The Bridegroom

I accept that I am not a tremendous fan of short stories but, even so, nearly all the tales in this collection seemed incredibly mundane to me. I accept that I may have missed something terribly deep and meaningful but, if so, I missed it in every one of the stories (save the last, about Cowboy Chicken).

This is a collection of short stories published in 2001, but some of the individual stories date from as early as 1997. They are typically set in an emerging China - post Cultural Revolution, but not too long after, as Western ideas make their way in.

They are a hit and miss collection, mostly revolving around personal relationships in China -many of which deal with what are probably not only Chinese problems, but they are in this book - government intervention, a reliance of the traditional structures of society, unhappy relationships and financial problems. Transition from a socialist society to a capitalist society, brings about a complex confusion and a raft of inconsistencies that must be negotiated for many of the various characters, as well as Western ideas being introduced to Chinese society - in some cases in general, but in other cases by individuals who have lived overseas returning to China.

Some of the stories didn't make a lot of sense to me - one example was the first story. A man eating in a cafe has tea thrown on him by a policeman, for no reason. When he objects, he is arrested and charged with being a saboteur, and forced to sign a statement confirming this. Upon his release he buys lots of meals from a range of restaurants, eats a little from each plate and leaves - which results in a hepatitis epidemic in the town. I don;t really follow the logic here...

There are stories of revenge; stories of unrequited love; where money changes the situation for the protagonist; homosexuals covering up in hetro relationships; a man with amnesia who forgets he has a family; and others.

I probably didn't enjoy these as much as other reviewers.

3 stars.