A review by ele_b
The Story of the Stone, Volume II: The Crab-Flower Club, Chapters 27-53 by Cao Xueqin

5.0

"[...] but [birds] have mothers and fathers just the same. Can't you see how cruel it is to take them away from their nests and make them perform for people's amusement?"

This was even better than the first volume. It is just as immersive, though does not have the disgusting, vulgar aspects of the first. There is also less drama. Here the younger characters have begun a poetry-club, and much of the book is them playing poetry-writing games. It is very happy and enjoyable read. There is even a list of painting supplies used at the time!

This lengthy novel was partially based off the author's life. An aristocrat, his family fell from power, and this was written based on the span of that era. This is truly the Chinese [b:War and Peace|656|War and Peace|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413215930l/656._SY75_.jpg|4912783].