Curating a list of translated fiction (mainly)from Mandarin. Includes titles from Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia etc. Titles with links will bring you to the full review post.
Taiwanese Translated Fiction
- The Lost Garden | By Li Ang (tr. Sylvia Li-Chun Lin with Howard Goldblatt) – This is my first foray into translated Taiwanese fiction. The book follows two parallel story lines – Zhu Yinghong’s childhood and her relationship with her father, and Yinghong’s (sexual) obsession with wealthy property tycoon Lin Xigeng. I found the contrast interesting but I think several references might have been lost on me as I’m not that well-versed with Taiwan’s history. I found myself pausing in the middle several times to read up about Taiwan’s history to better appreciate the novel, so I did learn quite a lot from the novel. The political theme is strong, but I was also drawn to how it intertwines with personal identity and it’s a reminder that history is never a thing of the past, but influences the present and our actions.
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