A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Yiyun Li

Came across this gem of a book, a collection of short stories by Chinese author Yiyun Li, winner of the Guardian First Book Award in 2006.

Eleven stories related in a reflective manner that throws an understanding, sympathetic light on life in contemporary China. At the heart of this book lies the innate fortitude and resilience of the human spirit, one that lets people take all the curveballs life throws at them, and turn it to their advantage.

There are characters like an elderly woman who forges an unlikely friendship with a young schoolboy in a boarding school; a young man born with the same face as the beloved Chairman and how it affects his life; a gay young man returning to visit his mother and looking at everything in a new light. There is mention of the Tiananmen Square protest, of the Red Guards running amok frequently, of the endless suspicion and harsh punishment meted out to the common people.

There are a few people who take on the Establishment well knowing they won`t win. There is the awareness and shame of knowing they are mostly `soft persimmon,` unable to stand up for themselves. There is much ancient patriarchy on display.

Then there is my favourite story, of Mr Shi who goes to visit his recently divorced daughter in America and discovers a whole new kind of freedom at his late age.

Every story has so much heart, it cannot help but move the reader. There’s sorrow at what continued surveillance and control is doing to the people but it is a gentle sorrow.

Being subversive is important to me, the author has said, and this subversiveness shows through loud and clear in this book. Big Brother is always watching but the characters win out in the end.