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lenriquegheredia's review against another edition
4.0
This short story is mindblowing! It has this innovative style that resembles psychologic study cases. In this case the main character has a persecutory delusion, so he thinks everyone is cannibal and is trying to eat him, even his brother. In some sense, this is an allusion to some human conducts that seem as predatory as canibalism, such as landowners, human trafficking, rape... Still, the fear is founded in a factual precedent of real canibalism within his community and culture.
The thing that has me thrilled, is that I'm unable to figure out if our protagonist is actually sane now, that he indeed recovered, or that is it all a cover up from his brother, and he actually ate him after all... It's all kinda sketchy!!
The thing that has me thrilled, is that I'm unable to figure out if our protagonist is actually sane now, that he indeed recovered, or that is it all a cover up from his brother, and he actually ate him after all... It's all kinda sketchy!!
_merel_'s review against another edition
4.0
Very short but very powerful. The gradual descent to madness is haunting and reminded me a lot of Charlotte Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper . Written as a diary, the growing insanity of the narrator feels very suffocating and made me forget anything else while reading.
vividbagels's review against another edition
letting ppl know i can read stories in chinese now mkdjnvkf
bibliosini's review against another edition
3.0
I read the free translated version available on Marxists.org for my edX course on World Literature. I had almost zero background knowledge of the author or the context of this short story going into it, but I could pretty easily decipher what the main premise of the story was.
The narrator plans to meet with two brothers who were friends of his since one brother was recently ill. Upon meeting, he only gets to see the Elder Brother since the Younger Brother is better now and is away working. However, the Elder Brother hands the narrator his brother's diary from during his days of illness to give him some insight as to what had happened.
It was quite clear to me that the Younger Brother had suffered from schizophrenia probably and his diary was an account of his delusions and hallucinations. It was interesting to observe the way that then-China viewed and treated mental health issues. The writing was simple and fast-paced, but interesting.
The narrator plans to meet with two brothers who were friends of his since one brother was recently ill. Upon meeting, he only gets to see the Elder Brother since the Younger Brother is better now and is away working. However, the Elder Brother hands the narrator his brother's diary from during his days of illness to give him some insight as to what had happened.
It was quite clear to me that the Younger Brother had suffered from schizophrenia probably and his diary was an account of his delusions and hallucinations. It was interesting to observe the way that then-China viewed and treated mental health issues. The writing was simple and fast-paced, but interesting.
mugadum's review against another edition
3.0
This story chronicles a man’s descent to madness much like Charlotte Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper. Written in a diary format, it is at first seemingly a casual account of a day to day life. However, as the narrator walks the path of insanity, what we are given instead is a brilliant metaphor for social criticisms against China at that time (1918). Read it in Chinese if possible. The English translation is great, but it gives off a more subtle feel to it. The Chinese original is much like a Chinese Vonnegut: 「這時候、我又懂了一件他們的巧妙了。他們豈但不肯改、而且早已佈置；預備下一個瘋子的名目罩上我。將來喫了、不但太平無事、怕還會有人見情。佃戶說的大家喫了一個惡人、正是這方法。這是他們的老譜！」That right there was a stab at scapegoating and traditionalism. An old habit indeed!
idsideax's review against another edition
1.0
I think my professor just hate me making me read this book for assignments.