Reviews

The Four Books by Carlos Rojas, Yan Lianke

skylarinho's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

abey's review

challenging dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

bookwormsarah's review

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

3.5

bored_and_confused's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

cxlmgood's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.25

veefuller's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

5.0

fishface's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.25

Death of innocence? I have alright background knowledge of the great famine and steel production drives so in my mind the tone of the four books comes across mocking and self-aware, pushing propaganda ideals of soaring steel and lysenkoist wheat fields thickly sown (photos of people standing on top of wheat so densely packed it supports their weight spring to mind) only to cover them with imagery of having to open a vein just to get a few ears from ragged stalks. Literally bleeding the Chinese people dry. The inflation of targets for approval was a Mao era favourite and Yan Lianke absurdist retelling is far too close to reality. I am interested by the role of religion, especially Christianity in the story given that it was heavily discouraged by the regime. The head of the re-education camp (forced labour) is a young child who grows to adulthood as food runs out, and eventually crucifies himself. Whether he is martyred, remorseful or just feels abandoned by his erstwhile mentors of the "higher ups" who knows.  

avid_d's review

Bored. Dislike of the style (perhaps, not helped by the translation?).

erynmarieliz's review

I feel like I’m not educated enough to appreciate this lol

cloud_cassle's review

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0