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lubie_'s review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
gxuosi's review against another edition
dnf at 48%. yu hua attempted to write a surrealist critique of modern capitalist china and the degraded value of human life. instead we got a shallow surrealist stroll through stunted half plots with the continued vilification of people with HIV and other STDs as well as queer people and sex workers. it’s just not worth my time to read a humanities fiction that’s totally lacking in compassion.
mp22's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
lenazoe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
krichard410's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
beadingrainbow's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
serenade's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is no To Live or Brothers or Chronicles of a Blood Merchant, but it's enjoyable nonetheless. The writing was a little more descriptive than I would've liked and the plot points were at times a little loose, but that gets resolved in the end.
goldencages's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Seventh Day is a book about gruesome topics like death, the afterlife, misfortunes, and life at the margins of society, but it is surprisingly comfortable and easy to read, infused with well-flowing prose by Yu Hua and the warmth that colours his vision of the afterlife for the unburied and recently passed people on Earth.
As our main protagonist Yang Fei wanders through the stations of his life, seemingly fatefully drawn to this or that chapter of his existence, we encounter not just his own touching and "ordinarily tragic" story but also that of many people around him – from his ex-wife to neighbours, adoptive parents, people he read about in the news, and more. Their stories paint a rich picture of Yang Fei's China: the hustle of the big cities, the technological changes, the social expectations placed on men and women, parents and children, employees and lovers. In these tales, life is not easy and life is not always fair.
The afterlife Yu Hua draws for his characters in contrast is a fairer world – yes, there are still VIP zones for the rich and privileged in the souls' crematory – but overall, old grudges are put aside, regrets are addressed, and second chances are given. It is a hopeful image of what comes after death – but, to me at least, also a powerful reminder not to leave our societies (China or elsewhere) unchanged so that we can only wait for a kinder afterlife to come.
As our main protagonist Yang Fei wanders through the stations of his life, seemingly fatefully drawn to this or that chapter of his existence, we encounter not just his own touching and "ordinarily tragic" story but also that of many people around him – from his ex-wife to neighbours, adoptive parents, people he read about in the news, and more. Their stories paint a rich picture of Yang Fei's China: the hustle of the big cities, the technological changes, the social expectations placed on men and women, parents and children, employees and lovers. In these tales, life is not easy and life is not always fair.
The afterlife Yu Hua draws for his characters in contrast is a fairer world – yes, there are still VIP zones for the rich and privileged in the souls' crematory – but overall, old grudges are put aside, regrets are addressed, and second chances are given. It is a hopeful image of what comes after death – but, to me at least, also a powerful reminder not to leave our societies (China or elsewhere) unchanged so that we can only wait for a kinder afterlife to come.
carpe_libris's review against another edition
4.0
I chose this title for the "takes place in Asia" category of the Read Harder challenge. The way the author uses death and an afterlife as a lens through which he tells different, but interconnected stories is quite original, I thought. Through all the little vignettes, the main character's story never gets lost. Surreal and haunting.