Yu Li: Confessions of an Elevator Operator

by Jimmy Qi, Harvey Thomlinson (Translator)

Yu Li, is an inspector at a fake wine distillery in a small town without any tall buildings in China's Hebei province. After he is fired for drinking the wine during his inspections, Yu Li manages to land another job as an elevator operator in a luxury apartment building in the far-off capital, Beijing. The apartment building is home to the winners in the new China: celebrities, the new rich and big-shot officials. Misadventures abound as Yu Li struggles to adjust to the confusion of city life and, above all, fights to subdue the 'nuclear weapon' in his pants.

The Modern Chinese Masters series aims to highlight Chinese authors and genres of fiction that are often ignored by Anglophone publishers. Each of the titles has been chosen for its ability to surprise and challenge preconceptions about Chinese writing. The series includes leading Chinese writers such as Li Er who have never previously been translated into English. Each title in the series includes a translated novella, an essay introducing the author, and a specially commissioned authorial foreword.

84 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2012

Reviews

[Ezgi ☕️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A satire novel reflecting imperialism and socio-bureaucratic powers in Beijing. It has that Kafkaistic air about it- challenging the norm and never reaching the nirvana of meeting the "deputy department head", but ready to sacrifice his redundant life for this very important man and his family. His needs are not important, so is his tasks: elevator operator? That is how Jimmy Qi explains he realized that he is back in China: elevator operators. I liked the afterword of this book more than the story. Writer's "We are all Yu Li" would have been enough to appreciate this short novel.

[Vanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nesmírně vtipná novela o smutných věcech.

Jü Li pracoval v továrně na stoprocentně pravé falešné cheng-šuejské víno, kde ho zaměstnali převážně pro jeho silnou alergickou reakci na alkohol. Jü Li ale není žádný blbec, přece se nenechá ochudit o to jediné, k čemu má volný přístup, a tak svých výhod využívá, i kdyby mu to mělo přinést smrt. Přinese mu to naštěstí jen vyhazov a nakonec se uchytí jako obsluha výtahu v obytném komplexu pro významné osoby (natolik významné, že se jim neodvažují nainstalovat samoobslužný výtah zahraniční výroby - potenciálně sabotovatelný). Jü Li se cítí povinován nasadit vlastní život na ochranu sekčního šéfa před zakuklenými gangstery, ale za žádnou cenu nedokáže rozeznat, kdo z obyvatel domu patří mezi šéfy a kdo mezi gangstery. Zároveň ale může kdokoli z nich patřit mezi celebrity, ty prý dnes vypadají jako gangsteři.

"Operating the elevator made Yu Li feel powerful.
Operating the elevator made Yu Li feel like an artist.
Yu Li was awesome!
Yu Li was going places!"

Občas jsem se smála nahlas, občas mi zatrnulo. Vřele doporučuji.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This guy, Yu Li, he works in an elevator. He pushes buttons. He's like a NASA astronaut. Elevator's are technical things. He also protects an A-list actor (although he doesn't know who he is), a B-list actress (although he doesn't know who she is), and a director (although he doesn't know who he is). So he's like a NASA astronaut and James Bond. He's also young, single, horny and has acne.

This is a short story novel showcasing one of China's promising new writers. The book is funny... and sad in it's portrayal of the most populace country in the world.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, exceedingly quick read about a migrant worker in China. Dark and funny.