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Braised Pork

By An Yu
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3.43 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 5,316 ratings, 881 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Braised Pork by An Yu follows Jia Jia, a young widow in Beijing, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery after finding her husband dead under mysterious circumstances. Her quest takes her from the bustling city to the mystical landscapes of Tibet, in search of answers to a haunting drawing he left behind. The novel weaves together themes of identity, solitude, and the mystical interconnectedness of life.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you enjoy surreal narratives infused with emotional exploration and a touch of magical realism, this book may captivate you. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Beijing, it weaves a mysterious and introspective tale about personal discovery and the meaning of existence.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

The dreamlike story of a young woman in contemporary Beijing forging a different life for herself, from one of our brightest new literary stars.

One morning in autumn, just after breakfast, Jia Jia finds her husband dead in the bathtub of their Beijing apartment.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Contemporary Beijing comes alive in the hands of a young literary star.

The dreamlike story of a young woman in contemporary Beijing forging a different life for herself, from one of our brightest new literary stars.

One morning in autumn, just after breakfast, Jia Jia finds her husband dead in the bathtub of their Beijing apartment. Next to him is a piece of folded paper, a sketch of a strange creature from his dream. He has left her no other sign. Young, alone, and with many unanswered questions, Jia Jia sets out on a journey. It takes her deep into her past where, for the very first time, she begins to have a sense of her future.

Startlingly original... A portrait of alienated young womanhood as it is set free - Guardian

Rich and wild...it gets under your skin - Observer

An Yu writes with style and in a way that is hard to resist - Sunday Times

A seductive, sharply observed tale of love, loss and hope - Daily Mail

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Braised Pork by An Yu is celebrated for its elegant and dreamlike narrative, capturing a woman's journey of self-realisation in modern Beijing. Reviewers praise its lyrical and unadorned prose, describing it as a seductive tale of love, loss, and hope that traverses from urban Beijing to rural Tibet and a magical water realm. The novel is noted for its emotional clarity, portraying isolation and the potential for human connection, and is lauded as a confident debut from a gifted writer, with its rich imagery resonating long after reading.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529112160

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 February 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 193g

Pages: 240

Collections

An Yu Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books

About the Author

An Yu was born and raised in Beijing, and left at the age of eighteen to study in New York at NYU. A graduate of the NYU MFA in Creative Writing, she writes her fiction in English. She is twenty-six years old and lives between Paris and Hong Kong. Her debut novel, Braised Pork, was published by Harvill Secker in 2020.

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