Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
《纽约客》上李翊云的短篇
- The Man Who Eats: abstract -- The New Yorker, Sept. 6, 2004
- Gold Boy, Emerald Girl : -- fiction -- The New Yorker, Oct. 13, 2008
- A Man Like Him: -- fiction -- The New Yorker, May 12, 2008
Thursday, May 21, 2009
对平凡的理解－－昨夜的读书会
Thanks to you all for sharing different perspectives and takes of this author Li Yiyun and her stories. And for the books that Xiaoying managed to buy and bring back to us. Loads of reading! We also enjoyed the treats that you all brought. We had a great evening, but we did miss Xiaokang and Alan!
It looks like the summer's reading materials are in our hands, and that we are to meet on June 24, but that need to be confirmed with a later notice. The general guidelines provided by our leader are that we should report our own reading to the group. That should be easy for everyone!
That wraps up another month's reading gathering. For those of you who have lots of stories, write them up. We may have many Li Yiyun among us!
Till next book....
It looks like the summer's reading materials are in our hands, and that we are to meet on June 24, but that need to be confirmed with a later notice. The general guidelines provided by our leader are that we should report our own reading to the group. That should be easy for everyone!
That wraps up another month's reading gathering. For those of you who have lots of stories, write them up. We may have many Li Yiyun among us!
Till next book....
Monday, May 18, 2009
May 20th, 2009: Agenda and Reading Questions of Li Yi Yun's Three Short Stories
What:Our next reading assignment is Li Yi Yun's short stories:
Son
Princess from Nebraska
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
When/where: May 20th, Wednesday, 7-9. Old National Bank. Don't miss it!
Tentative Agenda:
1) Stories from and experiences of China (Xiaoying) 20 min
2) Introduction of Li Yi Yun (Liana) 5 min
3) Son: plot, setting, characters, mother-son relations, religion and Today’s China, sexual orientation (All) 20) min
4) Princess from Nebraska: plot setting, characters, sexual orientation, ending, movie (All) 20 min
5) A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, plot, father-daughter, acquisition of new language, immigrates and tradition, movie, (All) 20 min
6) Free associations/discussions, (All)20 min
7) What’s next: plans for the summer, travel places? reading suggestions, movie suggestions? Bring your ideas! (Xiaoying and others) 15 min
Questions:
Sons:
How religion has been practiced in China, how Christianity being practiced?
How did Hans' Mom react to her son's homosexuality?
What is Han's overall philosophy of life? And what do you think if it?
Princess Nebraska:
How would you describe Shasha?
What are the relationships of the three major characters?
Why Opera singers being part of the story?
Would she end up keeping the baby?
What do you think of Beshen?
How sexuality and relationship being described in the story?
Thousand Years:
What are expressions of personal relationships, being resulted from many thousand years of prayers. What does it mean? What are the Chinese expressions?
Does speaking English change your self concept/presentation?
What was the word the Father describe the daughter when he heard her overexcited expression on the phone?
The following questions are from a study guide of the book, which I thought are good questions.
Son:
How are the children of this generation in China, now adults, breaking away from the traditions of, and duties to, their parents? Think about Sansan, in Love in the
Marketplace, Han in Son, and even Mr. Shi's daughter in "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers."
What moves Han to reveal the long kept secret of his sexuality to his mother? Were you surprised by her reaction? Is Han's mother as "traditional" as he believes?
The Princess of Nebraska:
"The Princess of Nebraska" is set in the heartland of America, during a small street parade. Discuss the juxtaposition of Yang, Sasha and Boshen's life in China with
their new experience in America. How do they each react in their new environment? Sasha believes that "moving on" (69) is an American concept that suits her well. Do you agree that Americans have a unique ability to start fresh and forget the
past? Consider your own experience; do you see this optimism reflected in other cultures, or would you agree that it is an American outlook? Later, Sahsa says Americans are "born to be themselves, naïve and contented with their naivety." Describe the insights behind this appraisal; do you agree or disagree? What does this story reveal about the Chinese and American psyche, and how does this resonate throughout the entire book?
At the end of "The Princess of Nebraska", what do you think Sasha decides to do about the baby?
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers:
Describe the emotional barriers to communication in "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers" does language allow both Mr. Bing and his daughter to open up? How does
the ability to communicate in a new language "make you a new person" (199)?
Yiyun Li sets many of her stories in her homeland of China. What is the spirit of the people? What mood pervades the workers' lives? How would you describe the
way characters, such as Granny Lin, Mr. and Mrs. Su, Sansan, and Mr. Du respond to adversity?
Son
Princess from Nebraska
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
When/where: May 20th, Wednesday, 7-9. Old National Bank. Don't miss it!
Tentative Agenda:
1) Stories from and experiences of China (Xiaoying) 20 min
2) Introduction of Li Yi Yun (Liana) 5 min
3) Son: plot, setting, characters, mother-son relations, religion and Today’s China, sexual orientation (All) 20) min
4) Princess from Nebraska: plot setting, characters, sexual orientation, ending, movie (All) 20 min
5) A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, plot, father-daughter, acquisition of new language, immigrates and tradition, movie, (All) 20 min
6) Free associations/discussions, (All)20 min
7) What’s next: plans for the summer, travel places? reading suggestions, movie suggestions? Bring your ideas! (Xiaoying and others) 15 min
Questions:
Sons:
How religion has been practiced in China, how Christianity being practiced?
How did Hans' Mom react to her son's homosexuality?
What is Han's overall philosophy of life? And what do you think if it?
Princess Nebraska:
How would you describe Shasha?
What are the relationships of the three major characters?
Why Opera singers being part of the story?
Would she end up keeping the baby?
What do you think of Beshen?
How sexuality and relationship being described in the story?
Thousand Years:
What are expressions of personal relationships, being resulted from many thousand years of prayers. What does it mean? What are the Chinese expressions?
Does speaking English change your self concept/presentation?
What was the word the Father describe the daughter when he heard her overexcited expression on the phone?
The following questions are from a study guide of the book, which I thought are good questions.
Son:
How are the children of this generation in China, now adults, breaking away from the traditions of, and duties to, their parents? Think about Sansan, in Love in the
Marketplace, Han in Son, and even Mr. Shi's daughter in "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers."
What moves Han to reveal the long kept secret of his sexuality to his mother? Were you surprised by her reaction? Is Han's mother as "traditional" as he believes?
The Princess of Nebraska:
"The Princess of Nebraska" is set in the heartland of America, during a small street parade. Discuss the juxtaposition of Yang, Sasha and Boshen's life in China with
their new experience in America. How do they each react in their new environment? Sasha believes that "moving on" (69) is an American concept that suits her well. Do you agree that Americans have a unique ability to start fresh and forget the
past? Consider your own experience; do you see this optimism reflected in other cultures, or would you agree that it is an American outlook? Later, Sahsa says Americans are "born to be themselves, naïve and contented with their naivety." Describe the insights behind this appraisal; do you agree or disagree? What does this story reveal about the Chinese and American psyche, and how does this resonate throughout the entire book?
At the end of "The Princess of Nebraska", what do you think Sasha decides to do about the baby?
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers:
Describe the emotional barriers to communication in "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers" does language allow both Mr. Bing and his daughter to open up? How does
the ability to communicate in a new language "make you a new person" (199)?
Yiyun Li sets many of her stories in her homeland of China. What is the spirit of the people? What mood pervades the workers' lives? How would you describe the
way characters, such as Granny Lin, Mr. and Mrs. Su, Sansan, and Mr. Du respond to adversity?
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
读书会历经两年的试读期，大家有什么感想和建议
每人提供最少两条感想或建议。
我先来抛砖引玉：
1。读英文以外的译著。
2。读人物转记，历史著作，游记，侦探小说，科幻，医学保健，美容等等。
3。跟踪一个作家
除读书外我们还可以增加其他的项目，例如学外语，打毛衣，书法，看电影等等。
我先来抛砖引玉：
1。读英文以外的译著。
2。读人物转记，历史著作，游记，侦探小说，科幻，医学保健，美容等等。
3。跟踪一个作家
除读书外我们还可以增加其他的项目，例如学外语，打毛衣，书法，看电影等等。
Monday, May 11, 2009
我回来了
大家的安宁日子没了！
此次回国，使命有三，（自己规定的）：
1． 伺候老爸老妈
2． 买书
3． 买舞蹈教学片
三条都基本做到，是否合人意就另说了。大家知道国情，在国内名著好买，畅销书廖廖。所谓名著，苦涩难读，我们也只好苦中取乐。
海淀区中国书城一逛，“大海捞针，书海拾贝” 的硕果粗粗排列如下。
1. The age of wonders = 奇迹年代by Aron Appelfeld
2. Remains of the Day = 长日留痕
3. Bell Jar = 钟形罩
4. Kitchen = 厨房
5. The Reader = 朗读
6. A Bend in the River = 河湾
7. The Master and Margate = 大师和玛格丽特
8. East of Eden = 伊甸之东
9. Three Cups of Tea = 三杯茶
10. Trail = 审判
11. Castle = 城堡
12. The Great Gatsby = 了不起的盖茨比
13. Tender Is the Night = 夜色温柔
14. The House on the Mongo Street = 芒果街上的小屋
15. Elegy for Iris = 当贝利遇到艾丽丝
17. My Name is Red = 我的名字叫红
18. A Hundred Years of Solitude = 百年孤独
• Gadfly = 牛虻
• Ulysses = 尤里斯丝
此次回国，使命有三，（自己规定的）：
1． 伺候老爸老妈
2． 买书
3． 买舞蹈教学片
三条都基本做到，是否合人意就另说了。大家知道国情，在国内名著好买，畅销书廖廖。所谓名著，苦涩难读，我们也只好苦中取乐。
海淀区中国书城一逛，“大海捞针，书海拾贝” 的硕果粗粗排列如下。
1. The age of wonders = 奇迹年代by Aron Appelfeld
2. Remains of the Day = 长日留痕
3. Bell Jar = 钟形罩
4. Kitchen = 厨房
5. The Reader = 朗读
6. A Bend in the River = 河湾
7. The Master and Margate = 大师和玛格丽特
8. East of Eden = 伊甸之东
9. Three Cups of Tea = 三杯茶
10. Trail = 审判
11. Castle = 城堡
12. The Great Gatsby = 了不起的盖茨比
13. Tender Is the Night = 夜色温柔
14. The House on the Mongo Street = 芒果街上的小屋
15. Elegy for Iris = 当贝利遇到艾丽丝
17. My Name is Red = 我的名字叫红
18. A Hundred Years of Solitude = 百年孤独
• Gadfly = 牛虻
• Ulysses = 尤里斯丝
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