The Fat Years by Chan Koonchung is a non-fictional (but also fictional - it's actually kinda sci-fi) story about a group of friends who believe that an entire month, 28 days to be precise, has gone missing from people’s memories and official records. As they try to find the reason behind Chinese people’s slightly-too-happy state-of-mind and their botched memories, they uncover jaw-dropping truths.

Set in Beijing, the fundamental question that The Fat Years asks is “Between a good hell and a counterfeit paradise, which one will people choose?” Chan Koonchung explores the answer through China’s political, economical, and social history.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book because it evoked paralysing dread in me. Everything that happens in the book can so easily happen in real life. The fact that this book is banned in China only served as a cherry on top. I found the commentary on what a secular government should do quite amusing.

The first 3 quarters of the story engaged me through the inter-woven stories of different characters. (This is something I generally enjoy across genres. I like to see characters slowly coming together.) The epilogue is a bit dragged out but insightful nonetheless. The language used throughout the book is simple and accessible, there's no literary gold or fantastic prose to be found here. The book offers a lot to chew on, really.

I would highly recommend to The Fat Years to anyone looking for a masterful blend of fiction and non-fiction or a ride into a very real nightmare.