Charged scenic area

Author: Gu Xiaoyang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: When we are immersed in the daily lives of ordinary people, we don’t perceive the dramatic changes in life as earth-shattering. Everything is calm and tranquil. However, in Gu Xiaoyang’s Toll-Gated Scenic Spots, we are struck by the immense transformations of life in the era of extreme transformation. This change is not just about the redistribution of social resources or the emergence of a new class—it is more about how changes in lifestyles and values create opportunities for burgeoning desires and the psychological burdens and imperfections they impose on those involved.
—Recommended by Beijing Youth Daily
The same author’s novel The Hummingbird of Luo Jijie captivated many bigwigs in the film and television industry. This book can be considered a sister piece to The Hummingbird. In The Hummingbird, a group of aimless “rebellious” youths cause chaos overseas; whereas in this book, the protagonist, who returns from overseas, becomes lost in a colorful scenic spot. Zhou is torn between three women—what does he gain? What does he lose? Using marriage and love as a mirror, the author highlights the changes in the moral landscape and values of contemporary society, revealing the awkward predicaments and confused inner worlds of modern urbanites. The plot is compelling and thought-provoking, with sharp, vivid, and humorous writing that is both entertaining and irresistible.