Tiny Times

After spending the entire day in bed reading Tiny Times, the book which one of the most controversial movies in China is based off, I've been thinking about the role money and love plays in this world of ours. Tiny Times is something like teenage fiction, and it's about the lives of four girls who were close friends with each other in high school, but then drifted apart as they grew older because of the nature of life. I never thought I'd enjoy reading something so tame, because I've always preferred to pick up a fantasy novel where the protagonist goes on an adventure, becomes super strong and conquers the world. There is just so much excitement and thrill in those kinds of novels, but Tiny Times brings out the drama in daily lives.

The novel is set in Shanghai, and the author uses these beautiful metaphors to describe the city; from a raging beast roaring with rampant economic growth to a clockwork city devoid of emotion, where the people are little wind-up dolls travelling paths of monotony. After a few pages I understood why the novel was so successful and why the author Jing M. Guo is one of the richest authors in China.

Interestingly enough is how every few pages a luxury brand name is mentioned, stuff like LV, Armani, Gucci and Hermes... I've never even heard of Hermes, and I don't remember what LV stands for, but I guess I've never paid that much attention to luxury brands. The appearance of these big brand names all centre around this character called Lily, who doesn't hesitate to spend tens of thousands on a new phone, then throws it in her room a few weeks later and buy a new phone. Though she seemingly spends an atrocious amount of money of luxury goods, she is clever and she makes more than enough to compensate for her spending.

I can't believe I'd aspire to become like a fictional character, but I wish I had her talent and dedication. I think we spend too much time admiring other people's riches, but we forget to think about their own sacrifices to stand where they are. I mean, I reckon I could get pretty far if I decided to sleep 6 hours a day and be productive every waking hour.

I've almost finished reading Tiny Times, and I think it's a beautiful depiction of the interaction between money and everything else in modern society. Right now I'm feeling rather ambitious, it's as if the world was at my feet and I could reach out and take whatever it is I wanted.

It's like... I'm drifting on this high cloud. I should really go to bed while I feel so good, before the night drags on and I start feeling moody and sad again.