Shanghai Baby (chinese)
Shanghai Baby (chinese) читать книгу онлайн
From Publishers Weekly
Although it caused an uproar in the author's native China, Western readers will find 27-year-old Wei Hui's semiautobiographical offering reminiscent of fiction by the brat pack writers of the '80s, though more clich‚d and less edgy. Waitress Nikki "but my friends call me Coco after Coco Chanel" is in love with Tian Tian, a melancholy and impotent artist who falls prey to narcotics. Coco loves him madly, but not so madly that she wants to give up sex, and this is why she's also been seeing Mark, a married German businessman. Coco's deceptions, Tian Tian's problems with his wealthy mother (who he suspects killed his father) and the intertwining worlds of art and fashion are all fodder for Coco's upcoming slice-of-lifestyle novel, in which Shanghai 's privileged 20-somethings are shown in their natural habitat of clubs and coffeehouses. Beneath the techno beat, though, the sore subject of Western imperialism its avatars, this time, multinational managers still lurks. Among Coco 's friends, one known as Madonna stands out in particular: she earned a fortune first as a madam and then as the widow of a rich man. Wei Hui evidently wants to imitate her heroes, the beats and Henry Miller, and relishes observations like "our bodies were already tarnished, and our minds beyond help." But she spends more time analyzing people by the brands they use and the cars they drive, thus giving the book an odd air of beat fluff, as if Jack Kerouac had mated with Judith Krantz. The book is as alluring as a gossip column, but, alas, as shallow as one, too. (Sept. 11)Forecast: Forty thousand copies of Shanghai Baby were burned by the Chinese government. Proving censors make the best publicists, rights were subsequently sold in 19 countries 200,000 copies are in print in Japan alone. U.S. media curiosity is already high, but the resulting sales bounce may be minor.
From Library Journal
Wei Hui's debut novel, which was banned in China, delves deep into the dark and glittering heart of Shanghai, as experienced by a hopeful and hedonistic young novelist, Nikki (better known to her friends as Coco, after the also irrepressibly glamorous Coco Chanel). Although deeply in love with her impotent artist boyfriend Tian Tian, the frustrated Coco takes a successful German businessman as a lover. What follows is the painful and explicit sexual and vocational journey of a young woman in search of her true self, attempting to gain control of her own trajectory as nefarious forces work on her from both within and without. Indeed, it seems almost as if the city's over-the-top materialism drives its inhabitants toward adultery and dark passions, forcing them at once into the dual role of victim/accomplice. It is just such paradoxes that make Wei Hui's novel so complex and thought-provoking: she deftly explores the intimate relationships that belie the seeming oppositions of East and West, love and desire, the natural and the artificial, hedonism and spiritualism. Haunting and resonant, Shanghai Baby proves the existence of the sacred in the profane. For all Chinese literature and contemporary fiction collections. Tania Barnes, "Library Journal"
***
Wei Hui's SHANGHAI BABY is the poetic, bittersweet and subtly spiritual tale of one woman's quest for personal fulfillment and drive for creative expression. The diverse and cultured city of Shanghai is more than the backdrop for the novel; it is a character itself. The city is celebrated by Hui, and its busy pace and natural sensuality contribute to the postmodern tone of the book. The most interesting character, however, is 25-year-old Nikki, the "baby" of the title. Nikki, known as Coco to her friends, is a writer. Unapologetic in her desire for both emotional and sexual satisfaction, Coco becomes involved with two very different men, all the while trying to write her first novel.
But more important than the details of Coco 's exploration of sex is the novel's examination of life, freedom, love, and death. Each man Coco is involved with offers a different path for that examination and different answers to the same philosophical questions.
Coco 's live-in boyfriend, Tien Tien, is a fragile and beautiful artist. The love between Coco and Tien Tien is sensual and spiritual. Obsessed by death, Tien Tien awakens in Coco an awareness of life and the importance of love. However, his impotence, physical but often emotional as well, leads her to a fierce and passionate affair with a married man. Strong, assertive Mark, a German businessman temporarily living in Shanghai, is the opposite of sensitive Tien Tien in every way. Coco 's fragile balance of juggling two lovers while writing her novel is upset as both men eventually become unavailable to her and she is faced with tragedy.
SHANGHAI BABY is a beautiful novel. The language is poetic and sensual yet funny and brutally honest. Coco is frank in her confusions, frustrations, elations, and joys. She is joined by a bevy of interesting characters, including a former madam, a computer hacker, a bisexual fashion stylist, an avant-garde filmmaker, drug addicts, and artists, not to mention her parents who must overcome their traditional expectations in order to understand and support her artistic and personal choices. Each character is faced with the same issues as Coco and each attempts to make sense of relationships, sexuality, family, and life in a changing Chinese culture. While Hui implies the struggle between tradition and modernity is lessening (at least in cosmopolitan Shanghai) her forecast for a woman's chance to find both sexual and emotional fulfillment is less optimistic.
We have been taught that through novels we can witness the changes and ultimately the growth of characters. As we read, they ideally become better people. Hui's novel is more challenging in that Coco does not fundamentally change and her growth is not overtly apparent. Hui's honest portrayal of Coco is both frustrating and refreshing and is thus an accurate reflection of the human condition. Coco 's vanity and selfishness (or confidence and trueness to her own needs) can verge on annoying; she is not always likable. However, she is capable of great insight.
This view into contemporary Chinese culture and the issues of female independence and sexuality is worthwhile. Coco's controversial publication of short stories mirror Hui's own experience -- the sex and sexuality described by Hui in SHANGHAI BABY doomed the novel to condemnation, banning, and public burnings in China, where it was originally published. However, American readers may be disappointed to find that what is scandalous in China is more commonplace in Western literature. Although a fairly easy read, it is not a light one. The themes of death, sadness, and loneliness balance the themes of romance and passion.
– - Reviewed by Sarah Egelman
Внимание! Книга может содержать контент только для совершеннолетних. Для несовершеннолетних чтение данного контента СТРОГО ЗАПРЕЩЕНО! Если в книге присутствует наличие пропаганды ЛГБТ и другого, запрещенного контента - просьба написать на почту [email protected] для удаления материала
天天喝着酒远远地看着，没有走过来，他对双性恋或Gay（男同性恋）有种莫名的恐惧感，只能接受异性恋与Lesbian（女同性恋）。
一屋子的人都在柔和的灯光和幻美的电子音乐里嗡嗡嗡地说着话，不时有人端着酒站在天天的画前指手画脚，飞苹果不时做出夸张的表情，似乎看那些水粉画也能给他生理上的高潮。“我要爱上你的男朋友了，”他对我喃喃地说。
我用银匙敲了敲酒杯，宣布1＋1＋l节目正式开始，可以把一朵玫瑰花献给你认为最美的人（不管对方是同性还是异性），把一首诗献给你认为最聪明的人（不管同性还是异性），根据数字统计会评选出美人和聪明人。愿意的话，把自己这个人献给你最想献身的人（不管同性还是异性）。当然第三项也可以留在派对后再发生，我的房间虽然是够大，但我无法预料这场集体聚会会朝什么样的趋势发展。
当我口齿清楚地公布了这个派对规则后，一阵骇人的尖叫声、口哨声、跺脚声、酒杯破碎的声音骤然从房间里发出，几乎掀翻了天花板，令正在打呼噜的“线团”几乎心肌梗塞而死。线团像离弦之箭一样一闪而出跳下了阳台，“它自杀了！”飞苹果带来的女孩子锐声尖叫。
“不是，”我盯了她们一眼，我对喜欢尖叫的女孩没有好感，她们滥用美好雌性的声带，“它沿着下水管爬下去，上街散步去了。”
“你家的猫真酷，”飞苹果哼哼笑着，像只掉进油缸的老鼠，这样的刺激场合正中他下怀，一个一生都不会停止寻求刺激的货真价实新人类。“你怎么会想出这么个玩法？”蜘蛛傻笑着，耳朵两边分别夹了两根雪白香烟，像装修队的小木匠似的，“如果我想献身的人是你呢？”马当娜开玩笑似的眯起眼，“那就试试，”我也眯起眼，喝红酒抽雪茄听电子音乐真是让人浑身都爽。
“如果我想献身的是你男朋友呢？”飞苹果咬着嘴唇，一脸妩媚。“我有权拒绝，”天天安静地说。“对，一切都必须是两厢情愿的，但玫瑰与诗这两样相信不会有人拒绝，”我笑了起来，“这儿很安全，像天堂一样，大家放松就是了，尽量把自己哄得高兴一点，从谁开始呢？马当娜，亲爱的你开头吧。”
她依旧戴着墨镜，脱了皮鞋赤了脚，把统统插在大水瓶里的玫瑰抽出一支来，“玫瑰献给最美的天天，这首诗献给最聪明的CoCo，至于把我自己，献给谁等一下看情绪再定，酒还没喝完，怎么知道今宵与谁共度？”她嘎嘎笑着，把玫瑰丢给席地而坐的天天，从手袋里聚出一张纸，暂时把墨镜顶到头顶，单膝跪地，用夸张的戏剧动作念那首诗，“那不是你的，别吻，快放下，…”一念完大家一齐鼓掌，我以飞吻示谢，接下去是Johnson，他把玫瑰献给他眼中最美的女人，我的表姐朱砂小姐，把诗献给他认为最聪明的马当娜，果然是首短小的诗：“美丽姑娘，一起远游，北极的企鹅请我们喝北极的水，岂不快乐？”至于第三项节目，他也说以后再说，马当娜问他：“你是不是喜欢上朱小姐？中国人说‘情人眼里出西施’你既然认为她最美，那么你一定喜欢她，。”Johnson一下子脸红起来。
这期间朱砂一直安安静静地与阿Dick相拥坐在一角的沙发上，端着酒杯任别人如何狂呼乱叫都神闲气定，若闲庭闭花，雅致而迷人，与马当娜的性格及气质截然不同，反差就如一个是水一个是火。马当娜用怪怪的口气说：“Don’t worry，你是自由的美国公民，有喜欢一个人的自由。”阿Dick听他们说话，情不自禁笑出声来，用力把朱砂往自己怀里抱了抱，“亲爱的，有人喜欢你总是好的，因为你是真正迷人。”“本派对杜绝任何妒嫉和敌视，玩游戏就该玩得开心才对，”我说，“对嘛。”飞苹果附和着，顺势从背后搂着我的腰，把脑袋放在我的肩上，天天视若无睹，专心地拿雪前银剪剪熄坏的雪茄头，我敲了一下他的脑袋，“轮到你了，甜心。”“我把玫瑰献给最美的自己，把诗献给最聪明的CoCo，把自己献给能激发我热情的任何一位，不管你是男是女。”他边说边对衣橱的镜子理了理裤子外的裹花布，“我真的觉得自己蛮美的。”“我们也觉得。”几个模特顺口附和，她们团团抱住飞苹果，像一群美女蛇缠注一只大苹果。“别人都不把玫瑰献给我，岂不丢面子，不如我就先给自己一朵啦，”飞苹果把玫瑰叼在嘴上，在音乐里做了个伸臂飞天的姿态，极尽妖冶柔美，连他的下巴蓄的小胡子部增加了这种人妖不分的美。
“我把玫瑰献给你因为我也认为你最美。”那个塞尔维亚人突然用流利的中文说，“诗献给我的朋友蜘蛛，他玩电脑玩得一级俸，是我见过智商最高的人。”“至于献身，当然是献给我认为最美的人喽。”众人齐刷刷把眼睛投向伊沙，仿佛看天外来客一样。
一阵笑声，是美国人Johnson发出来的，伊沙一下子从地上站起身，拍拍身上的烟灰，“很好笑吗？”他直勾勾地盯住Johnson。
“对不起，”Jonson还在笑，“对不起，我只是忍不住。”
“就像你们的飞机一样忍不住飞到我们的国家投炸弹吗？就像你们的军队忍不住把那么多无辜的人杀死吗？what a lie！美国人！…是我一想起就要呕吐的一群人，你们什么都要管，你们厚颜无耻贪得无厌，你们粗鄙愚蠢没有文化，只是自大狂妄只配被人吐一口痰，You motherfuck！”
Johnson一下子站起来，“What the hell are you talking？我跟那些该死的投炸药的飞机有什么关系？为什么羞辱我？”
“因为你是Motherfuck的美国人。”
“算了，算了，喝酒喝多了，不要激动。”蜘蛛一下子窜上去把两个人分开，教父正坐在一堆模特美女身边，不闻不问地继续用一手多年练就的玩纸牌绝技吸引美女的注意力，但她们都不时拿眼觑着那一对争吵得面红耳赤的老外。从道义上支持科索沃人，可从审美角度，她们同情长得像“莱昂纳多”的Johnson。
“有种就打一架分高下，”马当娜笑嘻嘻地鼓动着，她惟恐天下不乱。飞苹果也走上前拉住伊沙的手，是因为伊沙说喜欢他才引起了这一场争执，他蛮感动的。
“你们要洗个冷水澡么？”天天问伊沙和Johnson。这话一点都没讥讽的意思，是出自他善良单纯的本性。在他看来，洗澡是一切麻烦事的首选解决之道，浴缸是像母亲子宫般温暖安全的福地，以清水洗催身心可以使自己感到远离尘埃远离喧嚣的摇滚乐，远离黑帮流氓团伙，远离折磨自己的种种问题，苦痛。
国际人士争执平息了，节目继续，天天把花、诗和自己都献给我，我也是把这一切献给他，马当娜讥讽地笑着：“你们当众扮夫妻情深，肉麻不肉麻？”“对不起，不是故意让你嫉妒的，”天天展露一个微笑，我却暗含一丝愧意，马当娜与朱砂都知道我与马克的事，但我又怎能向天天坦白这一点呢？何况他给我身体上的感觉不同于马克，两者不可比较。天天用他非同一般的执着与爱深入我的身体某个部位，那是马克所无法抵达的地方，我不承认在这一点上我贪婪而自私，我也承认我对此无法遏制，并且一直找各种借口在原谅自己。
“我不能原谅我自己，”我曾这样对朱砂说，朱砂的回答就是：“事实上，你一直在原谅你自己。”是的，是这样的。
朱砂和阿Dick也只把三样东西统统送给对方，蜘蛛、教父、教父的两位朋友则统统把诗送给我（很幸运地，我理所当然地成了今夜最聪明的女人，我收到了一长串或香或臭的诗歌，比如“你的微笑使人起死回生，是三上极品。”这是恭维我的，又比如“她像一片卷曲的钢，不像生物…”则是贬低我，再如“她会大笑，她会哭泣，她是真实，她是梦幻。”则是恰到好处。恰如其分的）。把玫瑰和他们的身体心甘情愿地献给了飞苹果带来的几位Model，有意思的是，这四位男士中有三位半是复旦子弟。这半个自然是蜘蛛，他中途被勒令从复旦退了学。复旦子弟与美艳模特互相眉来眼去的，隔壁的客房有沙发有床有地毯，应该住得下他们。
阿Dick在看天天挂在墙上的画，我和朱砂坐在一盘草莓前聊天，“你最近见过马克吗？”她眼睛并没盯着我，只是低声问。
“有啊，”我轻轻晃着腿，天天刚换上去一张酸性爵士乐唱片，屋内一片狼藉，每个人的眼神都像散黄的鸡蛋一样焕散开去了。大家都没闲着，各玩各的。
“怎么啦？”我转过头去看看她。
“公司里有谣传，说马克要马上离开中国去柏林总公司了。”
“是吗？”我想表现得若无其事一点，一股极酸的草莓汁在舌尖弥漫开来，令人反胃。
“他可能因为在中国出众的业绩得到提升，回到柏林总部担任要职。”
“…谁知道呢？可能是真的吧。”我站起身，踢开脚边的一本杂志、一个红缎面绣花坐垫，走到阳台上。朱砂也跟了过来，“别想得太多了。”她轻轻说。
“这么多星星，挺美的。”我仰头看天空，星星们在深冷的天空里就像炸出来的小伤口，流淌的是银色的血液，如果我有翅膀我会飞到上面去亲吻每一道小伤口。而和马克的每一次肌肤相亲都给我这种微痛而飞翔着的感觉。我曾经让自己相信一个女人的身与心可以分开，男人可以做到这一点，女人为什么不可以？但事实上，我发现自己花越来越多的时间在想马克，想那欲仙欲死的片刻。
朱砂和阿Dick告辞离去，临走前，朱砂特地走过去与JohnsOn握了握手，谢谢他的玫瑰。Johnson看上去并不开心，与塞尔维亚人吵了一架后，美丽的朱砂又要离开。马当娜搂住他，建议到阳台上看一会儿星星。
这个夜晚不预料地混乱，纷杂，毫无控制。凌晨3点的时候，飞苹果带着塞尔维亚人到了他下榻的新锦江酒店。教父、蜘蛛他们四个与飞苹果带来的四个模特在隔壁的客房里折腾。我和天天、马当娜睡在卧室的大床上，Johnson睡在沙发上。
