Brüder

I found it monumental, it resumes the Chinese history since the Cultural Revolution until modern China. It is exemplified by two brothers, which are actually not real brothers. One, “Baldly Li” is borne to The Mother with a father, who was known as know for spying on women in the public toilet and died in the attempt falling into the excrements – and so does his son, but he survives. The other brother, Song Gang, is child of The Father, he is gentle like him, his mother died. So the two half families join and the two protagonists become brothers. They loose soon their father tortured during the violence of the Cultural Revolution. The description of violence seems grotesque, but it is the mean to evoke what happened at that time in China. It is incomprehensible, but reading it I could understand. Of course, the book is one big exaggeration, but it is so funny, I couldn’t get enough. Both brothers fall in love with the same woman, but she selects the gentle one, Song Gang. Here their live departs from each other. “Badly Li” turns into a reckless capitalist using all the opportunities modern China offers. He uses his wealth to satisfy his absurd sexual obsessions. Song Gong lives with his wife a modest life in a state owned factory. In fact becoming the looser in the modern times. In desperation to offer his wife something, he accepts the dubious offer of a sales charlatan to go on a trip with him to sell beauty lotions. He is so honest people will buy from him. When he comes back, he learns that his wife slept with “Badly Li” and kills himself. “Badly Li” is training to become an astronaut. Son Gong’s wife opens a brothel.