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A review by grayjay
Frontier by Can Xue
5.0
Can Xue writes of an enchanting and ominous place called Pebble Town, where poplars haunt the river, wolves and snow leopards roam about the marketplace, a headless man runs a hostel, a tropical garden invades dreams and obsesses many people, and a mysterious and powerful woman leads the Design Institute that seems to employ most of the townsfolk while not really having any purpose.
The story is told from the points of view of many residents of Pebble Town, shifting back and forth across generations and through complex interconnected relationships. Can Xue's style is surreal, surprising, and improvisational. I found it challenging to follow at times, but rewarding nonetheless. Just as Khakpour expressed in the introduction, finishing it made me want to start it again immediately. I felt like the book could continue forever in and endless loop and still become more cryptic and complex with every reading.
*Second reading - I enjoyed it just as much — understood it a little bit more, but probably have more questions than before.
The story is told from the points of view of many residents of Pebble Town, shifting back and forth across generations and through complex interconnected relationships. Can Xue's style is surreal, surprising, and improvisational. I found it challenging to follow at times, but rewarding nonetheless. Just as Khakpour expressed in the introduction, finishing it made me want to start it again immediately. I felt like the book could continue forever in and endless loop and still become more cryptic and complex with every reading.
*Second reading - I enjoyed it just as much — understood it a little bit more, but probably have more questions than before.