11th Floor, Room 2

Author: Cai Fengyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: This book is a "lyrical healing-style" prose. The author uses spaces like "Room 2 on the 11th Floor" to past memories, describing her every gaze, every second of breathing, and every effort to run forward, allowing us to feel genuine emotions and a subtle sense of happiness. Although it seems like a "private prose," after connecting with the words, it unknowingly heals the gaps in our hearts, just like listening to a lyrical song that casts aside our sad doubts and makes us realize that we too can be happy.
At the age of twenty-eight, on my birthday, I broke up with my boyfriend, who I had been with for eight years, and decided to stay home and grieve. I even considered ending my life in the shortest time possible. However, despite feeling as if I had reached the depths of despair, I was too cowardly to harm myself. That year was filled with sadness, and I doubted whether I would ever find happiness again. I wanted to write about how I could be happy if I could do it myself.
I was determined to buy a bottle of mushroom meat sauce and a pack of Italian noodles today; I insisted on using the light gray umbrella I bought at TOPPY on rainy days; I made sure to wear a black sweater with jeans every time it was BLUEHONDAY; I had to maintain a weight of 48kg since turning twenty-five; I had to attend two Japanese classes every week and drink the tea my teacher made; I had to meet with my high school best friend once a season, in all four seasons; I had to read a book every week—only then would I feel deep happiness.
As a single woman in her early thirties, I had to learn and overcome many things: the pressure of age, my parents' insistence on marriage, blind dates, losing friends, gaining weight, aging, not finding a confidant among men, loneliness, and solitude... None of these could be ignored. But if I could be very happy.
I wanted to write about how others could be happy. Some happy, sad, fortunate, and painful stories that happen to women—I hope they can all find happiness.
This book is a "lyrical healing-style" prose. The author uses spaces like "11th Floor, Room 2" to past memories, describing her every gaze, every second of breathing, and every effort to run forward, allowing us to feel genuine emotions and a subtle sense of happiness. Although it seems like a "private prose," after connecting with the words, it unknowingly heals the gaps in our hearts, just like listening to a lyrical song that casts aside our sad doubts and makes us realize that we too can be happy.