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mjhorn's review against another edition
4.0
An unusual book, one I found quite difficult to read, largely because of its complete lack of forward momentum. There is no strong narrative running throughout, and the characters are similarly muddled. I felt like the book could be equally well enjoyed reading the chapters in random order.
But this muddling is clearly all deliberate, and in small doses it can be wonderfully enjoyable.
The writing is always very good and often really quite beautiful.
In the end, I was left mainly with the feeling that something had probably been lost in translation, and that the story in the original Chinese was likely much richer.
But this muddling is clearly all deliberate, and in small doses it can be wonderfully enjoyable.
The writing is always very good and often really quite beautiful.
In the end, I was left mainly with the feeling that something had probably been lost in translation, and that the story in the original Chinese was likely much richer.
charsiew21's review against another edition
This was a clash of expectations as I was in the mood for travel journalism and Soul Mountain is decidedly more literary and slow moving.
ocurtsinger's review against another edition
4.0
I've just finished a long, deeply surreal and sometimes frustrating journey (but I guess most long journeys are) through Soul Mountain, the incredibly shifting narrative of Gao Xingjian. The first thing YOU will notice about this journey that I was on is how the narrative shifts from first person to second person between every chapter. At first it seems to create two separate threads of plot, both involving travelers; the first person I seeking enlightenment at Lingshan, the second person (is he really speaking to me?) seeking (and sometimes not seeking) some sort of compensation for a romance with a fellow traveler.
I really enjoyed the first person thread more than the second person. The first person narrative is a lot more lush and interesting to follow; Gao takes us to real places and meets people who share with him the rich natural and social history of a place. The second person narrative is too often a stark and repetitive back-and-forth dialogue between the lovers similar to the long romantic bantering and bickering that Hemingway was famous for creating between Freddy Henry and Catherine Barkley in A Farewell to Arms.
An interesting part in the middle (or the peak?) of Soul Mountain is a chapter when Gao (in the first person) comes across another traveler who looks like a scrappier version of himself. He sits down to share a smoke with him but is cautious and guarded and barely exchanges a few words. They seem to mirror each other but aren't respectful or welcoming to each other. I feel like this interaction at the apex of the novel is an interesting little play upon the double narrative; the two threads seem to be passing each other by in the progression of the plot and choose not to reveal anything about themselves to each other. This is how the structure of the novel eventually winds up; there's no 'aha!' moment of the two threads becoming one. They each settle quietly into their own territory on opposite sides of the mountain that is this novel, and the reader is left to come up with his or her own conclusions.
Man Zou.
I really enjoyed the first person thread more than the second person. The first person narrative is a lot more lush and interesting to follow; Gao takes us to real places and meets people who share with him the rich natural and social history of a place. The second person narrative is too often a stark and repetitive back-and-forth dialogue between the lovers similar to the long romantic bantering and bickering that Hemingway was famous for creating between Freddy Henry and Catherine Barkley in A Farewell to Arms.
An interesting part in the middle (or the peak?) of Soul Mountain is a chapter when Gao (in the first person) comes across another traveler who looks like a scrappier version of himself. He sits down to share a smoke with him but is cautious and guarded and barely exchanges a few words. They seem to mirror each other but aren't respectful or welcoming to each other. I feel like this interaction at the apex of the novel is an interesting little play upon the double narrative; the two threads seem to be passing each other by in the progression of the plot and choose not to reveal anything about themselves to each other. This is how the structure of the novel eventually winds up; there's no 'aha!' moment of the two threads becoming one. They each settle quietly into their own territory on opposite sides of the mountain that is this novel, and the reader is left to come up with his or her own conclusions.
Man Zou.
isrightthefirm's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence
mldias's review against another edition
5.0
Be patient with this book. You will not walk away empty-handed.
konain's review against another edition
2.0
In a nutshell, I doubt if he hadn't run away from communist China they would have given this a Nobel prize.
mana_elena's review against another edition
4.0
I wish this book had footnotes like some copies of Brothers Karamazov explaining what literature was being referenced and giving brief explanations of cultural phenomena. I feel like my ignorance of Chinese culture and history made it so I didn't experience the book completely - sometimes I would look something up and Soul Mountain would be the first result without explaining what it was I wanted information on.
I picked up the book bc I thought a story written by someone who's been given a second shot at life, looking to find a meaning and reconcile his need for human society would help with my existential dread, and many chapters did do that, and many provided interesting perspectives, but I wish I had been warned about the amount of sexual violence present in the book. I think a solid third of the chapters contained at least one mention of SA.
Luckily I have no personal experience with the matter, so I could read the book in its entirety; nevertheless, the frequency and attitude with which it is mentioned is exhausting. Although I figured there must be a reason it kept getting brought up the way that it was, I didn't feel inclined to try to figure it out. Probably I am biased and simply don't have the right headspace to read the book, but it felt somehow like an intimidation tactic, like reading those chapters was the price I paid for picking up the book.
There were quite a few chapters that made a positive impression on me, like chapters 52, 53, 76, and 81. I feel like I missed a lot and there was a lot of good content in the book, but in many ways I feel like I will never get everything out of the book that it has to offer.
I picked up the book bc I thought a story written by someone who's been given a second shot at life, looking to find a meaning and reconcile his need for human society would help with my existential dread, and many chapters did do that, and many provided interesting perspectives, but I wish I had been warned about the amount of sexual violence present in the book. I think a solid third of the chapters contained at least one mention of SA.
Luckily I have no personal experience with the matter, so I could read the book in its entirety; nevertheless, the frequency and attitude with which it is mentioned is exhausting. Although I figured there must be a reason it kept getting brought up the way that it was, I didn't feel inclined to try to figure it out. Probably I am biased and simply don't have the right headspace to read the book, but it felt somehow like an intimidation tactic, like reading those chapters was the price I paid for picking up the book.
There were quite a few chapters that made a positive impression on me, like chapters 52, 53, 76, and 81. I feel like I missed a lot and there was a lot of good content in the book, but in many ways I feel like I will never get everything out of the book that it has to offer.
richmo's review against another edition
3.0
I found this to be a slow read. Sometimes, it was challenging. Occasionally, it deserved a pause for reflection. Often, it warranted savoring.
Overall, I consider it a worthwhile read, however, my inability to relate to the subjects’ personalities, motives, and feelings ultimately left me disengaged.
Overall, I consider it a worthwhile read, however, my inability to relate to the subjects’ personalities, motives, and feelings ultimately left me disengaged.
alexbirsan's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Don't waste your time.