Ninth Building

Ninth Building
AuthorZou Jingzhi
LanguageMandarin Chinese
PublisherOpen Letter Books (English)
Publication dateApril 11, 2023
Pages208
ISBN978-1-948830-75-1

Ninth Building is a novel by Zou Jingzhi. Originally written in Mandarin Chinese, it was translated to English by Jeremy Tiang and published by Honford Star in 2023.

Described as a "doculiterary" work, the novel was longlisted for the International Booker Prize, making Tiang became the first Singaporean ever nominated.

Critical reception

The New Yorker, in a briefly noted review, observed that the book consisted of "fictionalized connected vignettes" and "sharp childhood recollections."

Open Letters Review, dubbing the novel an instance of Chinese "scar literature," called it "a harrowing depiction of boyhood during the Cultural Revolution."

References

  1. ↑ Shaffi, Sarah (2023-03-14). "International Booker prize announces longlist to celebrate 'ambition and panache'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
  2. ↑ "Jeremy Tiang is first Singaporean to make International Booker Prize longlist with Ninth Building". The Straits Times. 2023-03-15. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
  3. ↑ "'Ninth Building,' Translated by Professor Jeremy Tiang, Longlisted for the International Booker Prize | School of the Arts". arts.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
  4. ↑ Yorker, The New (2023-07-24). "Briefly Noted Book Reviews". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
  5. ↑ Gill, Kiran (2023-04-19). "Ninth Building by Zou Jingzhi". Open Letters Review. Retrieved 2026-02-28.