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griffo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
deaconlenny's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
With almost zero historical knowledge of the context in which this book was met (save for the extensive preface), I don’t know how I should judge its prosaic merit. To my eyes, it reads like a Brontë or some such “court intrigue”-type novel and, by that measure, does not interest me very much narratively. Not much really happens, per se, and what does happen isn’t much more than the kind of melodrama bred by idle lives — in this case those of a sort of quasi-but-precarious aristocracy(?) Some chapters seem wholly out of place given the overall chasteness of the writing, which were naturally the chapters I found most interesting. Otherwise it was a lot of small violences of the extremely mundane persuasion. I may have to withhold judgment until I complete the other four volumes, but we’ll see how far I get down that path.
bethanybarton's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sherwoodreads's review against another edition
Will have more to say when I finish the series. I have been swapping off this translation with the Gladys Yang translation (apparently done while a political prisoner); this translation probably takes more liberties, but is more engaging for a Western reader.
This first book really is dreamlike in its blend of the fantastic and everyday life, verging on comedy of manners. Unlike any of the other Chinese classics I've read so far, this one focuses right in on women, including the servants. There is an enormous cast, and a great deal of description in huge wodges at times, and for a Western reader the pacing is like following a meandering river rather than Act One Rising Action, but perseverance pays off.
This first book really is dreamlike in its blend of the fantastic and everyday life, verging on comedy of manners. Unlike any of the other Chinese classics I've read so far, this one focuses right in on women, including the servants. There is an enormous cast, and a great deal of description in huge wodges at times, and for a Western reader the pacing is like following a meandering river rather than Act One Rising Action, but perseverance pays off.
ana_vl's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
fairywren's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
qiaorui's review against another edition
5.0
The rituals, the copious amounts of tea, the racing go, the grandeur, the scores of maids and servants, and the intrigue, oh the intrigue! I did not know what to expect, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
This first part of 紅樓夢 starts with a long introduction, which has little to do with the main story, and relates the life story of Jia Yu-cun. Because I didn't know when the main storyline would start, this set me off on the wrong footing a few times. After finishing the book two days ago I re-read the first part and with a clearer picture of where things are heading it's actually one of the most fun and enjoyable parts of the book. The writing is light and vivid and I'd love to visit the world Yu-cun lives in, especially that country inn near Yangzhou where Yu-cun meets his old friend Zi-xing. As a matter of fact, I reread whole passages throughout the book and found they have gotten new meaning now that I know all the characters so well.
The main story then revolves around the daily activities in the Rong-guo and, to a lesser extent, the Ning-guo houses of the Jia family. Petty crimes, large funerals, illness, joblessness, homelessness, gambling, procrastination, this book tackles timeless themes and issues in a Qing dynasty upper class fashion. If you enjoy English period dramas you're sure to enjoy The Dream of the Red Chamber.
The best part, for me, was the 'test' Jia Zheng subjects Bao-yu, his son of 13, to. A new garden is created in the family's compound for imperial visits. Before the official opening every interesting spot in the garden needs to get a poetically acceptable name, and this garden is HUGE. To gauge his son's study progress, Jia Zheng challenges Bao-yu to come up with better names (and accompanying verses) than his aides can. Orchards, hills, rocks, waterfalls, caves, even a small inn, everything is named and discussed. For the small inn near an apricot orchard Bao-Yu suggests "the hopeful sign", alluding to an old poem that reads
"Above the flowering apricot
A hopeful inn-sign hangs."
The aides of his father are delighted, but his imperious father himself thinks Bao-yu a showoff. The intellectual discussions in this chapter are so wonderful to read that I was tempted to get a copy of the Classics Of Poetry (詩經）
In a similar fashion there was a poetry competition where the whole family composed verses for an imperial concubine, as well as a riddle contest organised by grandmother Jia. One of the riddles in the competition read:
"Southward you stare,
He'll northward glare.
Grieve, and he's sad.
Laugh, and he's glad.
A useful object."
Up to you to guess its meaning! Obviously, especially in these chapters, much is lost in translation, and I do not know any of the poets referenced to. Moreover, Hawkes' translation is not a literal one, and sometimes the meaning is changes to preserve the authors intentions. The poetry is made to rhyme, and some of the Mandarin puns are changed to work in English. But overall the translation reads very well.
Compared to Journey to the West, the first part of which I read last year, this book is light on the adventure and central storyline, and heavy on the emotional development and complex relationships between the many characters, much to my liking! I am really looking forward to part 2, but I'll take a break from this series for now.
This first part of 紅樓夢 starts with a long introduction, which has little to do with the main story, and relates the life story of Jia Yu-cun. Because I didn't know when the main storyline would start, this set me off on the wrong footing a few times. After finishing the book two days ago I re-read the first part and with a clearer picture of where things are heading it's actually one of the most fun and enjoyable parts of the book. The writing is light and vivid and I'd love to visit the world Yu-cun lives in, especially that country inn near Yangzhou where Yu-cun meets his old friend Zi-xing. As a matter of fact, I reread whole passages throughout the book and found they have gotten new meaning now that I know all the characters so well.
The main story then revolves around the daily activities in the Rong-guo and, to a lesser extent, the Ning-guo houses of the Jia family. Petty crimes, large funerals, illness, joblessness, homelessness, gambling, procrastination, this book tackles timeless themes and issues in a Qing dynasty upper class fashion. If you enjoy English period dramas you're sure to enjoy The Dream of the Red Chamber.
The best part, for me, was the 'test' Jia Zheng subjects Bao-yu, his son of 13, to. A new garden is created in the family's compound for imperial visits. Before the official opening every interesting spot in the garden needs to get a poetically acceptable name, and this garden is HUGE. To gauge his son's study progress, Jia Zheng challenges Bao-yu to come up with better names (and accompanying verses) than his aides can. Orchards, hills, rocks, waterfalls, caves, even a small inn, everything is named and discussed. For the small inn near an apricot orchard Bao-Yu suggests "the hopeful sign", alluding to an old poem that reads
"Above the flowering apricot
A hopeful inn-sign hangs."
The aides of his father are delighted, but his imperious father himself thinks Bao-yu a showoff. The intellectual discussions in this chapter are so wonderful to read that I was tempted to get a copy of the Classics Of Poetry (詩經）
In a similar fashion there was a poetry competition where the whole family composed verses for an imperial concubine, as well as a riddle contest organised by grandmother Jia. One of the riddles in the competition read:
"Southward you stare,
He'll northward glare.
Grieve, and he's sad.
Laugh, and he's glad.
A useful object."
Up to you to guess its meaning! Obviously, especially in these chapters, much is lost in translation, and I do not know any of the poets referenced to. Moreover, Hawkes' translation is not a literal one, and sometimes the meaning is changes to preserve the authors intentions. The poetry is made to rhyme, and some of the Mandarin puns are changed to work in English. But overall the translation reads very well.
Compared to Journey to the West, the first part of which I read last year, this book is light on the adventure and central storyline, and heavy on the emotional development and complex relationships between the many characters, much to my liking! I am really looking forward to part 2, but I'll take a break from this series for now.
nextpageplease's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75