Dreaming of mini-fictions? Les Sentiers des Rêves is calling you. This name translates to “The Paths of Dreams.” The Sentier des Rêves offers a constellation of life and humor.
This collection contains 160 micro-fictions. Each one is less than a page. Some are only a few lines long. These stories are divided into eight sections. Literature. Organisms. Things. Social Chronicles. Aboriginal People. Feelings. Dreams. The World of Jianghu.
Taiwanese author Walis Nokan created this rich collection. It includes mini-stories of adventure and drama. They draw from his readings. His personal experiences are also included. He used his observation of things and people. He used tradition too. Tradition especially from the world of martial arts. His humor and poetic imagination work wonders. These are brief stories where reality and imagination intertwine. It is a discovery that continues the Taiwan Fiction collection. It follows Wu Mingyi’s “The Magician on the bridge”. That was published in 2017 by L’Asiathèque.
The book has an elegant translation by Coraline Jortay. She is the translator of culinary chronicles. These chronicles appear in “Taipei, stories around the corner”. That was published in 2017 by L’Asiathèque.
Walis Nokan was born in 1961. His birthplace was Mihu village in Taiwan. He is a writer from the Atayal aboriginal group. He was a primary school teacher. Now he leads many writing workshops. Since the 1990s, his writing increasingly shows Atayal culture. His creativity shines in prose and poems. He has won many awards. He wrote one of the stories in the anthology “Taipei, stories around the corner”. It was published in 2017 by L’Asiathèque.
Coraline Jortay has a doctorate in Chinese literature. She studied at the Free University of Brussels. Her thesis covered gender and identity in 20th-century Chinese women writers. She is also a literary translator. She won 2nd and 3rd prizes in the 2013 China International Translation Competition. She translated Walis Nokan’s “Les sentiers des rêves et autres microfictions”. It was published by L’Asiathèque in 2018.
Gwennaël Gaffric was born in 1987. He teaches Chinese language and culture. He is also a translator. He regularly translates for L’Asiathèque. He manages the “Taiwan Fiction” collection.
“Les Sentiers des Rêves” offers a unique experience. It blends Taiwanese culture with universal themes. The micro-fiction format allows for quick reads. Yet each story is impactful. The book is divided into sections. “Literature” includes stories like “A Reader in the Night” and “Meeting with Borges”. “Organisms” features tales like “The Tears of the Ox” and “The Monkey”. “Things” presents “The Forbidden Bowl Deposit” and “The Mobile Phone”. “Social Chronicles” offers stories like “The Emperor’s New Clothes”. “Aborigines” includes “The Dream Interpreter”. “Feelings” explores “Always Together” and “Snow White”. “Dreams” contains stories like “The Paths of Dreams”. Finally, “The World of Jianghu” delves into martial arts.
Each section provides a glimpse into different aspects of life. Nokan’s writing style is concise. It is poetic. The translation by Jortay captures the essence of his work. Gaffric’s work with the collection ensures its quality. As you explore the Sentier des Rêves, consider the power of short stories. Consider how they can evoke deep emotions. They can paint vivid pictures. They can offer profound insights. The Sentier des Rêves invites you to wander. Lose yourself in the beauty of brevity.