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metalphoenix's review against another edition
3.0
The thing with mysteries is that you can't use the same trick over and over again and expect a reaction from the reader. In [b:Bridge of Birds|15177|Bridge of Birds A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was|Barry Hughart|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327940289s/15177.jpg|958087], the reveals were fresh and clever. In [b:Story of the Stone|77207|The Story of the Stone|Barry Hughart|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1321813561s/77207.jpg|850766], it was somewhat expected, but still interesting. But the third time is not the charm here, and the mystery part of Hughart's books that I found so compelling before was a bit of a dud.
This book also lacked the same fairy tale air that the first two books captured. Even though the story revolves around an ancient myth like the others, it was never as magical. Without that abstract atmosphere, the story's more eccentric parts felt incredibly out of place and took me away from the story. In particular, there's a scene where they It's intended to be humorous, with a listing of various recipes and Number Ten Ox's disgusted reactions, but without the fairy tale tone to accentuate the absurdity, it mostly felt weird.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed the core myth for what it was. Hughart definitely creates fascinating folklore. I especially liked the concept of Envy, and the story he tells about the king. (The king envies a farmer, so the gods grant his wish to become one. As a farmer, he envies the clouds, so the gods grant his wish again. As a cloud he envies the sun, as the sun he envies the stars, and as a star he envies a normal life on Earth, and is turned back into a king who envies the farmer.) Considering that the previous two books dealt with greed and pride (though not as literally), I wonder if the subsequent books Hughart had originally planned would have been about the other sins, with an Ancient Chinese folklore twist. That would have been pretty neat.
In conclusion: This book's title would make an excellent band name.
This book also lacked the same fairy tale air that the first two books captured. Even though the story revolves around an ancient myth like the others, it was never as magical. Without that abstract atmosphere, the story's more eccentric parts felt incredibly out of place and took me away from the story. In particular, there's a scene where they
Spoiler
kill a man, and end up having to cook the body to get rid of the evidence.Nonetheless, I enjoyed the core myth for what it was. Hughart definitely creates fascinating folklore. I especially liked the concept of Envy, and the story he tells about the king. (The king envies a farmer, so the gods grant his wish to become one. As a farmer, he envies the clouds, so the gods grant his wish again. As a cloud he envies the sun, as the sun he envies the stars, and as a star he envies a normal life on Earth, and is turned back into a king who envies the farmer.) Considering that the previous two books dealt with greed and pride (though not as literally), I wonder if the subsequent books Hughart had originally planned would have been about the other sins, with an Ancient Chinese folklore twist. That would have been pretty neat.
In conclusion: This book's title would make an excellent band name.
misterjay's review against another edition
3.0
As with "The Story of the Stone," this adventure of Master Li and Number Ten Ox lacks that special something that made their first story, "Bridge of Birds" so transcendant. And, like with SotS, for me, it was the lack of a damsel in distress. Once again Li and Ox are acting more to satisfy their own curiosity than to protect or help any innocents and this leaves the story just a little flat. Add to that a convoluted mystery involving 3,000 year old demigods and, well, it took some time to get through this particular book.
However, having said all that, when the action picks up, it is still packed with humor, warmth, and all manner of interesting characters that make this book and fun and worthwhile read.
However, having said all that, when the action picks up, it is still packed with humor, warmth, and all manner of interesting characters that make this book and fun and worthwhile read.
anothersolipsist's review against another edition
5.0
This is an exceedingly enjoyable book. It's a fun romp through a fantasy setting which just happens to be almost exactly 4th century China. The author has a gift for descriptive writing, and I particularly liked some of the colorful similes. This is a standalone book, but you'll probably want to read "Bridge of Birds" first, since it's the first book featuring these main characters and contains more introduction of them.
pedanther's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Alcohol, Death, Dementia, Body shaming, Child death, Sexual content, Cannibalism, Violence, Xenophobia, Classism, Confinement, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Police brutality, Torture, Colonisation, Fatphobia, Gore, Medical content, Murder, and Sexism
Minor: Suicide, Incest, Pandemic/Epidemic, Animal death, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Excrement
imsam's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic ending to a wonderful series. A new favorite of mine.
abmgw's review against another edition
5.0
Retroseptiv war das Buch hier doch schlechter als das zweite, ich hatte das anders in Erinnerung.
Trozdem: viel Schönes drinnen, und es fühlt sich so an wie Fantasy generell sich anfühlen sollte. Ein Hoch auf Nummer 10 den Ochsen und Meister Li.
Trozdem: viel Schönes drinnen, und es fühlt sich so an wie Fantasy generell sich anfühlen sollte. Ein Hoch auf Nummer 10 den Ochsen und Meister Li.
planetarypan's review against another edition
3.0
I did not find this book as interesting as the first two. Maybe I read it too soon after the last one, but the twists and turns annoyed me. I felt like the story dragged more than the others as well. I still love the two main characters, but I can see why the author stopped writing the stories (I read somewhere that he felt he was getting repetitive, and I agree). Too bad Hughart didn't seem to publish anything else.
catwithakeyboard's review
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
davidscrimshaw's review against another edition
5.0
This was fun.
If you enjoy gentle humour, fantasy, and foreign culture, the chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, are rewarding.
But I have to admit that I was sad to learn that Barry Hughart had intended to write seven books, not only three, in the series, but had a falling out with his publishers. And now he's gone, so we'll never get more.
If you enjoy gentle humour, fantasy, and foreign culture, the chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, are rewarding.
But I have to admit that I was sad to learn that Barry Hughart had intended to write seven books, not only three, in the series, but had a falling out with his publishers. And now he's gone, so we'll never get more.