Yiyun Li

Yiyun Li is a Chinese-American author known for her short stories, novels, and essays. Her work often explores themes of memory, identity, and the human experience, drawing heavily on her experiences in China and the United States. Li's notable works include 'A Thousand Years of Good Prayers,' 'The Vagrants,' and 'Where Reasons End.' She has received numerous awards for her writing, including the PEN/Hemingway Award and a MacArthur Fellowship.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Kinder Than Solitude

    Cover of 'Kinder Than Solitude' by Yiyun Li

    This novel revolves around the intertwined lives of three friends from their youth in Beijing during the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square protests to their separate paths as adults in the United States and China. The mysterious poisoning of their friend, Shaoai, which occurred during their teenage years, casts a long shadow over their lives, influencing their relationships, personal development, and their ability to find solace and meaning in their adult lives. Through a narrative that weaves past and present, the story explores themes of memory, guilt, isolation, and the complex nature of human connections, revealing how the echoes of a moment can shape the course of a lifetime.

    The 8594th Greatest Book of All Time