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A review by sam_bizar_wilcox
Peach Blossom Paradise by Ge Fei
4.0
This is a weird one!
The book ostensibly follows the various adventures in a young woman's life after her father goes mad in an early 20th century Chinese town. Ge Fei's writing is breezy and dazzling, and the book is incredibly fast-paced, introducing mysterious figures who show up in town out of the blue, valuable artifacts, espionage, etc. The scope is so broad it's hard to succinctly discuss the book, or provide a basic summary (as some reviewers, but often not me) want to do. What stands out more than the plot, however, is the commentary on feminity, politics, labor, and inheritance. The subtext isn't overdone, and what Ge Fei wants to say isn't always clear, but in a refreshing way. Here is an author who trusts his readers to understand his novel. And I will admit, too, that a lot of it went past me: his work comes with cultural and literary references that I didn't know. But this novel was so beautifully written and interesting that imagine more wise readers will have an even better reading experience.
The book ostensibly follows the various adventures in a young woman's life after her father goes mad in an early 20th century Chinese town. Ge Fei's writing is breezy and dazzling, and the book is incredibly fast-paced, introducing mysterious figures who show up in town out of the blue, valuable artifacts, espionage, etc. The scope is so broad it's hard to succinctly discuss the book, or provide a basic summary (as some reviewers, but often not me) want to do. What stands out more than the plot, however, is the commentary on feminity, politics, labor, and inheritance. The subtext isn't overdone, and what Ge Fei wants to say isn't always clear, but in a refreshing way. Here is an author who trusts his readers to understand his novel. And I will admit, too, that a lot of it went past me: his work comes with cultural and literary references that I didn't know. But this novel was so beautifully written and interesting that imagine more wise readers will have an even better reading experience.