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typewriters87's review against another edition
4.0
I loved it until the last few chapters. It is extremely interesting but I don't think the little blurb is correct at all, very misleading. I don't believe the main character uses go to escape as thoroughly as it states, since she is more and more engrossed with what is happening with her life. And the fact that she decides to go with Jing makes no sense to me! She said herself she was not in love with him so why go? And then to depend on the cousin she detests? Only to get caught by her mystery players unit to be raped and tortured. I believe the last three or so chapters happened simply for the author to find a way to get to her ending. Disappointing end to an interesting book. I enjoyed Shan Sa's Empress much more.
bookherd's review against another edition
4.0
There is a lot going on under the surface of this novel that I know I missed, because I don't know anything about the game of go or Chinese and Japanese history and literature. Themes of violence, battle and war, honor, and the constricted lives of women are present in this story of a Japanese soldier and a young Chinese girl meeting in a Manchurian town over a game of go. Although the book is almost 300 pages, chapters are short, spare and quick to read. I finished it in 2 days. This solemn story will stay with me for a while.
_rusalka's review against another edition
2.0
I believe I bought this book after I read [b:Memoirs of a Geisha|929|Memoirs of a Geisha|Arthur Golden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409595968l/929._SY75_.jpg|1558965], realising there may be an entire world out there I hadn't even thought of. Which would have been about 18 years ago. I am glad I finally got there, as it has made room on my shelf.
The book is awkwardly written. Every chapter switches protagonist (there are two), which is fine. There is nothing that alerts you to that fact. They both speak in the first person. And there was a good 10 minutes I couldn't work out why someone who seemed to be a young girl in China was now in Japan with a different way of talking about their family. It was off-putting to start but got into the swing of it.
However, what I didn't get into the swing of was our female protagonist was a horrible, snobby, bitchy human being who really did not give a shit about anyone except herself. The love interests were all amazing red flags for not getting involved with. And the ending... just... no.
Unsatisfying, unlikable, really not recommendable. I wouldn't have finished it if it wasn't for a team toppler. Enough of a story but not enjoyable characterisation.
The book is awkwardly written. Every chapter switches protagonist (there are two), which is fine. There is nothing that alerts you to that fact. They both speak in the first person. And there was a good 10 minutes I couldn't work out why someone who seemed to be a young girl in China was now in Japan with a different way of talking about their family. It was off-putting to start but got into the swing of it.
However, what I didn't get into the swing of was our female protagonist was a horrible, snobby, bitchy human being who really did not give a shit about anyone except herself. The love interests were all amazing red flags for not getting involved with. And the ending... just... no.
Unsatisfying, unlikable, really not recommendable. I wouldn't have finished it if it wasn't for a team toppler. Enough of a story but not enjoyable characterisation.
lessidisa's review against another edition
3.0
Les chapitres font deux-trois pages c’est agréable. Ce n’est pas très sérieux, ce n’est pas ce dont j’ai l’habitude de lire. On alterne entre le récit du soldat japonais en Mandchourie et celui de la jeune Mandchoue. Littérature contemporaine avec des personnages qui passent leur temps à avoir des relations sexuelle. Je me crois dans un murakami.
Au moins c’est rapide à lire. Belle fin.
« Les années ont passé et je contemple avec angoisse le crépuscule de mon enfance qui se couche pour ne plus se lever. »
« La nature veut qu'à un moment précis de la vie, les aînés perdent leur supériorité sur les cadets. »
« Entre elle et moi, il y avait un fleuve que nous n'avions pas la force de traverser.
- Je pars en Mandchourie.
Impassible, elle ne cilla pas.
- Je ne vous oublierai jamais, me dit-elle.
Cette parole me suffit. Je m'inclinais profondément devant elle et me levai. Elle demeurait immobile. Aucune larme, aucun soupir ne marqua cet adieu, âpre et libérateur. »
« - Je suis incapable, capitaine, de discerner un espion d'un paisible citadin. Sur la place des Mille Vents, oublieux de mon devoir, je passe mon temps à jouer au go.
Il vide sa coupe de saké. Ses yeux dans les miens, il détache chacun de ses mots :
- Zhuang Zi dit : "Lorsque vous perdez un cheval, vous ne savez jamais si c'est un bien ou si c'est un mal." Un homme intelligent ne perd jamais son temps. »
« Je regagne ma place. La table est déserte, mon adversaire est parti sans laisser un mot. À bout de forces, je ne suis même pas fâchée. Sur cette terre, les êtres viennent et disparaissent. À chacun son heure. »
Au moins c’est rapide à lire. Belle fin.
« Les années ont passé et je contemple avec angoisse le crépuscule de mon enfance qui se couche pour ne plus se lever. »
« La nature veut qu'à un moment précis de la vie, les aînés perdent leur supériorité sur les cadets. »
« Entre elle et moi, il y avait un fleuve que nous n'avions pas la force de traverser.
- Je pars en Mandchourie.
Impassible, elle ne cilla pas.
- Je ne vous oublierai jamais, me dit-elle.
Cette parole me suffit. Je m'inclinais profondément devant elle et me levai. Elle demeurait immobile. Aucune larme, aucun soupir ne marqua cet adieu, âpre et libérateur. »
« - Je suis incapable, capitaine, de discerner un espion d'un paisible citadin. Sur la place des Mille Vents, oublieux de mon devoir, je passe mon temps à jouer au go.
Il vide sa coupe de saké. Ses yeux dans les miens, il détache chacun de ses mots :
- Zhuang Zi dit : "Lorsque vous perdez un cheval, vous ne savez jamais si c'est un bien ou si c'est un mal." Un homme intelligent ne perd jamais son temps. »
« Je regagne ma place. La table est déserte, mon adversaire est parti sans laisser un mot. À bout de forces, je ne suis même pas fâchée. Sur cette terre, les êtres viennent et disparaissent. À chacun son heure. »
mari_okart's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sleightoffeet's review against another edition
3.0
Right after I finished reading this book, I thought it was definitely 4 stars. Then, after sleeping on it, more and more parts of the story started to bother me. It's for sure an interesting story, and it has made me interested in the game of Go, and it really pulled me along, but it left an aftertaste that is not quite so good.
A young girl likes to play Go in the park. It is there she meets a Japanese soldier who is there as a spy. Meanwhile, she finds herself in a love triangle with two resistance members. The Japanese soldier also finds himself falling in love with the enigma that is the girl, without words, just through the playing of the game.
A couple of problems:
And then there's the "Romeo and Juliet" ending. First of all, it's rather convenient to kill everyone off than to actually have the characters lead themselves to some sort of conclusion. Second of all, Peking is a large city. We're supposed to believe that of all the people, those two would run into each other again?
After writing the spoilers, now I'm thinking it was more of a two star book, but I'll leave it at three as I did enjoy reading it. Just don't think about it too hard.
A young girl likes to play Go in the park. It is there she meets a Japanese soldier who is there as a spy. Meanwhile, she finds herself in a love triangle with two resistance members. The Japanese soldier also finds himself falling in love with the enigma that is the girl, without words, just through the playing of the game.
A couple of problems:
Spoiler
For one thing, the speed in which everyone fell in love with each other, was lightning fast. It was love at first sight for everyone, and even for the Japanese Go player, he never even talked to the girl, but felt he knew her because of how she played the game?!?And then there's the "Romeo and Juliet" ending. First of all, it's rather convenient to kill everyone off than to actually have the characters lead themselves to some sort of conclusion. Second of all, Peking is a large city. We're supposed to believe that of all the people, those two would run into each other again?
After writing the spoilers, now I'm thinking it was more of a two star book, but I'll leave it at three as I did enjoy reading it. Just don't think about it too hard.