Details
Various status, and living in different times and enviroments, the characters have some common features in their youthful years. People are always full of idealism and unlimited imagination when they are young,however the course of growing up is filled with cruelty (see Ah Yao,Plum Raindrops,Strike!Strike the Iron,and The Corpse on the River Flats),they will go through unique emotional experiences (see I'm in Pain!, The Shattered Pane, and Enjoying the Cool at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum),and missed youthful years will be deeply engraved upon their minds (see Lighters,Ji Nuo's Vaulting Horse,The Woman Beneath the Grapevine,and Naked Summer). Its style is variable, with quick and powerful, moderate and exquisite, realistic and objective, as well as dramatic language. These 11 stories were included in the lists of top novels in different years, winning many prizes. Except one who was born in the 1960s, other authors were all born in the 1970s and 1980s, three of which belong to the 1980s Generation. The new-generation authors have a more vivid view of the theme of youth, therefore their works are more popular.
The early works of a writer mostly focus on themes of youth，because youth is the kindling of a person's spiritual fire. The tales of youth in literary works shed light on the passions and experiences of a generation. So some youth texts are not only literature.but also become interior portrayals of a generation.
--Xie Youshun
Splinters of glass gleam in our memories of more youthful times. flashing back vibrant hues of red，white and black，green，purple，blue，and yellow. Each time we fumbled about in youth，it also hurt. Yet wordless treasure lies beneath these piles of glinting glass，awaiting expression and discovery. Nostalgically we recall our days of youth，as these powerful stories sensitively record younger days，earlier pain and blemishes washed by "spring rains" and time，to become deeply moving memories in our hearts.
-- Huang Jiwei
The short stories selected in this book amply reflect the latest trends in Chinese literature，featuring the great changes in China midst a globalizing world as well.
-- Zhand Yiwu
Table of Contents
Wang Meng 21st Century Chinese Literature——Points of Departure
Xie Yousbun Bittersweet Hues of Youth
Wu Xuan Naked Summer
Ba Qiao Ah Yao
Qiao Ye Lighter
Ma Xiaoquan Strikel Strike the Iron
Li Sbasba The Corpse on the River Flats
Zhang Yueran Ji Nou's Vaulting Horse
Xu Zecben Plum Raindrops
Wei Wei Enjoying the Cool at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
Yan Ge The Woman Beneath the Grapevine
Li Hao The Shattered Pane
Cben Xiwo I'm in Pain！
Editor's Recommended Reading （in Chinese）
Sample Pages Preview
"We'll work together with Southern Entertainment City and share the returns equally. When the proprietor heard me mention swimming escorts, he said it was an innovative idea. After returning from a swim at Lake Shimen, we'll take the clients to Entertainment city and offer a one-stop service," said Liu Yuan excitedly.
Southern Entertainment City possessed abundant resources and, with it as a partner, the supply of escorts presented no problem. The next day we quietly told some swimmers about the escort service, and they in turn told their friends. Business soared that very same day, and soon more than forty persons were registered to go swimming. Even Chen Jing remarked about the large number of people. Liu Yuan grinned and said, "There'U be even more in future. That's for certain."
Not only were men attracted. Even the young women at Entertainment City were interested more in working as swimming escorts than as dancing escorts, becoming afraid they would not be chosen for Lake Shimen jaunts. At last we were tasting success.
There were so many people Chen Jing could not handle all the work, and so Liu Yuan and I went along with them. Watching the laughing and joking men and women in the bus, I felt apprehensive lest something happen that ended badly. But all went well.
