The Taipei Cultural Center in New York announced the launch of a new book "Faraway (遠方)" by Taiwanese writer Lo Yi-chin (駱以軍) as one of the books in the series "Modern Chinese Literature from Taiwan," published by the Columbia University Press in New York.
Translated by Jeremy Tiang (程異), "Faraway" is a fictionalized version of the author who finds himself stranded in mainland China attempting to bring his comatose father home. Isolated in a foreign country, Lo mulls over his life, dwelling on his difficult relationship with his father and how becoming a father himself has changed him. It is a powerful meditation on the nature of family and the many ways blood can both unite and divide us.
Lo's depiction of family dynamics and fraught politics contains a keen sense of irony and sensitivity to everyday absurdity. He offers a deft portrayal of the rift between China and Taiwan through an intimate view of a father-son relationship that bridges this divide.
One of the most celebrated writers in Taiwan, Lo has been greatly influential throughout the Chinese-speaking world, but his work has not previously been translated into English. Tiang's translation captures Lo's distinctive voice, mordant wit, and nuanced portrayal of Taiwanese culture.
Lo is the recipient of numerous honors including the Hong Lou Meng Award and Taiwan Literary Award. His novels include Kuang Chaoren (匡超人), Daughter (女兒), Western Xia Hotel (西夏旅館), Surname of the Moon (月球姓氏), and The Third Dancer (第三個舞者).
For more information on the book, please visit Columbia University Press's website (https://cup.columbia.edu/book/faraway/9780231193955).