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shangrila's review
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lidotchka's review against another edition
1.0
★☆☆☆☆ - DNF at 28% - I do not recommend this book.
Spanning three generations, this novel of family and myth is told through a series of flashbacks that depict events of staggering horror set against a landscape of gemlike beauty, as the Chinese battle both Japanese invaders and each other in the turbulent 1930s.
I guess the main reason why I am so disappointed is that I was expecting a lot from this book. Honestly, the back cover hyped me so much and I wanted to love [b:Red Sorghum|894154|Red Sorghum|Mo Yan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327945265l/894154._SY75_.jpg|460549]! It sounded like it had everything I love in a book (especially because I am very much into historical stuff).
Also, this book is insanely well-known in China, it won numerous prizes and was adapted as a movie, which contributed to making it kinda famous worldwide.
Anyway, I really tried to love it. But I couldn't ignore the super boring narrative of this book. I have rarely seen so much description and so little action. At first, I thought it was only because the narrator wanted to maybe describe super precisely the setting, to begin with, and then, things will start to happen.
I won't say that nothing happens in the first 28% of that book. Because stuff happens. But it was like 95% description and 5% action. Definitely not for me. I don't think it's a bad book though, I'm sure some people will absolutely love it.
To conclude, is this book very bad? Probably not. Was it made for me? Absolutely not.
I'm sure if you don't mind long descriptions and little action, you will like it. And please, remember that I did not finish this book, so my review only takes into account the first 28% of it. Maybe it is better after, I don't know.
Spanning three generations, this novel of family and myth is told through a series of flashbacks that depict events of staggering horror set against a landscape of gemlike beauty, as the Chinese battle both Japanese invaders and each other in the turbulent 1930s.
I guess the main reason why I am so disappointed is that I was expecting a lot from this book. Honestly, the back cover hyped me so much and I wanted to love [b:Red Sorghum|894154|Red Sorghum|Mo Yan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327945265l/894154._SY75_.jpg|460549]! It sounded like it had everything I love in a book (especially because I am very much into historical stuff).
Also, this book is insanely well-known in China, it won numerous prizes and was adapted as a movie, which contributed to making it kinda famous worldwide.
Anyway, I really tried to love it. But I couldn't ignore the super boring narrative of this book. I have rarely seen so much description and so little action. At first, I thought it was only because the narrator wanted to maybe describe super precisely the setting, to begin with, and then, things will start to happen.
I won't say that nothing happens in the first 28% of that book. Because stuff happens. But it was like 95% description and 5% action. Definitely not for me. I don't think it's a bad book though, I'm sure some people will absolutely love it.
To conclude, is this book very bad? Probably not. Was it made for me? Absolutely not.
I'm sure if you don't mind long descriptions and little action, you will like it. And please, remember that I did not finish this book, so my review only takes into account the first 28% of it. Maybe it is better after, I don't know.
whalemilk's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tara_pikachu's review
2.0
i feel like i would have enjoyed this book if i could read chinese...the translation was just too heavy and word-y, if ya know what i mean, and that negated the essence of the story.
lost_traveller's review
dark
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, War, Sexual violence, and Suicide
claudiatralenuvole's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
2.75
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Murder, Rape, War, and Torture
bridgetwf's review
5.0
I was unsure what to rate this novel. As many other reviewers have noted, it is EXTREMELY brutal. Like I could not read it before bedtime or fear never sleeping again brutal. Everyone dies a HORRIFIC death and the brutality to animal, humans and the unborn is insane.
But, that is the point of the book--how insane our human brutality it. Everyone is fighting everyone, the Chinese are fighting the Japanese as well as each other, and some point one character finally says something along the lines of "who care who are rulers are? life is going to be similar and hard either way." That felt like one of the most poignant lines of the book.
Anyway, this book isn't for everyone. It is confusing to keep track of the story that jumps all over time with a variety of characters, and it is very disturbing, but once I got into it I really enjoyed the writing and was glad that I read this book.
But, that is the point of the book--how insane our human brutality it. Everyone is fighting everyone, the Chinese are fighting the Japanese as well as each other, and some point one character finally says something along the lines of "who care who are rulers are? life is going to be similar and hard either way." That felt like one of the most poignant lines of the book.
Anyway, this book isn't for everyone. It is confusing to keep track of the story that jumps all over time with a variety of characters, and it is very disturbing, but once I got into it I really enjoyed the writing and was glad that I read this book.
itsyourpaldave's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0