Zhu Wen’s stories of China

Zhu Wen’s THE MATCHMAKER, THE APPRENTICE, AND THE FOOTBALL FAN: MORE STORIES OF CHINA reviewed in The Taipei Times

This collection of eight short stories by the author of I Love Dollars poses several problems, not the least of which is that it takes a considerable degree of determination to struggle through it.

In one way, this is strange. All the stories are tightly constructed, and the English translation, by Julia Lovell, is quite fluent. Zhu Wen’s (朱文) wit and outspokenness are undiminished. I nevertheless felt an unease while reading the book that has taken me some time to account for.