Embarrassing

Author: Liu Yutang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: If I say that Liu Yutang is one of the humorous writers, you wouldn’t disagree; I also think he is one of the writers who can bring warmth and comfort in this era. He has written about the Mountains with a frenzy for thirty years, resulting in becoming a rare literary talent in the literary world—a writer who is endlessly talked about, astonishingly remarkable, and unforgettable. He is a master of a style that combines simplicity and cunning among Chinese writers. This is the impression I gained from reading The Complete Collection of Awkwardness. The long new work by Shandong writer Liu Yutang is launched by the "Great Master Library." The book passionately portrays the survival conditions of intellectuals in a small county, gathering all kinds of awkwardness, embarrassment, indignity, and helplessness they encounter in daily life. With humor and wit, it also offers a rich enjoyment of the rustic charm of the countryside. The critics praise its success first and foremost for its linguistic features, with a smooth and flowing rhythm, combined with a bright and serene optimism. Farmer entrepreneur Liu Laoma told me a piece of news, saying that the Shagou, about two li away from the county town, is being auctioned off for wasteland and slopes. A mu of wasteland costs only 500 yuan, and the usage rights last for 50 years. Let’s just partner up and buy a hundred or so mu of it, develop it, and recoup the entire investment within three or five years. You can also use it as a leisure spot—plant trees, grow flowers, fish, and breathe fresh air. And there’s something about ions, right? I said, negative oxygen ions.