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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Expected a bit more from this revisionist Western, with a Chinese American protagonist. Ming Tsu is quite a dull main character though, and while there's plenty of action, it gets to be kind of a drudge. He hardly ever misses and is able to take down a dozen men on his own.
Having a Chinese American main character who has been raised without knowledge of his heritage or even his language because he's an orphan feels like a missed opportunity.
Otherwise, it's a fairly standard anti-hero revenge story. Wished it took a few more creative risks.
Having a Chinese American main character who has been raised without knowledge of his heritage or even his language because he's an orphan feels like a missed opportunity.
Otherwise, it's a fairly standard anti-hero revenge story. Wished it took a few more creative risks.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed the characters but the last few chapters felt a bit repetitive. It took me a little bit to like the ending as well, but I'm coming around to it.
A violent western with magical realism and carnies? Sign me up.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Pretty average book. It’s a story of revenge that seemed really interesting at first, but as the book went along I realized I didn’t really care about any of the characters or the outcome of the quest.
Also had a lot more elements of magical realism than I expected. I have come to realize I’m not a huge fan of magical realism in the form of “unexplained unrealistic thing happens that drives the plot forward” that occurred in several places in this book.
Also had a lot more elements of magical realism than I expected. I have come to realize I’m not a huge fan of magical realism in the form of “unexplained unrealistic thing happens that drives the plot forward” that occurred in several places in this book.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A classic Western, albeit significantly more inclusive than they usually are. Not my favorite read, largely because I'm not a huge fan of the genre. I prefer a character-driven rather than an action-driven story, and Ming felt a little one-note for me. Would recommend for fans of a more action-adventure, Western-type story though.
A Chinese man’s quest for revenge across Wild West Nevada…
The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin is a debut novel in the spaghetti western tradition.
Ming Tsu had a history of violence even before a group of men tried to force him onto a rail gang…and he has the names of those who wronged him and where to find them.
Along his travels, Ming will encounter travelling ficus performers, a seemingly gifted prophet, Wild West paleontology, a confederate bounty hunter, an outlaw gang, and myriad other troubles, but he continues on…
He just needs to make sure he keeps stocked up on ammunition at the rate he goes through it. The book also includes an invaluable map of Nevada showing his route through the west.
Recommended for those who are fans of shows like warrior, Kung Fu, He’ll on Wheels, and Deadwood, games like Red Dead Redemptipn and Deadlands, and just about any kind of western movie you can think of…
The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin is a debut novel in the spaghetti western tradition.
Ming Tsu had a history of violence even before a group of men tried to force him onto a rail gang…and he has the names of those who wronged him and where to find them.
Along his travels, Ming will encounter travelling ficus performers, a seemingly gifted prophet, Wild West paleontology, a confederate bounty hunter, an outlaw gang, and myriad other troubles, but he continues on…
He just needs to make sure he keeps stocked up on ammunition at the rate he goes through it. The book also includes an invaluable map of Nevada showing his route through the west.
Recommended for those who are fans of shows like warrior, Kung Fu, He’ll on Wheels, and Deadwood, games like Red Dead Redemptipn and Deadlands, and just about any kind of western movie you can think of…
This was outside my wheelhouse. I tried it, but it wasn’t for me.