comment on style

The novel is a translation from the Chinese, which originally contained many idioms and phrases that were customary for trash pickers in Xi'an. Also lost in the translation are the different accents that play in, for instance, Mr Lu's accent that makes him so self-conscious when he speaks. The novel still retains some Chinese words, mainly the names of foods and the different types of cuisine. Food plays an important role in the story, since it represents Happy and Wufu's expertise of fresh and delicious foods, which do not have the same flavor in the city. Chinese language names and accents are alluded to throughout, although they are difficult to translate.