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books_and_keys's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ruxandra_grr's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, this is... complicated. It's a really beautifully written work, with a different sort of structure that is, in its way, linear or at least chronological - chapters about the main character Zhang/ Rafael alternating with chapters from other POV's, distinct characters with the narrative, tangentially related. If I were to describe the structure, I would use the word 'system' - so a system-like structure -, because the concept of systems is thematically relevant and is the specialization of Zhang in engineering.
Aaaaaanyway, getting back on track. The writing just flows and the characterization is beautiful, so is a lot of the plot. I am positively in love with some of the chapters (Baffin Island, Homework) and they show such wonderful, human, painful but touching and *real* moments. People huddling around someone suffering from 'winter depression' and holding them emotionally. The first real fight of a marriage, happening in the center of a kitchen filled with goats! Gorgeous stuff.
At the same time, this book has a bit of an ass - which I would describe as 'released in 1992' - and it shows a bunch of times. In the third paragraph of the book we get the C-slur a couple of times, from the first person perspective of our main character, an ABC - American Born Chinese. That felt jarring and leads me to a wider point: this book about a half-Chinese, half-Latino gay man is written by a white woman and I'm in none of those groups, so I don't know how to look at the representation (I will for sure seek out reviews from these groups).
I can say that I absolutely despised the Three Fragrances chapter, the next to last one.. This event and chapter fails to connect to other parts of the story, there is a distinct lack of gender commentary in the book, it feels like gender equality has been achieved (at least on some fronts, the fact that prettiness matters is a signal that it has not) and there are plenty of women in positions of power, so I genuinely don't understand this choice or what it brought to the narrative.
There is also a 'bury your gays' moment, and I can understand this choice better in the narrative, but at the same time I'm uncomfortable with it being in a book not written by a gay man, since a lot of straight writers (especially in the past) tend to exploit the tragedies of gay people.
Beyond the book, there's a blurb from a review at the end that says Good science fiction has never been predictable and politically correct. and this feels very head-scratchy to me. I still don't know what to make of this book, politically, the first chapters seemed to talk about the importance of being political and how even if you claim to not be political, the choices you make are, which feels undermined by and then the book ends with .
And then you have an interesting chapter about overt political action, aka getting involved in political life and that failing and then deciding to solve a problem via marriage thus revealing how marriage is in and of itself a political choice, whether intentional or not!
So I am hugely conflicted about this one, I am so glad I get to talk about this at book club and maybe have more clarity. If that happens, I'll amend my review!
Aaaaaanyway, getting back on track. The writing just flows and the characterization is beautiful, so is a lot of the plot. I am positively in love with some of the chapters (Baffin Island, Homework) and they show such wonderful, human, painful but touching and *real* moments. People huddling around someone suffering from 'winter depression' and holding them emotionally. The first real fight of a marriage, happening in the center of a kitchen filled with goats! Gorgeous stuff.
At the same time, this book has a bit of an ass - which I would describe as 'released in 1992' - and it shows a bunch of times. In the third paragraph of the book we get the C-slur a couple of times, from the first person perspective of our main character, an ABC - American Born Chinese. That felt jarring and leads me to a wider point: this book about a half-Chinese, half-Latino gay man is written by a white woman and I'm in none of those groups, so I don't know how to look at the representation (I will for sure seek out reviews from these groups).
I can say that I absolutely despised the Three Fragrances chapter, the next to last one.
Spoiler
The one in which 'ugly' political girl San-Xiang is raped, after she prettifies herself via surgery. I'd really loved the character in the first chapter, but this one seems to exist to show that she is so naive and when she gets pretty, she gets raped. It is such a reductive view of sexual assault that I can't even. Ffs, sexual assaults are not about beauty, they're about power. I find it hard to believe that a political woman such as San-Xiang would be that naiveThere is also a 'bury your gays' moment, and I can understand this choice better in the narrative, but at the same time I'm uncomfortable with it being in a book not written by a gay man, since a lot of straight writers (especially in the past) tend to exploit the tragedies of gay people.
Beyond the book, there's a blurb from a review at the end that says Good science fiction has never been predictable and politically correct. and this feels very head-scratchy to me. I still don't know what to make of this book, politically, the first chapters seemed to talk about the importance of being political and how even if you claim to not be political, the choices you make are, which feels undermined by
Spoiler
having your overtly political character raped with apparently her not understanding any feminist theory about gender dynamics???Spoiler
the main character becoming an entrepreneur and starting a small business and I was like wtf??And then you have an interesting chapter about overt political action, aka getting involved in political life and that failing and then deciding to solve a problem via marriage thus revealing how marriage is in and of itself a political choice, whether intentional or not!
Spoiler
Which once again, kinda gets undermined when Martine and Alexi were already into each other and then fall in love while married.So I am hugely conflicted about this one, I am so glad I get to talk about this at book club and maybe have more clarity. If that happens, I'll amend my review!
hank's review against another edition
4.0
These are the slices of "normal" life that I like. Usually when I read non sci-fi literature relating to the human condition and pieces of everyday life, is either too much like what I see all the time and I am bored or I can't actually relate at all. For some reason the blend with clearly fantastical backdrops give me enough interest or wonder to keep me engaged.
China Mountain Zhang is really just a glimpse of an everyday life, someone who is trying to figure out where he fits in the world, along with some other characters and events to fill everything out. The kite flyers could be any sort of modern day daredevil racers, motocross, cliff divers, etc. why I am more interested when it is a futuristic flight structure? I am not sure but I am. The communistic colonization of Mars could be something else found on Earth now but the fact that it is on Mars and fantastical, allows me the possibility of hope instead of focusing on all of the sure to doom issues I can think of happening right now.
The job search, the repression of gays, the finding and losing of friends are all easily written about in normal literature but it never has the same pull as if you add a bit of unreality to it. Zhang's path towards finding how he wants to live his life looked good at the end, my path in discovering why I like (to read), what I like (to read) has also taken one more tiny step.
4.5 stars rounded down for no real good reason
China Mountain Zhang is really just a glimpse of an everyday life, someone who is trying to figure out where he fits in the world, along with some other characters and events to fill everything out. The kite flyers could be any sort of modern day daredevil racers, motocross, cliff divers, etc. why I am more interested when it is a futuristic flight structure? I am not sure but I am. The communistic colonization of Mars could be something else found on Earth now but the fact that it is on Mars and fantastical, allows me the possibility of hope instead of focusing on all of the sure to doom issues I can think of happening right now.
The job search, the repression of gays, the finding and losing of friends are all easily written about in normal literature but it never has the same pull as if you add a bit of unreality to it. Zhang's path towards finding how he wants to live his life looked good at the end, my path in discovering why I like (to read), what I like (to read) has also taken one more tiny step.
4.5 stars rounded down for no real good reason
aleffert's review against another edition
4.0
This is a quiet book, a wonderful patchwork of character studies set in a future where Chinese communism has become ascendant in America. Each segment focuses on someone marginalized by this society and how they find their places in a society that doesn't fit them. I feel like that makes it sound didactic or tedious, but it's not at all. It's warm and kind and interested in its people.
heregrim's review against another edition
4.0
This is a coming of "Age" becoming comfortable, finding your place type of story taking place in the future where Chinese Socialism has become the norm. Zhang becomes an engineer while dealing with being gay and half Chinese. Other characters interact with him throughout the book and add depth to the world Zhang is coming to terms with.
tsharris's review against another edition
5.0
I can't believe it took me so long to learn about this book, let alone read it. I didn't want it to end. Completely immersive world, but more than that, every character - even minor characters - felt real.
aniya_'s review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
3.0
kadomi's review against another edition
4.0
In retrospect, this novel is a highly fascinating collection of stories with a common thread, the titular China Mountain Zhang appearing in most of the stories.
Set in a future where China is the dominant world power, Rafael aka China Mountain Zhang lives in New York, half-Chinese, half-Latino American and queer to boot. Early on, he loses his job, because he does not want to marry the daughter of his Chinese foreman at work, which really is problematic, because ultimately he wants to live the dream of going to university in China. Rafael is the red thread here, and has the most impactful stories, about loneliness at the polar circle, queer experience in China, etc. Subjects are tough, there's suicide, rape, depression.
Interesting cast, vastly differing stories all coming together in the end. A bit bleak, and in the beginning tough to get into because Zhang is not exactly likeable. Still, would recommend.
Set in a future where China is the dominant world power, Rafael aka China Mountain Zhang lives in New York, half-Chinese, half-Latino American and queer to boot. Early on, he loses his job, because he does not want to marry the daughter of his Chinese foreman at work, which really is problematic, because ultimately he wants to live the dream of going to university in China. Rafael is the red thread here, and has the most impactful stories, about loneliness at the polar circle, queer experience in China, etc. Subjects are tough, there's suicide, rape, depression.
Interesting cast, vastly differing stories all coming together in the end. A bit bleak, and in the beginning tough to get into because Zhang is not exactly likeable. Still, would recommend.
jdfrens's review against another edition
2.5
I thought this was okay. I prefer a little more action in my science fiction or a real think piece, and this was more or less just stories. The just-past-near-future world was interesting, but it wasn't anything special. I kept thinking that I might have enjoyed re-reading The Martian Chronicles a second time more than finishing this book.