20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth

Life as an extra in Beijing might seem hard, but Fenfang - the spirited heroine of Xiaolu Guo's new novel won't be defeated. Sh has travelled 1,800 miles to seek her fortune in the city, and has no desire to return to the never ending sweet potato fields back home. Determined to live a modern life, Fenfang works as a cleaner in the Young Pioneer's movie theatre, falls in love with an unsuitable man and keeps her kitchen cupboard stocked with UFO instant noodles. As Fenfang might say, Heavenly Bastard in the sky, isn't it about time I got my lucky break.