Contemporary Chinese Short-Short Stories - (Paperback)

About the Book

This book presents Chinese short-short stories in English and Chinese, integrating language learning with cultural studies for intermediate to advanced learners of Mandarin Chinese and students of contemporary Chinese literature. Each chapter begins with a critical introduction, followed by two or more stories in parallel Chinese and English texts.

Book Synopsis

This book presents Chinese short-short stories in English and Chinese, integrating language learning with cultural studies for intermediate to advanced learners of Mandarin Chinese and students of contemporary Chinese literature. Each chapter begins with a critical introduction, followed by two or more stories in parallel Chinese and English texts; each story is followed by a vocabulary list, discussion questions, and a biography of the author.

The chapters are organized around central concepts in Chinese culture such as li (ritual), ren (benevolence), mianzi (face/prestige), being filial, and the dynamics of yin and yang, as well as the themes of governance, identity, love, marriage, and change. The stories selected are short-shorts by important contemporary writers ranging from the most literary to everyday voices. Specifically designed for use in upper-level Chinese language courses, Contemporary Chinese Short-Short Stories: A Parallel Text offers students a window onto China today and pathways to its traditions and past as they gain language competence and critical cultural skills.

Review Quotes

[Contemporary Chinese Short-Short Stories] is not only an enjoyable read for general readers but can also be used as a wonderful study guide for Chinese language, culture and translation students and instructors.--Maialen Marin-Lacarta "Cha: An Asian Literary Journal"

Rich in content and featuring authors of different backgrounds and writing styles, this book offers teachers and students a wide range of choices in terms of cultural themes and social topics. . . . This reviewer would highly recommend it as a major textbook for the advanced level, especially for a course that combines language and content. It represents the results of decade-long rigorous efforts to integrate language learning and cultural learning through the exclusive use of authentic materials.--Jun Yang "Chinese as a Second Language"

With the addition of the parallel Chinese text and the thoughtfully designed teaching materials, including introductory essays, glossaries, reading questions, and author biographies, the book makes an easy-to-use and much-needed textbook for teachers and advanced students of Chinese language and culture.--Yan Liang "Modern Chinese Literature and Culture"

Contemporary Chinese Short-Short Stories makes a wonderful tool for students wishing to improve their reading skills while deepening their understanding of Chinese culture. The result is a highly teachable book on a wide variety of relevant themes of works short enough that they are digestible for the nonnative speaker yet substantive enough to leave a lasting impression. I strongly recommend this book as a text for a fourth-year Chinese language course or a hybrid language/literature course. Much can be learned from reading these pithy stories.--Christopher Lupke, University of Alberta

This collection has so much to recommend it, from the discriminating selection of stories and their artful translation, striking a delicate balance between intimacy and alterity; to the unique organization of the stories around key concepts in Chinese culture; to the notes and commentary, which elucidate without overwhelming. This volume is a must-have for teachers and students of Chinese language, literature, and culture--and for anyone interested in modern literature and in the art of translation.--Brian James Baer, Kent State University

Recommended for upper level Chinese classes and for those already out of college who wish to retain their Chinese proficiency or to regain it after moving off for a while into other fields.--Carrie (Reed) Wiebe, Middlebury College

About the Author

Aili Mu is associate professor of Chinese in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Iowa State University. She is a cotranslator of Loud Sparrows: Contemporary Chinese Short-Shorts (Columbia, 2006).

Mike Smith is associate professor of English at Delta State University. He is the author of Byron in Baghdad (2012) and the translator of Faust: A Tragedy (2012).