– XI –

 Love is brief, beautiful, and intense. Everything after is maintenance and routine.  

Xi Xi, Dies Aged 85

Hello Gentle Reader,
 
One of the greatest chroniclers and literary fashioners of Hong Kong, Xi Xi, has died at the age of 85. The writer who famously described Hong Kong as a 'Floating City,' to describe the anxious atmosphere as Hong Kong transitioned between two polar opposite political spectrum, was a beloved figure, who brought Hong Kong on to the literary stage, through her whimsical and fairy tale orientated narratives, which celebrated the exceptional uniqueness of Hong Kong. Xi Xi's bibliography is populated with short stories, novels, essay, poetry and screenplays, which were published, consumed, and loved by the people of Hong Kong. Xi Xi often regarded as a giant of contemporary Sinophone literature, who observed the unique characteristics, stories, and narratives of the small island city home. Xi Xi is renowned for her endearing portrait of the city as it transitioned away from British rule into the one county two system rule, before mainland China took a more aggressive stance. Throughout her six-decade career, Xi Xi remained beloved for her narratives which reimagined and imbued a sense of childlike curiosity into the mundane world, providing the aforementioned fairy tale narrative. This is perhaps what enshrined to her readers, who found her works to be an engaging and fabulist flight of fantasy within the mercurial city of Hong Kong. Who like other legendary cities, is both mythic landscape and urban ecosystem. This is perhaps what is most endearing about Xi Xi's work, is her understanding that the city of Hong Kong exists on a multi-tiered level, from the foundational brick into the soaring clouds overhead; to the bustling kitchens and crowded streets below; there was never any shortage of story, image, or narrative. Over the past few years, Xi Xi was being mentioned as a serious contender for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Her international literary reputation grew as she won the Newman Prize for Chinese Literature and the Cikada Prize.
 
Rest in Peace Xi Xi.
 
Thank you for Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read

 

M. Mary

Nélida Piñon, Dies Aged 85

Hello Gentle Reader,
 
Brazilian literature is full of great and legendary writers, which includes Clarice Lispector, Lúcio Cardoso, Hilda Hilst, and Ferreira Gullar. These writers thundered and swept through the Brazilian literary scene with hurricane force. Brilliant, elemental, and extraordinary. Their genius, sadly, was only recognized on an international level, post-mortem. Still even after death, their brilliance continues to persist, while their works are read and revered for their legendary quality. Contemporary Brazilian writers (the late) Rubem Fonseca and the 97-year-old Dalton Trevisan, are equally regarded in their legendary status; among them is Nélida Piñon, who recently died at the age of 85. In a fashion similar to Clarice Lispector, Nélida Piñon was known for being ground breaking and a writer of firsts, including being the first woman writer to be elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters, later going on to become its first female president a few short years after her initial induction. It is no surprise or wonder that Nélida Piñon was considered one of the foremost writers of contemporary Brazilian literature, a contender for the Nobel Prize for Literature; she won the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature 2005, in addition to the FIL in 1995. Nélida Piñon's work included thirty books, which crossed genres, including novels, essays, short stories, and children's books, all of which were lovingly translated into thirty languages. In addition to her literary work, Nélida Piñon was an accomplished academic, scholar, and educator, encouraging and cultivating the next generation.
 
Rest in Peace Nélida Piñon.
 
Thank you for Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
 
M. Mary