Scan barcode
A review by bridgetwf
Red Sorghum by Mo Yan
5.0
I was unsure what to rate this novel. As many other reviewers have noted, it is EXTREMELY brutal. Like I could not read it before bedtime or fear never sleeping again brutal. Everyone dies a HORRIFIC death and the brutality to animal, humans and the unborn is insane.
But, that is the point of the book--how insane our human brutality it. Everyone is fighting everyone, the Chinese are fighting the Japanese as well as each other, and some point one character finally says something along the lines of "who care who are rulers are? life is going to be similar and hard either way." That felt like one of the most poignant lines of the book.
Anyway, this book isn't for everyone. It is confusing to keep track of the story that jumps all over time with a variety of characters, and it is very disturbing, but once I got into it I really enjoyed the writing and was glad that I read this book.
But, that is the point of the book--how insane our human brutality it. Everyone is fighting everyone, the Chinese are fighting the Japanese as well as each other, and some point one character finally says something along the lines of "who care who are rulers are? life is going to be similar and hard either way." That felt like one of the most poignant lines of the book.
Anyway, this book isn't for everyone. It is confusing to keep track of the story that jumps all over time with a variety of characters, and it is very disturbing, but once I got into it I really enjoyed the writing and was glad that I read this book.