Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Let them understand that food and drink play an important role not only in the physiological process, but in the processes of spiritual molding and aesthetic appreciation.
My wife and I were about to watch a film the other night when I spoke loudly during the previews, it is becoming increasingly difficult to appreciate film when the screen is constantly being obscured by references: I'm getting too old. My appreciation for Republic of Wine thus pivoted on these gross, overbearing metaphors: A town built on alcohol and the practice of eating of children. Where does one even begin? The literal and symbolic asides to the Cultural revolution alone boggle the modern reader. Consider me boggled and then sickened. Well, almost anyway. There was reading as gagging sublimation underway. I pushed through it, though without relief.
Mo Yan's novel reminded me of Kafka's Castle, replete with sticky tavern floors and loose women. Each chapter is punctuated by an epistolary exchanges between "Mo Yan" and a resident of Liquorville, a doctoral candidate in distilling, as well as an aspiring author. A story from the aspiring author then follows before the chief thread of the novel is resumed. I appreciated the asides and stories more than blind drunk narrative arc. This isn't for the squeamish.
My wife and I were about to watch a film the other night when I spoke loudly during the previews, it is becoming increasingly difficult to appreciate film when the screen is constantly being obscured by references: I'm getting too old. My appreciation for Republic of Wine thus pivoted on these gross, overbearing metaphors: A town built on alcohol and the practice of eating of children. Where does one even begin? The literal and symbolic asides to the Cultural revolution alone boggle the modern reader. Consider me boggled and then sickened. Well, almost anyway. There was reading as gagging sublimation underway. I pushed through it, though without relief.
Mo Yan's novel reminded me of Kafka's Castle, replete with sticky tavern floors and loose women. Each chapter is punctuated by an epistolary exchanges between "Mo Yan" and a resident of Liquorville, a doctoral candidate in distilling, as well as an aspiring author. A story from the aspiring author then follows before the chief thread of the novel is resumed. I appreciated the asides and stories more than blind drunk narrative arc. This isn't for the squeamish.
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ein sehr seltsames Buch, aber irgendwie hat es es geschafft mich in seinen Bann zu ziehen. Es ist postmoderne Satire vom feinsten, mit einer schönen metafiktionalen Konstruktion. Sprachlich ist es aber nicht kompliziert, so dass die 500 Seiten sich leicht lesen lassen.
OK. I'm sorry to say, I gave up. I know he won the Nobel prize, and I'll probably try again at a late date. But as I read along, I just had this overwhelming feeling I was actually missing everything that made this book "great." Talk about Lost in Translation--I just wasn't getting all the references and innuendoes.
So I will start with more traditional Chinese literature, and move on from there.
So I will start with more traditional Chinese literature, and move on from there.
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mo Yan's novel is full of surprises. Is it about a master detective on the trail of cannibals? Is it an epistolary dialogue between a student and his reluctant master? Is it a celebration of all things alcoholic? Just when I thought I had it figured out, Yan twisted me all around so that I wondered if maybe I had indeed imbibed a bit too much. Though simple at first glance, Mo Yan's novel is a many-layered indictment on the excesses of society... or maybe I just had one too many.
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No