Modern Chinese Classics?

[Snooker]

Howdy all,

I was looking to put together a list of modern Chinese classics (or really good books) together for independent reading, stuff written in baihua, most likely 20th century. I have not found a lot of good information on the 'net about this, so I thought maybe we could put our heads together and come up with a list of recommended reads, good for a western reader.

I recently bought the following books:

1. 野火集 - 龍應臺 The Wild Fires, Long Ying-tai, social criticism
2. 茶館 - 老舍 The Teahouse, Lao She, a play
3. 狂人日記 & 啊Q 魯迅 - A Madman’s Diary & The Story of Ah-Q, Lu Xun, the two most influential short stories of the 20th century

I am also thinking of buying Thunderstorm and Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, To Live, and Red Sorghum.

[sjcma]

@Snooker

3. 狂人日記 & 啊Q 魯迅 - A Madman’s Diary & The Story of Ah-Q, Lu Xun, the two most influential short stories of the 20th century

I believe you mean 阿Q正傳, which is more of a novella rather than a short story.

As for a book sugestion, try 《圍城》, written by 錢鍾書.

Actually, I think all of 金庸’s works can be considered as modern classics, esp. 笑傲江湖, 神鵰俠侶, 倚天屠龍記, and 鹿鼎記. Try and get the original versions rather than the revised versions of his works.

[cranky_laowai]

@sjcma

As for a book sugestion, try 《圍城》, written by 錢鍾書.

Seconded. It’s a terrific book, though I’ve read it only in translation (Fortress Besieged).

[sjcma]

BTW, if you’re interested in 魯迅, you might want to get his collected works, 《呐喊》, which includes both 狂人日記 and 阿Q正傳.

[Feiren]

@cranky laowai

[quote=“sjcma”]As for a book sugestion, try 《圍城》, written by 錢鍾書.

Seconded. It’s a terrific book, though I’ve read it only in translation (Fortress Besieged).[/quote]

Thirded. Weicheng is a wonderfully ironic novel which is still fresh and relevant today. The translation is very good, the original even better.

I would take Yehuoji off your list. Very dated and not really that well written.

You might add Bai Xianyong’s 孽子

金庸 is the Tolkein of China. Very well written and extremely popular. You will be able to find lots of people to talk with in Taiwan if you have read 金庸.

Eileen Chang 張愛玲 is an extremely important author. As a writer, much more important than the overrated Lu Xun.

[Incubus]

I would also add “One Man’s Bible” (一個人的聖經) by Gao Xingjian (高行健), the only Chinese writer to date who’s ever received the Nobel Prize in literature.

[sjcma]

@Feiren

I would take Yehuoji off your list. Very dated and not really that well written.

I agree. If you’re interested in a slice in time, circa 1980, then the book is fine. However, I don’t really think one can rank it as a modern classic.

[Incubus]

Here are the top 30 readers’ pick as conducted by Eslite Bookstore. The list includes some of the ones mentioned above.

[Rotalsnart]

@Incubus

Here are the top 30 readers’ pick as conducted by Eslite Bookstore. The list includes some of the ones mentioned above.

The fourth book on this list, 京華煙雲, is actually a Chinese language translation of Lin Yutang’s Moment in Peking, which was written in English for a Western readership. Clearly though it has captured the hearts of Chinese readers as well.

[urodacus]

modern classics are anything from the last hundred years, surely. then Mao’s little red book certainly counts, not that it’s particularly well written or even written by Mao TseTung… read by more people than any other book apart from the bible, so it must be good. the koran is third, i think.

[Lil_Slugger]

@urodacus

modern classics are anything from the last hundred years, surely. then Mao’s little red book certainly counts, not that it’s particularly well written or even written by Mao TseTung… read by more people than any other book apart from the bible, so it must be good.

By these standards, I suppose Mein Kampf counts as a modern classic as well.

[semi-fly]

Can anyone suggest either a short story (novella) or standard book similar to A Journey to the West? Something strange like the movie 2046 would be appreciated as well.