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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book. Shan Sa took an incredible amount of history and showed it to us through the eyes of our heroine, who grows from fierce little girl to retired Empress, with many steps between.
Untuk pembaca baru buku-buku HF memang agak mengintimidasi. Tapi setelah mencoba membaca beberapa, bagiku ini adalah salah satu cara untuk membaca buku pelajaran sejarah dengan cara yang fun dan ringan.
Empress Wu adalah satu-satunya Kaisar Wanita di China yang memerintah sejak dinasti Tang. Karena ini pertama kalinya aku membaca tentang riwayat hidup beliau, aku tidak bisa menyebutkan sampai sejauh mana keakuratan data di buku ini. Berbeda dengan buku novel biasa atau sodara muda genre ini (hisrom), karakter di buku HF itu nyata dan benar-benar ada. Kita tidak bisa menilai konsistensi sifat seorang yang nyata di dlm novel karena itu seperti bergosip mengenai karakter seseorang. Jadi di sini aku akan menggambarkan apa yang kudapatkan dari buku ini tentang Empress Wu.
- Dalam jalinan bahasa sastra penuh kalimat puitis, pembaca akan diajak mengikuti perjalanan hidup calon ratu ini semenjak dia di dalam kandungan. Jujur penggambaran novel ini menggunakan POV orang pertama serba tahu yang agak aneh. Janin Wu sudah bisa menggambarkan proses kelahirannya sendiri dan juga proses kematian dan masa setelah kematiannya. Itu agak terasa aneh bagiku.
- Perjalanan hidup Wu kecil yang keras menempanya menjadi wanita yang tangguh, kuat dan ambisius. Kecerdasannya memukau. Aku suka saat Shan Sa menggambarkan sisi lemah dan kelembutan dari ratu yang terkenal sangat kuat ini. Dia di gambarkan cukup manusiawi dengan penggambaran sisi erotismenya yang agak anti mainstream di masa itu. Seks sesama jenis, oral seks, biseks, threesome, gangbang, nenek girang dan "jamu awet muda", incest semua ada di buku ini. Puji Tuhan semua itu digambarkan dalam bahasa puitis yang tetap bisa dibayangkan oleh pembaca berimajinasi aktif.
- Sejarah selalu diceritakan dari sisi pemenang. Beberapa fakta dalam buku ini kadang terasa kejam dan tak adil. Tapi selalu disertai penjelasan alasan kenapa sebuah keputusan dan kekejaman di laksanakan. Sejarah membuka tabir kelam bahwa tidak ada yang polos lugu dalam menjenjangi tangga kekuasaan. Siapkan hati dan otakmu untuk mencerna semua intrik kelas tinggi, dimana siapapun bisa berkhianat.
- Buku ini dan semua nama-nama karakter utama dan para figurannya yang selalu berubah seiring kenaikan pangkat mereka, adalah cobaan buat memori jangka pendekku. Aku berharap selain bagan silsilah, sang penulis berbaik hati membuat glossary sebagai ringkasan nama dan gelar. Sehingga keningku tak berkerut melihat nama : Keselarasan, Kelembutan, Harapan, Keteduhan, Kebajikan, Kesegaran Jasmani, Aura Surgawi dll dll dll.
So far, Ratu Wu adalah wanita cerdas yang sangat kuat. Dalam masa kepimpinannya China mengalami banyak kemajuan pesat. Dia adalah karakter komplek yang sangat menginspirasi. Aku merekomendasi buku ini untuk pembaca pencinta sejarah China, yang tidak keberatan dengan gaya bahasa puitis romantis dan sedikit sensasi erotis.
My Rating :
Star : 3/5
Upon hindsight, I feel as though this was made for me. A good historical fiction which covers all the issues of Wu Ze Tian's reign. It concerned all the scandals, the darker side of things. Nothing was left untouched and I loved it.
Also, I can appreciate it a lot more once I realised how much it is in rarity. The Chinese Culture rarely gets appreciated, and when it does, chances are, quite a bit is butchered. Even when I read novels in Chinese, I normally would not just believe everything.
But this is a take about a Machiavellian, and she is trying to find control. At every step of the way, her journey was well done. The way she entered the court, all the dealings she had within the entire court itself. The controversy that is her life, her entire being as it is. Even debated till this day.
The plot was masterfully woven, and the writing exquisite and lush. This was made for me, and I would say check it out. This is an all too true account of Wu Ze Tian, rather than seeing her whitewashed, dumbed down from all her deeds. She is willing to do what it takes and I love it.
Also, I can appreciate it a lot more once I realised how much it is in rarity. The Chinese Culture rarely gets appreciated, and when it does, chances are, quite a bit is butchered. Even when I read novels in Chinese, I normally would not just believe everything.
But this is a take about a Machiavellian, and she is trying to find control. At every step of the way, her journey was well done. The way she entered the court, all the dealings she had within the entire court itself. The controversy that is her life, her entire being as it is. Even debated till this day.
The plot was masterfully woven, and the writing exquisite and lush. This was made for me, and I would say check it out. This is an all too true account of Wu Ze Tian, rather than seeing her whitewashed, dumbed down from all her deeds. She is willing to do what it takes and I love it.
The story was interesting, it really was, but the writing was way over the top. Can't decide if the lowest point was the first-person POV incest or the first-person POV record of the narrator's birth.
This book had some beautiful moments of poetry; however, I felt so coldly removed from the story. The characters will soon fade from my memory, for I never took them inside of me.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved: Lyricism of the text, delving into a historic time period I don't get to read about often, reading another (albeit romanticized) perspective of a controversial historical figure.
Didn't love: Some sections of overly-detailed descriptions (e.g. literally six pages to describe the make-up of a procession).
Didn't love: Some sections of overly-detailed descriptions (e.g. literally six pages to describe the make-up of a procession).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Slavery, Blood, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
it was great to know the story of a powerful women, but it was a hard read.