City of Whales

""City of Whales"" unfolds against the backdrop of Hong Kong in 2009, introducing new characters such as Lily, Michael, and Ah Mu alongside familiar figures like Ah Guo and Ah Fa. These individuals, all young in their own right, have navigated the path to adulthood, each finding their place in the world while grappling with a lingering sense of loss. Remarkably, they remain steadfast in their pursuit of constructing a ""beautiful new world."" Set against the backdrop of an evolving era and its distinctive social challenges, the novel weaves together themes of ecstasy, duty-free red wine, decaying fanaticism, urban planning, education reform, telemarketing, and slimming, engaging in a profound dialogue with the zeitgeist and etching a literary record of its time. As the humpback whales find their way back from misguided routes, Ah Guo chooses to flee from home—a decision that, perhaps, is a necessary step for the eventual return journey, underscoring the complex dynamics at play in the city's narrative.