Shanghai Diary

Author: Ye Xin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Shanghai Diary is Ye Xin's latest innovative work, meticulously crafted after his previous creation Huadu. Unlike his past works, the focus of this novel shifts. The author turns his gaze to the millions of migrants and new urbanites who after the reform and opening-up, emphasizing the story of Quan Xiaoliang, a college student from a remote mountainous area in Guizhou, who strives to integrate into the life of Shanghai's metropolis. The novel unfolds in a diary format, narrating the ups and downs, joys and sorrows of the protagonist Quan Xiaoliang after his graduation. He works hard, determined to achieve success, but is dismissed by his employer; his beautiful childhood sweetheart Miao Shan ultimately marries someone else due to the pressures of survival and her disillusionment with love; he believes his youth, good looks, talent, and loyalty will win the favor and love of a wealthy woman, allowing him to live a luxurious and fulfilling life as a so-called "upper class" person, only to be cruelly retaliated against and abandoned by her. The characters' fates in the novel are full of twists and turns, and the engaging storyline fully depicts the diverse and vibrant living conditions of contemporary new Shanghai people, their joys, sorrows, confusions, and worries, as well as their pursuit and longing for a new life. Shanghai Diary is Ye Xin's latest innovative work, meticulously crafted after his previous creation Huadu. Unlike his past works, the focus of this novel shifts. The author turns his gaze to the millions of migrants and new urbanites who after the reform and opening-up, emphasizing the story of Quan Xiaoliang, a college student from a remote mountainous area in Guizhou, who strives to integrate into the life of Shanghai's metropolis. The novel unfolds in a diary format, narrating the ups and downs, joys and sorrows of the protagonist Quan Xiaoliang after his graduation. He works hard, determined to achieve success, but is dismissed by his employer; his beautiful childhood sweetheart Miao Shan ultimately marries someone else due to the pressures of survival and her disillusionment with love; he believes his youth, good looks, talent, and loyalty will win the favor and love of a wealthy woman, allowing him to live a luxurious and fulfilling life as a so-called "upper class" person, only to be cruelly retaliated against and abandoned by her. The characters' fates in the novel are full of twists and turns, and the engaging storyline fully depicts the diverse and vibrant living conditions of contemporary new Shanghai people, their joys, sorrows, confusions, and worries, as well as their pursuit and longing for a new life.