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The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Common Read gives insight on Chinese culture

    This semester Yiyun Li’s book of short stories “A Thousand Years of Good Prayers” was selected for the bi-annual Common Read. Hundreds of English students read the stories for class, and over the past week several events were held to enlighten students on Chinese culture and the meaning behind Li’s work. 

    Li is Chinese, but has only written in English. Her twelve stories in “A Thousand Years of Good Prayers” follow Chinese characters in modern China or America. Many of these stories are about Chinese traditions, such as marriage and duty to family.

    “One reason Yiyun Li was chosen is because we partner with the Tennessee Williams Festival in the spring, and Li is one of the featured authors,” said Heather Botsford, English instructor and member of the Common Read committee. “We thought her literary style would be well received by students and were excited to offer a diverse author with an international world view.  We chose her collection of stories, ‘A Thousand Years of Good Prayers,’ because the stories, though set in China, are about universal human experiences.” 

    The first of these events, “The Triumph of Human Will: Revolution and Traditionalism in Mao’s China,” was held Wednesday, March 25 in the Writing Center. The lecture given by Dr. Sam Hyde, Leon Ford Endowed Chair Professor of History, provided students with an overview of Mao’s China as a context for Li’s stories. 

    Mao Zedong led a rebellion in China in the 1930s and ruled as a dictator until his death in 1976. During his rule, Mao launched three campaigns, the first of which caused a famine in China. His second campaign begged for feedback from intellectuals, but after hearing complaints, he launched a third campaign to purge the nation of anyone with pre-Mao beliefs. 

    “Mao was a great revolutionary,” said Hyde. “He was a terrible governor. He didn’t know what the hell to do.”

    In several of Li’s stories, the characters talk about communism and the cultural revolution, which Hyde also mentioned in his lecture.

    The following evening, some of Dr. Chance Harvey’s freshman English 102 students presented a dramatization of Yiyun Li’s “Love in the Marketplace.” Freshman education major Karly Gunter, who portrayed the main character Sansan, was nervous, but honored and excited because she connected to Li’s story. 

    “‘Love in the Marketplace’ was my favorite story,” said Gunter. “I just love the point of the story, that a promise is a promise. That means a lot to me. I do think that it was very honoring to be able to do this [act the part of Sansan], and I’m looking forward to being able to do this in front of the author.”  

    Monday, the author visited campus for a day of Common Read events beginning with the presentation of pre-selected English papers about Li’s stories, followed by a Q&A with Li. Harvey’s students gave an additional performance of their play for the author.

    “Students always report that they are excited to have had the chance to meet the author of a book they have studied in class,” said Alison Pelegrin, English instructor. “I also love that they have a tangible reminder that literature is an ongoing process; it is happening right now, and that means that the conversation is constantly shifting.” 

    Later in the afternoon, a panel was held with Li and special guests at the Writing Center to speak to English majors about finding a mentor, internships and other opportunities. 

    The Common Read concluded in the Student Union Theatre Monday at 6:30 p.m. with a reading and Q&A with Li. 

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