The Carnival in the Misty Mirage...(23/12)

<窮風流>, written by 雷競璇 , 2004
This is a book more interesting and touching than it appears. Rather than saying it a work by the author, it is more like a combination of articles written about his living experience and observation in France...Having a real sensation of residing in Paris at the moment, I have a strong recognition of what is shared by the author. Indeed I have met quite some Hong Kong people who live in this metropolitan and to a certain extent, we share some kind of loss about our identity, our dream and our homeland. The book spent quite an extent to depict the life of various people met by the author, either those from Hong Kong or Africa together with the local French people. That's true, a way I adore Paris is its multi-perspective element in society, and it is due to its diversity in terms of culture, political interest, social class and nationality that shapes a lively city like Paris. I may not have as much observation as the author, but definitely when reading the book, there is a kind of nostalgic feeling about the dream and aspiration that have from time to time been trying to go further from me. Paris is always a dream place to live in. To me, the second part of the book is more fantastic. Agree that it is the environment of the city that gives by chance a sense of romance to strangers like us. I, unlike the author, come to work instead of study, and this brings me additional horizon in understanding and imitating the life of the Parisian, but at the same time, the kind of romantic life in school and study seem a bit remote to me. A general emotion after staying for a year is a sort of repeating question about my existence and the goal I am really pursuing. Not easy to look for an answer. The author states that a kind of decision to live in France with his life and his just-arrived little baby when they first landed on needs some irrational passion. The Chinese name of the book is nice, and true, when you choose to go in one way, you give up perhaps much others. Seeing the space between the words, you can really feel the mix of bitterness and regretlessness from the old days. (B+)