亦舒

Official book description:
世上好得不似真的事與人，大抵也全部不是真的。

成為晚娘，面對大小問題，也可平安渡過；以為會一直順風順水，生活卻再起波瀾。世事難料，只有學懂說「好好好」，坦然面對一切，繼續上路。

What a strange book.
In 好好好, 亦舒 chose a book title that was applicable for maybe the first 20%. She used this term, which means “Good, good, good” in the literal sense, or agree, or ok, ok in application. In the early part of the book, the story is focused on the two daughters and their parents, in particular their mom. The mom would say 好好好 to avoid antagonizing her daughters. The story was very promising in this portion, with the possibility of spoiled family members at the expense of the mom. But the story switches focus to the elder daughter, the “rebellious” one who wanted to study the arts, earning a PhD, much to the chagrin of her parents. This same rebellious child is sloppy, eats fast food, and moved out to be independent, all the stereotype Chinese family no-no's. Then *spoiler alert*, she loses weight, earns a good living as an art authenticator, marries a rich guy with three children who adore her, all without saying 好好好. What? Admittedly, that is not the end of the story. I won’t spoil the rest, but it still doesn’t have anything to do with the title.

The book wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t good, either. The plot and even the twists are too convenient. Where do all these ultra-wealthy guys come from anyway? Maybe when a writer is as prolific as she is, the stories just become formulaic eventually.… (plus d'informations)

I have read books by 亦舒, more off than on, when I find them from the local library. It is always such a pleasure to read one. This impressive author has written over 328 books. This book from 2012 is her 239th work. Amazing.

In 櫻唇, 亦舒 writes of 一心, who grew up as an orphan, who has learned to defend herself, learned life skills in the orphanage, survived bullying, and stayed true to herself. She was found in a dumpster as a baby, with her lips chewed off by a stray animal. She grew up hiding herself, making herself as small as possible away from society, wearing a face mask. Without lips, she could not speak properly or eat normally. Growing up in a corner as an observer, she sees and learns more about people and their behaviors. At a chance encounter, 一心 meets a plastic surgeon who was also an orphan. 一心 is physically transformed to a beauty that matches the beauty that is her as a person. The plot covers 一心 working as a housekeeper in a mini-dormitory/house of three young-men, all of whom fall in love with her after her transformation, the kindness of the house-owner, one of the few people who saw her as her true self, and her working as a talented lingerie designer, her career.

Through the unique character of 一心, 亦舒 eloquently expresses human behaviors throughout the book, sometimes in as few as three words. Below are a few examples. The novels of 亦舒 are not in the romance category, even though love is often part of the plot. They are filled with life observations. They are warm and hopeful. The main character’s name means literally one heart, which can be translated as steadfast, determined, and loyal (not blindly). It was very fitting.

Boss: “Why didn’t you join the ABC company like other designers did when XY recruited you?” 一心: “XY is promiscuous”. I laughed at this response.

When the three young men all expressed interest in her, she readily knew they were boys. They were not done sowing their oats. One proposed to her; when she declined, he invited a girl to sleep with him on the same night. Later this young man opens a café nearby. She observes, “A room full of honored guests, but he couldn’t remember his favorite auntie.” Before her transformation while wearing her mask and loose clothing, all three boys mistook her as being much older calling her auntie, an auntie without a name.

A friend calls 一心, excitedly telling her that famous company MM is recruiting and that she will be applying. She insisted 一心 must come work for her if she is hired. 一心 couldn’t get a word in edgewise that she is already working for MM or that she has her surgeries. 一心 observes, “She thinks I am beneath her because of my physical traits. I can only work for her. She will never see me as an equal.”… (plus d'informations)