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elisabethbeck's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-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
2.75
anaiira's review against another edition
4.0
5/5 for what I think the book is actually, with one star subtracted for the translation.
This book, while it copies some of the tone and structure of classic dystopian novels (1984, Brave New World) still retains its quintessentially Chinese literary roots. I think ultimately, the translation suffers from the inability to encapsulate the millennias of idioms and references that are part and parcel of everyday Mandarin, much less the additional punning and references and layers of social stratification.
For example, the main protagonist in the version I read is referred to as Lao Chen, or Old Chen (directly translated), where Chen is the surname. His first name is never mentioned in the book. "Lao" can be used as an indication of familiarity, of closeness in family or friendship. When Fang Caodi changes to Master Chen (or Chen Shifu), it indicates a shift in tone of their relationship and the reader, because they had been following the main protagonist, was similarly meant to feel the sycophantic change that distance between Lao Chen and a bearer of a truthful reality. This dissonance fails to translate, so the impact is lessened.
Also, the meta element of the fact that the main protagonist and the author share the same surname is fantastic (it is mentioned in the preface that an interpretation is that the author has placed himself in the book à la real life Kilgore Trout).
This book shines the most when it is understood that it's not really meant to be a work of fiction. It is a documentation and a criticism of modern Chinese society under the guise of a detective/romance novel. After all, it effectively ties together political theory with current events and dystopian science fiction. More than a novel that is aimed at presenting novel circumstances or solutions, it seems more interested in documenting current conditions and pointing a curious eye towards areas for further research and understanding.
This book, while it copies some of the tone and structure of classic dystopian novels (1984, Brave New World) still retains its quintessentially Chinese literary roots. I think ultimately, the translation suffers from the inability to encapsulate the millennias of idioms and references that are part and parcel of everyday Mandarin, much less the additional punning and references and layers of social stratification.
For example, the main protagonist in the version I read is referred to as Lao Chen, or Old Chen (directly translated), where Chen is the surname. His first name is never mentioned in the book. "Lao" can be used as an indication of familiarity, of closeness in family or friendship. When Fang Caodi changes to Master Chen (or Chen Shifu), it indicates a shift in tone of their relationship and the reader, because they had been following the main protagonist, was similarly meant to feel the sycophantic change that distance between Lao Chen and a bearer of a truthful reality. This dissonance fails to translate, so the impact is lessened.
Also, the meta element of the fact that the main protagonist and the author share the same surname is fantastic (it is mentioned in the preface that an interpretation is that the author has placed himself in the book à la real life Kilgore Trout).
This book shines the most when it is understood that it's not really meant to be a work of fiction. It is a documentation and a criticism of modern Chinese society under the guise of a detective/romance novel. After all, it effectively ties together political theory with current events and dystopian science fiction. More than a novel that is aimed at presenting novel circumstances or solutions, it seems more interested in documenting current conditions and pointing a curious eye towards areas for further research and understanding.
tamnhauser's review against another edition
2.0
A massively important book. Insightful and needs to be read for the obvious reasons.
As a novel, I just didn't >enjoy< it. Nevertheless, a book that needs reading.
As a novel, I just didn't >enjoy< it. Nevertheless, a book that needs reading.
libroqueso's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Definitely not "the Chinese 1984" as some people claim. Basically, the plot boils down to the government putting drugs in the water . All the characters were fairly one dimensional, the love subplot was unnecessary, and the long exposition from one of the characters was very unnatural. The part I disliked most were the notes from the translator, that explained to the reader what the book is about. I just read the book - why would you explain it to me?!
made_in_dna's review against another edition
3.0
This, while thought-provoking on some levels, really didn't pack much punch. The characters discover the mystery of a missing month, and are determined work it out, and yet, the author just kind of has them walk through it, like not much happened. In the end, it IS a very poignant story about mass hysteria and the lengths some governments might be willing to go (or currently ARE implementing) to cover up dirty little secrets that might very well tear down the very fabric of society if citizens were determined enough to face it straight on.
rainonmetsunami's review against another edition
3.0
i think i lacked context but i learnt a few things yay
the_bee_writes's review against another edition
3.0
Old Chen one of the main characters in the story is meeting some old friends one by one. He is happy with the state of China in a fictional 2013 after a world financial crises has left the United States less powerful. Apparently China has reached a "Golden Age of Ascendancy" and everyone is very very happy. Besides a few who are not. Interestingly many of these can remember that that "Age of Ascendancy" did not start exactly when the rest of the world fell apart. There were 28 days in between but no one seems to be able to remember them. Well Old Chen's friends do remember and want to know! So they kidnap a high Chinese official and make him talk but what will they find out?
This story is written from the different viewpoints of the characters and strangely many of them have met before in more or less strange incidences. They are all very interesting characters and you certainly learn a lot about China. But the story drags a bit on until they get to kidnap that official. The reality of that story often does not feel so fictional and I have actually started wondering if there is more truth to it than it wants to reveal. There must be a reason why it is banned in China! Well the best is to read the book and have a look for yourself!
This story is written from the different viewpoints of the characters and strangely many of them have met before in more or less strange incidences. They are all very interesting characters and you certainly learn a lot about China. But the story drags a bit on until they get to kidnap that official. The reality of that story often does not feel so fictional and I have actually started wondering if there is more truth to it than it wants to reveal. There must be a reason why it is banned in China! Well the best is to read the book and have a look for yourself!
wishanem's review against another edition
2.0
The literary equivalent of cauliflour pancakes. It had moments I enjoyed, but long stretches of the story were strange, unexciting, and tedious.
This book is about the balance between China's social and political pressures, told as a near future Sci-Fi mystery. I probably missed a lot of the sub-text due to not knowing enough about China. That said, the central mystery itself was a little too predictable. Also, the book's message about real-life society conveniently forgetting inconvenient aspects of history were pretty heavy-handed.
I am glad I finished it, if only for the following excerpt, which I think is the actual opinion of the book's author on problems with the USA's political climate:
This book is about the balance between China's social and political pressures, told as a near future Sci-Fi mystery. I probably missed a lot of the sub-text due to not knowing enough about China. That said, the central mystery itself was a little too predictable. Also, the book's message about real-life society conveniently forgetting inconvenient aspects of history were pretty heavy-handed.
I am glad I finished it, if only for the following excerpt, which I think is the actual opinion of the book's author on problems with the USA's political climate:
America’s elected politicians were beholden to a plethora of interest groups: Wall Street, big business, the arms industry, local power groups, the churches, labor unions, and various public-relations lobbies; they also had to take care of popular and media opinion. So when it was necessary for them to unite to accomplish something big and important, all they could do was look around, to the left and right, and fight meaningless little battles; they didn’t dare to cut to the bone and heal the body politic, and were even less likely to take bold and decisive action. American market fundamentalists and the right wing of the Republican Party constantly dragged their feet and added to the confusion; they were completely out of touch with reality and could certainly mess things up, but they could not make any positive contributions.
pjc1268's review against another edition
1.0
So boring it put me to sleep, did not finish it. Terrible!!!
lbrex's review against another edition
3.0
Certainly interesting, but the final 50 pages are a slog. I bought it given that Chan grew up in Hong Kong and thought it would be a worthwhile read for a recent trip to Hong Kong. I learned a lot about dissent and protest in contemporary China, and the book proved especially revealing in connection with the 20th anniversary of the protests and massacre in Tiananmen Square. In effect, I received a history lesson that I would have benefitted from years ago. As a novel, though, this book doesn't work very well. The plot culminates in what is a long essay uttered by a single character under rather odd circumstances. though this essay is valuable, it doesn't provide a fitting end to the narrative. This book is probably best suited to those studying contemporary China or those interested in the novel form and its relation to protest.