“UFO In Her Eyes” is one strange novel, and I am liking it. I don’t think I have read something quite like this before. The storyline is strange. But even more so is the format and the way this book is written.
The story begins in year 2012, in a small Chinese village called Silver Hill. A 37 years old illiterate female peasant Kwok Yun sights a UFO over the rice field. Not only that. She has revived an alien too (who disappears shortly while she gathers herbs with the intend to treat its wound). This single event has triggered off two things. First, an investigation by the National Security and Intelligence Hunan Bureau led by a Beijing Agent 1919 and a Hunan Agent 1989. Second, new funding finds its way into the village now that Silver Hill has made herself known to the central government (and more).
The investigation leaves no stone unturned. Key figures in the village are interviewed and cross-examined. From the Chief of Silver Hall to the headmaster of the only school in this poor village, from the farm and stall owners to the butcher and bicycle mender. The book is written in the formats of minutes of meetings, reports, crude drawings, email messages, and transcripts. And because of the way this story is told, there are little words to describe the physical appearance of most of the characters within the book. This bit is unique. I can’t possibly visualize how “UFO In Her Eyes” can be made into a movie. What makes the characters memorable is the tone of voice, how they carry out themselves, their unique opinions towards the same thing, and their choice of words that hints how educated or illiterate they are. If you have Chinese background, the literal translation of some of the Chinese phrases is humorous. Most I can relate. Such as “Five Metals” (similar to a Western DIY store?), “Flying Pigeon” bicycle, “Rich and Strong” as a Chinese name, “Five-Pace” snake, “Hundred Arm” tree, and “eat the bitterness”. There are some strange swearing words too. Till today, I am still unable to work out what “Dog Sun” means. All of these to me are unique expressions that add colors to the writing.
In a deeper level, “UFO In Her Eyes” examines the snapshots of modern Chinese history and relive them casually through the characters: from the socialistic revolution in 1949, the Korean War and the liberation of Tibet, China’s First Five Year Plan (1953-57), the Great Leap Forward, the disasters and famine that follows, the 10 years of cultural revolution, Deng Xiaoping, One Child Policy, to the millions of peasants remain in rural China today. Those who are aware of these key historical events would be able to better appreciate a hint of sarcasm within (or rather a realistic illustration depending on your perspective). Silver Hill, too, is undergoing a Five Year Plan, amidst 60 years late. A UFO museum is built, among many other things. And with modernization and easy accessibility to the neighboring major cities in such an accelerated pace, many are not able to adjust to the change. When someone commits suicide in this age of advancement, the residents cannot help but to think: We may have lived a harsh life previously (or eating the bitterness so as to speak), may have even eaten grass and roots to stay alive, now that our city is getting better, why do people want to die?
In essence, what the author attempts to do is to relive the modern history of China through a fictitious village called Silver Hill. For a novel that is merely 200 pages thick, such economic use of words in accomplishing so much is hard to imagine. And the author has done it well.
. It is refreshing to read the work of a China writer in Traditional Chinese because given my very limited exposure to Simplified Chinese, my reading appetite is often confined to either authors from Hong Kong or Taiwan.
– to help me decide what to read next.