Igor Clark

This, Naomi and Diary of A Mad Old Man, can be seen as Tanizaki's trilogy of perverted, sexually-explicit novels. This one isn't quite as good as those two, but it's still something special. This one is the most voyeuristic of the three and perhaps the most twisted.

One of the most remarkable books I have ever read. The action moves from one chapter to the next, taking in slapstick comedy (highly evocative of Jackie Chan films), romance, drama and some of the most surrealist setups ever given to print.My favourite scene must be in the modern museum, as the ballet class practice and train one afternoon. The curator has a fit when they start dismantling one of the exhibits - their clothes hung here and there on the walls, was it an exhibition? or was it a joke? either way they leave wearing nothing but their gym costumes.Frank writing and an open and honest look at authority and government are rich veins throughout, probably why then that Wang Shuo is so despised by the Chinese government.That's not to say this book is overtly political, you are never bombarded with the propoganda and rantings found in lesser stories.No, Shuo has taken a snapshot of life as it really must be. The antagonisers, the oppresed and the disenchanted are all playing musical chairs.Possibly only let down by the crazy and "where did that come from?" ending (if you've seen Akira, you'll recognise it), but then, from one of the most insane authors comes one of the most insane books - how else could it end?