Loud Sparrows

Aili Mu is associate professor of Chinese at Iowa State University. Julie Chiu is assistant professor of translation at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. Howard Goldblatt is research professor of East Asian languages and literatures at the University of Notre Dame and an internationally renowned translator.

• Foreword, by Bei DaoIntroductionI. GroomingA Lover’s Ear, by Yuan QiongqiongMothballs, by Chen KehuaA Shaved Head, by Wang MengLover, by Chen KehuaLosing the Feet, by Zhong JufangFad, by Zhang ZhengII. ChangeWrong Number, by Liu YichangLearning to Talk, by Wang MengA Seat, by Liu GuofangSelf-Murder, by Cai NanLast Stop, Mongkok, by Che ZhengxuanParting, by Wang KuishanThe Beat, by Liu XinwuIII. Choices“Left” with No Chance, by Chang GangSunday Morning, by Xi XiJailbreak, by Ku LingA Cup of Tea, by Yu YingmaoIn the Haystack, by Cao NaiqianReturning Home on a Stormy Night, by He WeipingTied Together by Fate, by Chen HuiyingIV. GovernanceThe Busy Secretary, by Zhan JingCloth Shoes, by Ah ChengPromotion Report, by Chen HengchuPurchase Request for a Kettle, by Xu ShijieA Capable Man Can’t Handle a Small Case, by Liu JingEars, by Sun XueminV. GamesWhat’s Up, Lao Cao? , by Chen ShixuGeneral, by Liu JianchaoNumber Eight, by Wu YiminObserve, by Ah ChengConfinement, by Yuan BingfaHere’s How the Flu Spreads, by Qin YongThe Upholder of Unity, by Wang MengVI. ControversyA Tail, by Wang ZengqiBlack Hen, White Hen, by Ji DongliangMy One Comment Too Many, by Yi MingGan Xiaocao’s Bamboo Pole, by Deng HongweiRight to the Heart of the Matter, by Wang MengSexual Harassment, by Lin Li-chunVII. AnticipationsBed-Wetting, by Zhang JishuThe Principle of Rebound, by Xu HaiweiAccidental Confidante, by Bai XiaoyiMatching Sets, by Wei JinshuHome, by Xiu XiangmingRendez-vous, by Si LiVIII. CreaturesCat, by Yuan QiongqiongPets, by Ah ChengSea Turtle, by Zhang KangkangFlies, by Yuan QiongqiongThe Crow and the Fox, by Liang DazhiWaiting for a Windfall, by Wang YanyanLittle Stray Cat, by Zhong LingIX. SharingDivision, by Zhou RuiPostcards, by Ye SiThe Cycle, by Ah ChengBlack Umbrella, by Yi RuofenSmall-Hands Chen, by Wang ZengqiIt Was the Pumpkin That Brought Me Here, by Luo FengIn-Law, by Cao NaiqianX. (In)FidelitiesElope, by Fu AimaoFrenchie, by Ai YaHickey, by Ku LingHorse Talk, by Mo YanA Family Catastrophe, by Ku LingHatred, by Ah ChengConfession of a Photographer, by Ku LingXI. NourishmentGood Wine, by Chen HuiChimney Smoke, by Ah Cheng0 Café, by Ku LingThe Bus Stop and Haws-sicles, by Zhou RuiGranny Drunkard, by Feng JicaiTea Scum, by Ling DingnianXII. WeirdnessDisputatiasis, by Wang MengThe Features-Column Editor’s Daydream, by Liu YichangDeath Dream, by Ku LingEmpty Seat, by Yuan QiongqiongLittle, Little, Little, Little, Little . . . , by Wang MengStrange Encounter, by Mo YanXIII. ?An Explosion in the Living Room, by Bai XiaoyiGoing Home, by Ai YaIt Looks as If . . . , by Teng GangNot Seen, by Yuan QiongqiongMy Wife Finally Goes Camping, by Lin JiContemplating Water, by Zhong LingXIV. ElegyFather, by Yuan QiongqiongA Knock at the Door, by Lin JinlanGrandpa Pothook, by Cao NaiqianKiller Well, by Zhong LingLooking Back at Life at the Moment of Death, by Cai NanAn Encounter with General Zhou, by Chi ZijianXV. Looking Backward and Looking AheadThe Look, by Li ZuchenNotesAbout the Authors

Beautiful and thought-provoking. Los Angeles Times The pieces are varied, lively, often charming, and occasionally brilliant. -- Perry Link New York Review of Books It's well worth dipping into (repeatedly). The Complete Review Beautiful and thought-provoking... A breeze of aesthetic freedom flows through all of them, making them fun to read. -- Susan Salter Los Angeles Times Funny, touching, intriguing and sometimes very beautifully... They are tiny vignettes of Chinese life in all its entire chaotic splendour. -- Jenny Niven Time Out Beijing Loud Sparrows is a delightful collection of short-shorts. -- Steve Noyes The Vancouver Sun