is torn on this subject, with one generation supporting the revolution and the other remaining loyalist. It must have been tempting to zoom out a bit and cover these great events but Rutherfurd manages to keep the story focused on the city and the influence on the revolution on the population.

He does more or less the same thing with that other great conflict on American soil, the Civil War. The general feeling in New York at the time is against going to war, even when war becomes inevitable this sentiment does not really change. I thought the chapter on the draft riots of 1863 was one of the best in the book. I guess this chapter combines the various currents in the city best. In large parts of the book, and this is one of the few points of real criticism I have on this work, Rutherfurd follows the money. The Masters are traders, bankers, brokers and generally well to do. They do suffer the occasional, and sometimes very severe, financial setback but they never quite end up in the gutter.

While to book shows us poverty the characters always seem to be able to avoid or escape the worst excesses that plagued 19th and 20th century New York. In a way it is the American dream on a smaller scale. Not everybody becomes a millionaire but real poverty is usually seen from a distance. What the novel shows to a greater extend is the downside of unrestrained capitalism. As the city goes though various cycles of booms and busts the author mercilessly exposes the corruption, appalling greed and crime associated with the big money in New York. A phenomenon that plagues the city from its earliest stages right up to Gorham Master, who has to find out the hard way that happiness cannot be expressed in dollars.

One could argue the choices the author makes in great detail. Being Dutch I would not have minded a bit more on the New Amsterdam phase of the city for instance but truth be told, the book manages very well without. No doubt some people will have some remarks of the depiction of slavery in New York. There's an awful lot more the author excluded than in the eyes of some readers warranted a place in the book. At the end of the day New York is a work of fiction though and as such it succeeds very well. Rutherfurd has written an engrossing history of the city, as far as I can tell he hasn't had to fill in a lot of blanks. His approach takes some getting used to since there is no one single character to follow and if you do like a particular character he or she is going only going to be around for a short while. The city is the star of the show and that is something the reader should not loose sight of. I think I like his novel The Forest a bit better but New York is not far behind.

Book Details
Title: New York: The Novel
Author: Edward Rutherfurd
Publisher: Doubleday
Pages: 862
Year: 2009
Language: English
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-385-52138-3
First published: 2009

Black Trillium - Marion Zimmer Bradley, Julian May and Andre Norton

Kim picked this first edition hardcover up at a book fair in Amsterdam a while ago. It was nearly in pristine condition. She hasn't read it yet I think, but since I have been ill for most of the week (if this is the Mexican flu I recommend you try not to contract it) and my own to read pile is not as large as it used to be I thought I have a go at it. At first glance it looks like an interesting project. Three leading female authors of speculative fiction writing a book together. I don't know how well it sold but after having read it, I don't think the result is a resounding success. It still spawned a total of four sequels written by each of the authors individually. I understand there are some continuity issues between those books making the whole series a strange one indeed.

Black Trillium is the story of the Kingdom of Ruwenda, a place surrounded by vast marshlands and bogs and closed off from neighbouring states by a mountain range. Ruwenda is a human kingdom but a lot of the inhabitants of the marshlands are not. Different tribes of the Folk or Oddlins, as humans refer to them, live more or less peacefully together. All under the watchful and benevolent protection of the White Lady, a sorceress of great power. The Oddlings are the source of some much coveted merchandise and all of this trade goes through Ruwenda (and adds to the royal treasury). Something not all neighbours seem to think fair.

Driven by the dark magician Orogastus, the newly crowned king Voltrik of Labornok decides to cut out the middle man and conquer Ruwenda. The White Lady's power is waning and the power hungry Orogastus has his own reasons for joining this invasion. Soon the Kingdom falls and all seems to be going Orogastus' way. The White Lady has one more trick up her sleeve though. The three daughters of king Krain of Ruwenda escape when Voltrik's forces take the capital. According to prophecy, they will bring great change to the kingdom. Set on their path by the White Lady ad quest to fulfil their destiny now begins for the bookish Haramis, the hot-headed Kadiya and the shy Anigel.

For most of the book the chapters alternate between the three princesses, with each of the authors writing one storyline. Haramis is the creation of Marion Zimmer Bradley, Kadiay was written by Andre Norton and Aringel is Julian May's part in the story. The style of the writing is very much the same, the editor took great care to make sure the writing of each of the three matches. The prose itself is rather flowery. Probably not everybody's cup of tea, but once you get into it Black Trillium is a pretty fast read. The world building, at least for the nation of Ruwenda is also quite elaborate. It mentions a great many details on life in the marshlands and number of very different types of Oddlings and their cultures. The setting in particular was one of the more interesting aspects of the book.

The story itself is rather disappointing. We see the story for a large part through the eyes of the three princesses who's actions are almost entirely decided by others. There is very little initiative in these girls. The prophecy and guidance by the White Lady lays out their map to their destiny almost from start to finish, turning it into a rather standard D&D plot. Fetch the talisman, rally your supporters, defeat the evil wizard, live happily ever after. And yes, there is a handsome prince to be married too. It's not only a standard and horribly predictable plot, we go though it three times in the course of this one novel. Given the fact that this was written by three established authors, who at that point had more than a few critically acclaimed novels under their belt, it is really beyond comprehension that they were willing to have their name attached to it.

The idea behind this novel may have been interesting and the world the authors use as a setting is certainly unusual but that is not enough from saving this book from being a disaster. If you are attracted to it because the book has three female protagonists (rare these days, even rarer in 1990 when the book was first published) or because of the names of the authors, think again. The good thing about buying second hand books is that you can afford to take chances. I never seriously considered putting it down as the story progressed at a fair pace and the book certainly isn't a punishment to read, but when you get right down to it the plot itself is just substandard. I really can't recommend this book to anyone.

Book Details
Title: Black Trillium
Author: Marion Zimmer Bradley, Julian May and Andre Norton
Publisher: Doubleday
Pages: 410
Year: 1990
Language: English
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 0-385-26185-3
First published: 1990