Title: Love and Sex in a Big City
Review: Those who criticized the book for lacking the spirit of Shanghai- who say that it could take place in any large city- missed Wei Hui's point. The main character is a 27 year old girl finding her way through the glitter and glam of a large city teaming with global influences. This is no traditional China and she is certainly not a traditional girl. Whether or not Wei Hui is the voice of a new generation and whether or not this book represents those born in China (or at least Shanghai) in the 70s is not important. Its not a glimpse into the China foreigners love to imagine- its a glimpse into the life of a twenty-something beatnik city dweller who just happens to be Chinese. If you want a book about love and sex that reads like the poetic prose of Banana Yoshimoto you've found the book. If you're looking for something that depicts the stereotypes of Asian women that you have in your head, go read something else.
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