Words turn small town lifestyle into a big story
His word keeps his world relevant. Author Lin Peiyuan, 32, observes the intricacies, history, character, old-fashioned charm and foibles of his hometown in South China's Guangdong province. He peppers his work with the salty, wet atmosphere of the small town by the sea. He uses local-dialect phrases to tell a story of universal humanity.
Xiaozhen Shenghuo Zhinan (A Guide to Small Town Living) published recently, comprising 10 short stories concerning the author, is a case in point. It is an intense example of self-observation written with panache.
The cultural and linguistic region Lin's works repeatedly evoke is often referred to as Chaoshan. This is an amalgamation of the cities Chaozhou, Jieyang and Shantou, or Swatow, at the southeast side of the province.
