Reviews

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

backyardreader's review

5.0

I loved this book. It was thought provoking and while it was a touch sad, I really love the idea of literature being so incredibly valuable, you'd lay your life on the line to devour it. 

jayco's review

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

sinningsammy's review

challenging sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I was excited to read this book but honestly I didn’t love it. It took me so long to read it because it just drags on in my opinion. I also don’t really like either of the guys much (I do like the little seamstress) so it wasn’t that enjoyable for me.

jillycat's review

informative reflective

4.0

fietsbel's review

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

mindthebook's review against another edition

4.0

Såg 'Still Alice' igår och blev SÅ irriterad på Apples in-your-face-produktplacering. Blev däremot upplivad av den tygkassepriviligierade Julianne Moore. Strand Bookstore, förstås. Den rebelliska dottern, spelad av Kristen Stewart, bar en 'I read banned books'-dito.

Detta är en kortroman om förbjuden litteratur, aka "reactionary filth", i Maos Kina under Kulturrevolutionen på 70-talet. Rätt balans mellan romantik och realism.

Två saker hade jag önskat: att jag vetat att originalspråket är franska och att författaren fördjupat sig i litteraturens roll som frihetsbärare.

Nu vill jag se filmen snarast!

m_macmillan's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

3.5

sparkleboymatty's review

lighthearted medium-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? Yes

4.0

morganzayet's review

adventurous emotional funny inspiring relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

tomleetang's review

3.0

There are some wonderful scenes in this novel that are so well fashioned that they remain as perfect pictures long after you've finished reading: the fixing of the local headman's teeth; diving for keys beside a waterfall; the bull's blood incident... I think what prevented me from enjoying this book more is that it felt very ephemeral; as soon as I was fully immersed in the world, it was over.