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Beijing Comrades
Beijing Comrades | Bei Tong
8 posts | 5 read | 12 to read
When Handong, a ruthless and wealthy businessman, is introduced to Lan Yu, a nave, working-class architectural student--the attraction is all consuming. Arrogant and privileged, Handong is unsettled by this desire, while Lan Yu quietly submits. Despite divergent lives, the two men spend their nights together, establishing a deep connection. When loyalties are tested, Handong is left questioning his secrets, his choices, and his very identity. Beijing Comradesis the story of a torrid love affair set against the sociopolitical unrest of late-eighties China. Due to its depiction of gay sexuality and its critique of the totalitarian government,itwas originally published anonymously on an underground gay website within mainland China. This riveting and heartbreaking novel, circulated throughout China in 1998, quickly developed a cult following, and remains a central work of queer literature from the People's Republic of China. This is the first English-language translation ofBeijing Comrades. Bei Tongis the anonymous author ofBeijing Comrades. The author's real-world identity has been a subject of ongoing debate since the novel was first published. Scott E. Myers is a translator of Chinese who focuses on contemporary queer fiction from the PRC. Petrus Liuis anassociate professor of humanities at Yale-NUS College, Singapore.
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shawnmooney
Beijing Comrades | Bei Tong
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The writing was not fantastic. There was a lot of sex that wasn't particularly well written about. I didn't learn as much as I'd hoped to about 1980s China. Yet I really liked the novel: an elemental tale of coming out of the closet and the impossibility of true, deep love when one partner has not finished that journey. It could've been Calgary Comrades or Santiago Comrades or Trenton Comrades and gotten just as deeply inside of me.

36 likes1 comment
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shawnmooney
Beijing Comrades | Bei Tong
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shawnmooney Ha ha – the "principle" mistake is in the original text but I should've caught it when I was transcribing it. Obviously, it should be the other spelling… :-) 8y
Mayread Oh I thought the ellipsis were a winkwinknudgenudge style choice. I think I might prefer to fill in the dots, although that might be bc my mind naturally goes to a dirtier place than the obvious choices. 8y
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shawnmooney
Beijing Comrades | Bei Tong
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shawnmooney
Beijing Comrades | Bei Tong
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shawnmooney
Beijing Comrades | Bei Tong
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Mayread Beijing Bitching. The hotly awaited sequel. 😉 9y
shawnmooney @Skiles Indeedy do! ;) 9y
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shawnmooney
Beijing Comrades | Bei Tong
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shawnmooney
Beijing Comrades | Bei Tong
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This newly-translated gay novel from China, set in the late 80s leading up to the Tiananmen Square massacre, is nothing if not steamy so far!

Demanda Steamy you say?! 😏 9y
Mayread Nothing screams erotic like totalitarian crackdowns mixed w chest sweat stir fry. 9y
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shawnmooney
Beijing Comrades | Bei Tong
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China's first gay novel. Originally and anonymously published online, newly translated into English. Making its way to the top of my TBR pile but probably a June read. Can't wait!

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