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kate_pf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cebolla's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The Vagrants is the story of a small village in China, in 1979, shortly after the cultural revolution. It's the story specifically of a few characters, all wrapped up in one way or another in an attempted rebellion. The book begins with the execution of an enemy of the state, someone who was brutally put to death, after years of imprisonment, because she dared write something against the government. The people of this sleepy little town, after hearing about the Democratic Wall Movement are inspired to speak up about the conditions they live under, knowing that going against the omnipresent government could result in death.
We follow a mouthpiece for the government who begins to question the iron arm of communism; a small, lonely child who just moved to town and is just trying to survive with his dog; a 12 year old girl, deformed from birth, and hated and abused by her parents; a very strange 17 year old boy living with his grandmother, surviving on money the government gives to surviving members of heroes; an older couple whose daughter is the aforementioned counter-revolutionary. The husband a cranky school teacher who just wants to be left alone, the wife slowly realizing that authoritarianism isn't all it's cracked up to be; and another older couple, nomads who have lost multiple adopted daughters because the state capriciously decided they would be better off with other adults. Li brings all of these people to life, diving deep into their thoughts and lives, making them real, in only 300+ pages.
I imagine this book would have been even better and more fulfilling if I had additional knowledge about the history of China. I know the country has been ruled by a serious of viscous communist governments, but don't really know about who led when and what order events happened in. Still, even if I knew less, I can't imagine reading this wouldn't have at least been entertaining.
We follow a mouthpiece for the government who begins to question the iron arm of communism; a small, lonely child who just moved to town and is just trying to survive with his dog; a 12 year old girl, deformed from birth, and hated and abused by her parents; a very strange 17 year old boy living with his grandmother, surviving on money the government gives to surviving members of heroes; an older couple whose daughter is the aforementioned counter-revolutionary. The husband a cranky school teacher who just wants to be left alone, the wife slowly realizing that authoritarianism isn't all it's cracked up to be; and another older couple, nomads who have lost multiple adopted daughters because the state capriciously decided they would be better off with other adults. Li brings all of these people to life, diving deep into their thoughts and lives, making them real, in only 300+ pages.
I imagine this book would have been even better and more fulfilling if I had additional knowledge about the history of China. I know the country has been ruled by a serious of viscous communist governments, but don't really know about who led when and what order events happened in. Still, even if I knew less, I can't imagine reading this wouldn't have at least been entertaining.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
This novel is set in 1979 provincial China, at a time when the Democratic Wall Movement in Beijing was gaining momentum in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. As the book open the residents of Muddy River are preparing for the denunciation rally and execution of local counter-revolutionary Gu Shan. Several different family units are connected by this one woman: Teacher Gu and Mrs Gu (Gu Shan’s parents), the Huas (vagrant beggars who have taken in orphaned girls in the past), Bashi (a sociopathic outcast), Nini (a 12-year-old girl who was born with a deformed hand and foot), Tong (a young boy who is eager to learn), Jailin (the tubercular leader of the underground movement), Wu Kai (the state’s beautiful and charismatic radio announcer) and her husband Wu Han (son of politically connected parents).
Li has crafted a work that is both disturbing and luminous. She weaves the threads of these individuals into a fabric of a nation in turmoil. Whom to trust? When to lie? How to survive – spiritually, emotionally, and physically? The stories of these residents of Muddy River depict courage, sacrifice, cunning, fear, survival, and love. There are some truly horrific scenes of depravity and violence here. But there are also scenes of tenderness and caring.
I can’t say that I “liked” the book – it’s too disturbing for that. But I’m glad I read it, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.
Li has crafted a work that is both disturbing and luminous. She weaves the threads of these individuals into a fabric of a nation in turmoil. Whom to trust? When to lie? How to survive – spiritually, emotionally, and physically? The stories of these residents of Muddy River depict courage, sacrifice, cunning, fear, survival, and love. There are some truly horrific scenes of depravity and violence here. But there are also scenes of tenderness and caring.
I can’t say that I “liked” the book – it’s too disturbing for that. But I’m glad I read it, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.
hjfritz27's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
shanthereader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
pollycharlie's review against another edition
4.0
First it's nice to have a normal story-telling style again where a author just tells the story. Secondly I am surprised at how much I can easily translate the English back to Chinese. I am so glad I was just a baby when all this occurred. When humanity is outlawed by any idealism, be it communism or religion, tragedies ensure.
in_and_out_of_the_stash's review against another edition
4.0
Chosen as a recommendation from Amazon. A very enjoyable book that captured how easy it was for the Chinese Government to remove anyone they wanted
alyssabookrecs's review
4.0
4 stars for Li's prose-writing skills alone. This book breathes off the page. I thoroughly enjoyed it and her tone regarding the darker facets of Party loyalty. I'd love to read more of her works.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
This story takes place back in the seventies. A time when China was dealing with the Tiananmen Square uprising.
The Gu family was like any other family. They lived good quiet lives in the town of Muddy River. That all changed ten years ago. The Gu’s daughter, Gu Shan, a free spirit was raised like anyone else in the beliefs of Communism and China’s leader, Chairman Mao. Shan started thinking for herself and renounced her beliefs in communism. Shan was taken away. That was ten years ago. During that time Shan sat in a cell never backing down from what she believed in. Shan’s arrest tore Mr. and Mrs. Gu apart. Mrs. Gu loved her daughter and never gave up hope that she would see here again some day. This was the complete opposite for Mr. Gu. He had already committed himself in coming to the reality that he no longer had a daughter.
Having never read anything by Mrs. Li, I didn’t know what to expect when I sat down to read The Vagrants. Let me tell you if you thought the cover was gorgeous then you are in for a great surprise. Yiyun Li incorporates her life experiences with enduring, heart-felt characters to end up with a finished product that is so spectacular that it is almost had to describe. I was honestly and truly spellbound by the simplicity of what we take for granted…our freedom. Shan fights for the same thing, only she is prosecuted for her efforts but was willing to die for them if the need arised. The Vagrants is one of the best books I have read thus far in 2009.
The Gu family was like any other family. They lived good quiet lives in the town of Muddy River. That all changed ten years ago. The Gu’s daughter, Gu Shan, a free spirit was raised like anyone else in the beliefs of Communism and China’s leader, Chairman Mao. Shan started thinking for herself and renounced her beliefs in communism. Shan was taken away. That was ten years ago. During that time Shan sat in a cell never backing down from what she believed in. Shan’s arrest tore Mr. and Mrs. Gu apart. Mrs. Gu loved her daughter and never gave up hope that she would see here again some day. This was the complete opposite for Mr. Gu. He had already committed himself in coming to the reality that he no longer had a daughter.
Having never read anything by Mrs. Li, I didn’t know what to expect when I sat down to read The Vagrants. Let me tell you if you thought the cover was gorgeous then you are in for a great surprise. Yiyun Li incorporates her life experiences with enduring, heart-felt characters to end up with a finished product that is so spectacular that it is almost had to describe. I was honestly and truly spellbound by the simplicity of what we take for granted…our freedom. Shan fights for the same thing, only she is prosecuted for her efforts but was willing to die for them if the need arised. The Vagrants is one of the best books I have read thus far in 2009.
lariluna's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75