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reredots's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
tudorache_a21's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mariagrazia_4's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Questo libro parla di temi "pesanti" con una delicatezza unica.
cemoses's review against another edition
4.0
This book is for readers of literary fiction. The novel takes place in a Buddhist afterlife where people are waiting to be buried. The novel is about these people's lives. It reminded me a little of the book The Lovely Bones and the play Our Town where the ghosts of the dead observe and comment on the living.
The satire of the book did not come through to me. It may have been a problem of the translation. However, some of the stories of the people I found moving though these stories are of uneven quality. The story of the main character's adoption and being raised by a single father was good. Another story that I liked in the book was about a troubled love relationship between two hairdressers who are neighbors’ of the main character.
Politically China comes across as being very corrupt. Despite China's being nominally a "Communist" society there seems to be major problems of class inequality. However, the Chinese, like Americans seem to want and feel like they should be able to achieve a better life for themselves and have upward mobility.
I liked the fact the book focused on social injustice. To me much of the new fiction that is coming out is overly complacent with the status quo and not concerned enough with social injustice.
The satire of the book did not come through to me. It may have been a problem of the translation. However, some of the stories of the people I found moving though these stories are of uneven quality. The story of the main character's adoption and being raised by a single father was good. Another story that I liked in the book was about a troubled love relationship between two hairdressers who are neighbors’ of the main character.
Politically China comes across as being very corrupt. Despite China's being nominally a "Communist" society there seems to be major problems of class inequality. However, the Chinese, like Americans seem to want and feel like they should be able to achieve a better life for themselves and have upward mobility.
I liked the fact the book focused on social injustice. To me much of the new fiction that is coming out is overly complacent with the status quo and not concerned enough with social injustice.
agnikai's review against another edition
5.0
i think any story about (found) families will have me automatically sold. this was literal but still
heart-warming and heart-wrenching, simultaneously at times.
the writing is quite beautiful even in translation. i saw a review about how the numbers correlate to and symbolise the chapters in regards to Chinese culture, and in retrospect it's also quite clever. this novel gives a look at contemporary Chinese society and explores the human condition, and it's quite heavy (this one is not literal) even though there are only about 200+ pages.
heart-warming and heart-wrenching, simultaneously at times.
the writing is quite beautiful even in translation. i saw a review about how the numbers correlate to and symbolise the chapters in regards to Chinese culture, and in retrospect it's also quite clever. this novel gives a look at contemporary Chinese society and explores the human condition, and it's quite heavy (this one is not literal) even though there are only about 200+ pages.
saraxuherondale's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I cried at least 5 times. My cheeks would dry and then I'd just refresh it again, and 4 out 5 times I cried about, essentially, the same thing. Just like the previous Yu Hua works I've read, I devoured this one too. This might be my second or third favorite, idk if I can choose really. Yu Hua's ability to suck me into a story in the smallest amount of pages just fascinates me. My heart is hurt, and another 5 star review was born.
marielyulo's review against another edition
4.0
A lot of great life lessons and enjoyed how the author weaved different stories together -- but got a bit confusing in some chapters.
giuliakyj's review against another edition
5.0
Yu Hua si riconferma un autore per me eccezionale. Ha un'incredibile capacità di narrare le cose più bizzarre con naturalezza. Non forza nulla e il racconto sembra che descriva la quotidianità. Poi non manca di inserire critiche su una società che non funziona e ferisce, tutto amalgamato perfettamente al racconto. Pochi autori riescono a lasciarmi un'impronta profonda e Yu Hua è tra questi.
_carlibri_'s review against another edition
3.0
Un romanzo direi corale sulla morte e la vita.
Apprezzo sempre che Yu Hua, nei suoi romanzi, non perda occasione per smascherare molte delle contraddizioni della società cinese, ma lo fa sempre con garbo.
Apprezzo sempre che Yu Hua, nei suoi romanzi, non perda occasione per smascherare molte delle contraddizioni della società cinese, ma lo fa sempre con garbo.