Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Red Sorghum: A Novel of China by Mo Yan

13 reviews

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Without having read the original, there's a sense that the scale and beauty of the landscape is lost in an English translation that reads like an evident translation — a little stiff and stilted — which is a shame. Conversely, good translations of idiom in a way that seems prosaic and natural. Text and tone become suddenly richer and more allusive towards the end.

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'.

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challenging dark informative reflective sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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adventurous dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The novel traces the fortunes of two generations of a family in China during the Japanese invasion during World War II, centring on the exploits of the narrator’s grandfather who is hailed as a hero. The novel begins abruptly in an ambush on a Japanese unit. 

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.



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dark sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Ho avuto un po' di difficoltà a dare un voto a questa lettura. Ammetto che è molto lontana dai miei gusti per il modo in cui è scritta (le descrizioni così lunghe e dettagliate non fanno per me. Sarà l'adhd) e probabilmente senza la spinta del gdl per cui l'ho letta l'avrei abbandonata abbastanza presto. Detto questo, ho apprezzato le nozioni apprese sul periodo visto che non ne sapevo quasi niente, e per quanto alcune scene mi abbiano suggestionato molto non mi è dispiaciuto che non si glissi sull'orrore della guerra, anzi ti fa stare male quasi fossi stato presente.
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.

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dark sad tense
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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dark informative reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense

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adventurous dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

Questo libro parla della storia della famiglia del narratore. Seguiamo le vicende tragiche, drammatiche e sanguinose che si svolgono intorno a questa famiglia per vari motivi, tra cui la guerra contro i giapponesi e conflitti interni tra fazioni politiche. Lo stile è crudo, descrittivo e può risultare impegnativo per un pubblico sensibile. A me questo libro è piaciuto molto, ci sono alcuni punti più calmi, però nel complesso è un classico da recuperare anche per capire le tradizioni della Cina, così in alcuni casi distanti dalle nostre. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings