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A review by satvu
Red Sorghum by Mo Yan
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this for a class on Chinese Film and Fiction - I think I enjoyed it so much because of the class discussion and the ability to place it in a historical/literary context thanks to lectures.
The writing is really graphic and brutal, and the story itself is very tragic. The movie adaptation is also pretty good -- the actress in it, Gong Li, stars in similarly tragic movies based on events in China through the 1900s. I know it's not books, but if you're looking for good stories with history, tragedy, and high emotions, check out her other movies "To Live" and "Farewell My Concubine".
The writing is really graphic and brutal, and the story itself is very tragic. The movie adaptation is also pretty good -- the actress in it, Gong Li, stars in similarly tragic movies based on events in China through the 1900s. I know it's not books, but if you're looking for good stories with history, tragedy, and high emotions, check out her other movies "To Live" and "Farewell My Concubine".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Torture
There are a few incredibly detailed and gory scenes. I recognize that they were well written, but it made me very queasy.