Red:Books January 2010

For January's Red:Books, we're going to look at a book of short stories - 'A Thousand Years of Good Prayers' by Yiyun Li. We'll be meeting on Tuesday 26 January 2010 at 7pm, in Roast Coffee Shop, Lisburn Rd, Belfast.

Some reviews…

“Li’s writing is beautifully spare and controlled.” The Times

“Yiyun’s confidence as a storyteller lends her fiction a traditional air, but there’s nothing old fashioned about her perspective! When I’ve sampled other recent Chinese writing, I’ve had a sense of western publishers being seduced by the novelty of it all, snapping up authors with dramatic histories and slim talents. Yiyun is the real deal! Yiyun has the talent, the vision and the respect for life’s insoluble mysteries to be a truly fine writer.” Michel Faber, Guardian

“Great narrative skill! Demonstrates that the best way to learn about people in a foreign culture is through good fiction.” Irish Times

“Li has a remarkable talent for telling the story of the whole of China through apparently insignificant lives.” New Statesman

We picked this book for a couple of reasons. One is that it’s Christmas, and everyone is busy! Short stories means people can read something, but don’t have to read everything! But also because it ties in well with the launch of Red:Writers’ Circle.

Red:Writers’ Circle will meet for the first time on Wednesday 13 January at 7pm in the Crown Liquor Saloon, Great Victoria St, Belfast, BT2 7BA. Come along, even if you haven’t written anything yet - open to everyone!

For details about either Red:Books or Red:Writers’ Circle, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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