Scan barcode
murakamikarakteri's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
theasdertt's review against another edition
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
ihyuca's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
_sal_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
dimmie's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
yongxiang's review against another edition
3.0
The novellas have a fairytale-like quality to them.
Part of which is because the stories are about quirky characters going on singular quests in the mountains (an old man growing a corn stalk during a drought, an old woman finding a husband for her "idiot" daughter).
Part of which has to do with the fantastical writing style, which uses unexpected metaphors and frequently mixes the senses. From Marrow:
She got up and rolled up the mat, put it next to the wall, then looked around the room before slowly lying down again on the hard wooden bed frame. She slammed her eyelids shut like a pair of city gates.
Time rumbled forward like a flour mill.
The sound of footsteps drifted into her room like a specter.
Eventually, a shout in the front room was violently suppressed - like a leaf that had just been picked up by the wind, only to run into the wall or a closed door. The courtyard, village, and the entire mountain ridge suddenly became as peaceful as a lake after a boat has sunk beneath the surface. The entire world seemed to go back into a dream.
In Years, Months, Days especially, everything seems to make its own sound - Mr Lianke mentions the sound of the corn stalk growing, the sound of the sunlight... These were interesting to read but sometimes a bit difficult to imagine, which took me out of it. Example:
He proceeded to throw the coin into the air. The sun's rays were as dense as trees in a forest, and the coin bumped against one ray after another, producing a bright clinking sound.
I liked Years, Months, Days more. The old man's perseverence and desire to find meaning and routine in the midst of an impossible situation. Think The Old Man and the Land. Also liked the fact that he had a blind dog that seemed to understand human language. Cutes
Part of which is because the stories are about quirky characters going on singular quests in the mountains (an old man growing a corn stalk during a drought, an old woman finding a husband for her "idiot" daughter).
Part of which has to do with the fantastical writing style, which uses unexpected metaphors and frequently mixes the senses. From Marrow:
She got up and rolled up the mat, put it next to the wall, then looked around the room before slowly lying down again on the hard wooden bed frame. She slammed her eyelids shut like a pair of city gates.
Time rumbled forward like a flour mill.
The sound of footsteps drifted into her room like a specter.
Eventually, a shout in the front room was violently suppressed - like a leaf that had just been picked up by the wind, only to run into the wall or a closed door. The courtyard, village, and the entire mountain ridge suddenly became as peaceful as a lake after a boat has sunk beneath the surface. The entire world seemed to go back into a dream.
In Years, Months, Days especially, everything seems to make its own sound - Mr Lianke mentions the sound of the corn stalk growing, the sound of the sunlight... These were interesting to read but sometimes a bit difficult to imagine, which took me out of it. Example:
He proceeded to throw the coin into the air. The sun's rays were as dense as trees in a forest, and the coin bumped against one ray after another, producing a bright clinking sound.
I liked Years, Months, Days more. The old man's perseverence and desire to find meaning and routine in the midst of an impossible situation. Think The Old Man and the Land. Also liked the fact that he had a blind dog that seemed to understand human language. Cutes
efimerabonhomia's review against another edition
4.0
4,5
La inmensidad y el vacío de cien páginas van a asolar esta reseña como si se tratara de un largo verano en el desierto a más de la temperatura de la que tu cuerpo puede aguantar. Con este sentimiento, Yan Lianke nos traslada de nuevo a Balou, unas tierras rurales donde la sequía hace que todas las poblaciones huyan despavoridas ante el miedo de no tener alimento y agua y abandonan todos los resquicios de sus hogares para dejar una larga soledad a la que ni siquiera le da sombra. El sol se pone cada día y un anciano y su perro habitan el lugar como unos zombies supervivientes de un apocalipsis e intentan conseguir alimento cada día, librando una batalla de la que muchas veces no salen vencedores. Hacen lo impensable y más para conseguir salir de la situación en la que están, y hasta el viejo decide plantar y crear una maquinaria para que la gente cuando vuelva tenga algo seguro que comer.
Esta no es una historia simple que pretenda no tener símiles ni ocultar lo que realmente se percibe que critica el autor. Como siempre, Lianke, vuelve a su narrativa brillante y sencilla para ofrecernos una historia durísima donde prima la metáfora y la bondad del ser humano. Un recorrido por un valle solitario lleno de recuerdos que se enfrentan a la vida pasada y al futuro sin ningún más que un viejo acompañado por su perro. A pesar de no ser muy extensa, el autor consigue captar al lector como en todas sus obras y ofrece lo que tanto le característica, la defensa del pueblo ante las desgracias del mundo por culpa del ser humano o de la naturaleza. En esta caso, con este superviviente de la razón, nos enseña que no tenemos porque encontrar algo malo en la soledad humana, y es que Ciego, su perro, es el más fiel aliado del hombre, y con ello nos representa que existe ese mundo que tanto conocen muchos entre la amistad entre una persona y un animal y es más fiel que cualquier otra.
Un relato breve que llegará para emocionarte pero también para hacerte pensar en la frase de que no existe un planeta B para nosotros, y si no cuidamos nuestros recursos moriremos con ellos.
La inmensidad y el vacío de cien páginas van a asolar esta reseña como si se tratara de un largo verano en el desierto a más de la temperatura de la que tu cuerpo puede aguantar. Con este sentimiento, Yan Lianke nos traslada de nuevo a Balou, unas tierras rurales donde la sequía hace que todas las poblaciones huyan despavoridas ante el miedo de no tener alimento y agua y abandonan todos los resquicios de sus hogares para dejar una larga soledad a la que ni siquiera le da sombra. El sol se pone cada día y un anciano y su perro habitan el lugar como unos zombies supervivientes de un apocalipsis e intentan conseguir alimento cada día, librando una batalla de la que muchas veces no salen vencedores. Hacen lo impensable y más para conseguir salir de la situación en la que están, y hasta el viejo decide plantar y crear una maquinaria para que la gente cuando vuelva tenga algo seguro que comer.
Esta no es una historia simple que pretenda no tener símiles ni ocultar lo que realmente se percibe que critica el autor. Como siempre, Lianke, vuelve a su narrativa brillante y sencilla para ofrecernos una historia durísima donde prima la metáfora y la bondad del ser humano. Un recorrido por un valle solitario lleno de recuerdos que se enfrentan a la vida pasada y al futuro sin ningún más que un viejo acompañado por su perro. A pesar de no ser muy extensa, el autor consigue captar al lector como en todas sus obras y ofrece lo que tanto le característica, la defensa del pueblo ante las desgracias del mundo por culpa del ser humano o de la naturaleza. En esta caso, con este superviviente de la razón, nos enseña que no tenemos porque encontrar algo malo en la soledad humana, y es que Ciego, su perro, es el más fiel aliado del hombre, y con ello nos representa que existe ese mundo que tanto conocen muchos entre la amistad entre una persona y un animal y es más fiel que cualquier otra.
Un relato breve que llegará para emocionarte pero también para hacerte pensar en la frase de que no existe un planeta B para nosotros, y si no cuidamos nuestros recursos moriremos con ellos.
melisaf82's review
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
babblingbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death
eliathereader's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
2.75
Yine çok uzun bir zamandır listemde yer alan bir kitabı okudum. Günler Aylar Yıllar bizi Çin’in ufak bir köyüne, kuraklık zamanına götürüyor. Yaşlı adam, kör köpek, açlık ve mücadeleyle dolu bir kitap. Yaşlı adamın bir tanecik yeşilliğe tutunması ve o mısırı hayatta tutmak için kendi varlığını bile arka plana atma çabası bir yere kadar hayranlık uyandırıcı ama bazen de bunaltıcı. İnadı bırak da yola devam et deme isteği uyandırıyor. Ama toprakla ve hayatla olan mücadele aynı zamanda düşündürücü bir etkiye sahip. O sefilliğin ve sıçanların kokusunu burnunuza kadar getiriyor. Sanırım bu yönden beni rahatsız eden bir okuma oldu. Bence hayat mücadelesi konusunu en güzel anlatan kitap Yaşlı Adam ve Deniz ama bu kitabın kötü olduğunu kesinlikle söylemem. Sadece anlatımın duruluğuna rağmen sürekli tekrarların olması ve sıçanlardan bu kadar bahsedilip bir tezatlık oluşturulması midemi rahatsız etti.