Why a Booktrail?
1990s: What do you do when the chief suspect of a crime doesn’t know if he did it or not?
Playing for Thrills
What you need to know before your trail
A novel of urban alienation centred around a mysterious murder. Set in a Beijing populated by low-life gangsters and villains, it is narrated by the chief suspect of the crime though even he seems unclear as to whether he committed it or not.
Travel Guide
Bejing
This is a city which is a playground for the rich. As the narrator drifts through the seamy underside of Beijing and its environs, he meets a handful of incredibly varied characters as jaded and enigmatic as himself.
“I took the subway one stop to try my luck at Chongwen Gate, There, at least the crowds were more civilised, the cafes and the food they served a lot clean”
“The evening commute was over, the streets were cold and uninviting. I headed toward Dongdan, where it was livelier; Changan street was bright with trams shuttling back and forth.”
There are many detailed descriptions of China, the streets, shops and markets, hotels and shantytowns. Food is a big theme of the book; how about flatcakes dipped in vinegar, and cocoa-filled dumplings. This even creesps into the language such as in the phrase “when you eat grapes, sooner or later you have to spit out the seeds,”
The city is full of interesting and strange characters who spend their time card-playing, drinking, and having sex. In this version of Bejing, anything goes.
Booktrail Boarding Pass: Playing for Thrills
Destination: Beijing (Peking) Author/Guide: Wang Shuo Departure Time: 1990s
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