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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
So!
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I'm not well-situated to judge the translation from a technical perspective but the blank verse sustains a luscious flow, delicate and airy. It's a charming tale, but one with an amount of crushing darkness to it. It's easy for female protagonists to be somewhat limp or passive - at least in what I know of European literature of the time - so it's lovely to read an assertive and witty, talented female lead.
Something that jumped out at me in this - without spoiling the book - was that there's a section towards the end where a narrative is resolved in a surprising way. And that surprising way had the characteristics of the kind of shock and surprise deployed in soap operas. I don't mean that to be disparaging - I was fully immersed in the story and shocked by the events. It's like when soap operas are really good.
I don't always enjoy long poems - there's typically an air of austerity and self-importance to them, but this is light and flowing. It's easy enough to follow and the annotations plentiful. I didn't lean on the annotations too much (once you know what gold and jade represent, you probably don't need them) but their presence is indicative of the way this is a thorough and comprehensive translation, without ceding to acadmic aridity.
It's a bit difficult to hunt down so here's hoping this gets a re-issue sometime soon - definitely deserves to be read widely in the English-speaking world.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I'm not well-situated to judge the translation from a technical perspective but the blank verse sustains a luscious flow, delicate and airy. It's a charming tale, but one with an amount of crushing darkness to it. It's easy for female protagonists to be somewhat limp or passive - at least in what I know of European literature of the time - so it's lovely to read an assertive and witty, talented female lead.
Something that jumped out at me in this - without spoiling the book - was that there's a section towards the end where a narrative is resolved in a surprising way. And that surprising way had the characteristics of the kind of shock and surprise deployed in soap operas. I don't mean that to be disparaging - I was fully immersed in the story and shocked by the events. It's like when soap operas are really good.
I don't always enjoy long poems - there's typically an air of austerity and self-importance to them, but this is light and flowing. It's easy enough to follow and the annotations plentiful. I didn't lean on the annotations too much (once you know what gold and jade represent, you probably don't need them) but their presence is indicative of the way this is a thorough and comprehensive translation, without ceding to acadmic aridity.
It's a bit difficult to hunt down so here's hoping this gets a re-issue sometime soon - definitely deserves to be read widely in the English-speaking world.
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I find it very interesting how literary work intertwine through history. Although this story is way prior to both authors, I found myself feeling like I was reading the feeling and thoughts of Kahlil Gibran written by Ariano Suassuna. Really enjoyed the tale.
Another great aspect was the introduction and parting words. I like to think about languages and context, so it was very interesting to read.
Definitely an accessable, amusing and beautiful classic.
Another great aspect was the introduction and parting words. I like to think about languages and context, so it was very interesting to read.
Definitely an accessable, amusing and beautiful classic.
This book was recommended to me by a Vietnamese friend because she knows I read a lot, and I do read World Literature. I am debating between 3 and 4 stars, but for now I will leave it at 3.
There were some parts that felt drawn out for me, but that can be expected with these types of epic poems; overall, I enjoyed it.
Of course, I cannot say that I could relate with some social issues of the storyline or that I did not find certain norms and customs cringe-worthy. However, which culture at one point or another did not have norms or customs that today we find shocking? I would know because I am Greek. Just read the Iliad and Odyssey, and you will find plenty of values and mores that we do not consider acceptable today.
As I have learned in a Classics course I audited, it is crucial that when we read these texts to read out of the text, not into the text.
Certain parts of the poem are definitely beautiful, and I found fascinating the part where she has to prove her position by how well and how fast she can write poetry on the spot. I also enjoyed a lot that through the poem we learn specific traditions and values of that time and culture. Moreover, it is a very different type of epic than the Iliad and Odyssey in that its focus is a beautiful woman's misfortunes, and not the war between countries.
Furthermore, it is a significant work from historical aspect because it clearly shows the heavy Chinese influence in the Vietnamese culture. It is certainly a classic that albeit the difficulty to relate to it in our modern society, it is worth reading.
The Tale of Kieu (or The Song of Kieu in another variation of the title) is a great addition to any world literature reader and/or library.
There were some parts that felt drawn out for me, but that can be expected with these types of epic poems; overall, I enjoyed it.
Of course, I cannot say that I could relate with some social issues of the storyline or that I did not find certain norms and customs cringe-worthy. However, which culture at one point or another did not have norms or customs that today we find shocking? I would know because I am Greek. Just read the Iliad and Odyssey, and you will find plenty of values and mores that we do not consider acceptable today.
As I have learned in a Classics course I audited, it is crucial that when we read these texts to read out of the text, not into the text.
Certain parts of the poem are definitely beautiful, and I found fascinating the part where she has to prove her position by how well and how fast she can write poetry on the spot. I also enjoyed a lot that through the poem we learn specific traditions and values of that time and culture. Moreover, it is a very different type of epic than the Iliad and Odyssey in that its focus is a beautiful woman's misfortunes, and not the war between countries.
Furthermore, it is a significant work from historical aspect because it clearly shows the heavy Chinese influence in the Vietnamese culture. It is certainly a classic that albeit the difficulty to relate to it in our modern society, it is worth reading.
The Tale of Kieu (or The Song of Kieu in another variation of the title) is a great addition to any world literature reader and/or library.
adventurous
emotional
sad
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
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced