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At its best when (among other things; this is what personally appealed) depicting the perseverance of strains of humanity, i.e. in the form of sympathy for Japanese invaders (Father, for the soldier with the photo of his wife and child in his wallet, and Pocky Cheng, who is far from delighting in vengeance), and identifying humans and animals (mules, dogs) through shame.
Enjoyed the contribution of the narrative voice towards the process of myth-making — the lack of detail about the narrator, who speaks with such confident (suspect) authority (claiming to know details, for example, that characters before their time did not) at generational and urban/rural removes, makes it easier to accept and imagine the figures of the story as those of a greater/simpler past age, as the narrator conceives of them, and reflect that the interpreting reader occupies the position of the 'pitiable, frail, suspicious, stubbornly biased child'.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, War
Graphic: Rape, Torture, Colonisation, War
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War
From there, the narrator jumps freely in a non-linear manner to different moments in his grandfather’s life granting unique vantage points - from the highest highs to the lowest lows. Yet, his story is incomplete - we know he survives and that is it. Ultimately, he is a man spurred by shame, anger, and a stubborn desire to survive. Was he a bastard or a hero?
Graphic violence permeates throughout the book - there are graphic descriptions of torture, there are scenes of violence against animals, there is one awful portrayal of a gang rape, there is infanticide. Reading through these scenes, I wondered what was the point of all of this violence - there really wasn’t any reason or rhyme to any of it - the novel ends abruptly with no neat bow to tie it up. War just happens and it ends. There was suffering and that was it.
The book is well written, though I suspect this aspect would shine through even more brightly in its original text. The red sorghum fields are a constant throughout the novel - indifferent to the turmoil that rages around it. Though they too disappear in the end.
I am glad to have read the book - it is very readable. Enjoyable? I don’t know but worth the read. The novel rewards those who follow the story closely due to the non-linear structure and the frequent use of foreshadowing. Those not familiar with Chinese names would do well to keep track of them with pen and paper. I am definitely motivated to read a couple more of the author’s work - the use of language is sublime.
Moderate: Rape
Però non sono mancati momenti che ho trovato grottescamente divertenti (il nonno che esulta perché il figlio non è sterile mi ha fatto veramente ridere).
Dei personaggi non ho amato particolarmente nessuno, ma ho apprezzato la nonna per il suo essere avanti su certe cose, e il suo non mandarle a dire. Il finale mi ha lasciato un po' insoddisfatta, mi è parso sgonfiarsi e perdere d'impatto.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Torture, Murder, War
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Colonisation
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Murder