Reviews

Lust, Caution: The Story by James Schamus, Julia Lovell, Eileen Chang

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chococaptain's review

3.0

3.5 ⭐️

I don’t know if it’s the translation or if it was really written that way, but the writing was too muted for a story as strong and as powerful as it is.

fairyyeah's review against another edition

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4.0

It's a little confusing at first, but it's super interesting once you get to know the origin of the story. reread to annotate

srm's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

paulataua's review against another edition

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5.0

We first meet Jiaza as she socializes with a group of high society ladies playing Mah Jong and talking about jewelry, but we soon find out that there is much more to her, and the tryst she has with a high ranking member of the occupying government is one with a sinister purpose. A short and yet amazingly powerful story with a steady buildup of drama and tension. Introductions are always written after a work is finished and more often than not, they should be read after you have finished reading the story. This is a good example of one that should be skipped initially. Leave this and the afterword until you have finished reading. A great read and definitely not my last Elaine Chang.

lisajandgrinch's review against another edition

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3.0

Too short

siria's review against another edition

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3.0

Wang Chia-chih is a beautiful young student who is sent undercover to seduce Mr Yee, a powerful government official in WWII-era Shanghai. I can see how a good movie could be spun out of a novella like this, but I have to imagine that much of its power is lost in translation.