gothicvamperstein's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this novel, especially as it covers the important issue of human trafficking, but I struggled to read it. A lot of things got a bit "lost in translation" and the writing was detached (especially in regards of the rape), which made me not engage and invest that much in the characters and the story. I also found the book a bit confusing at times. I suspect that if I was able to read Chinese, I would probably like the book a lot more than I did.
natashaniezgoda's review
2.0
2 stars - DNF due to translation
Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I could not get into the story. I can appreciate the subject matter because it is such a crucial topic that needs to be discussed - human trafficking - but this plot lacked poise, finesse, and clarity.
Also, as some other reviewers have noted, the translation made the dialogue come across very robotic and awkward.
Thank you, Net Gallery for the copy. I'm sorry it didn't work out.
Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I could not get into the story. I can appreciate the subject matter because it is such a crucial topic that needs to be discussed - human trafficking - but this plot lacked poise, finesse, and clarity.
Also, as some other reviewers have noted, the translation made the dialogue come across very robotic and awkward.
Thank you, Net Gallery for the copy. I'm sorry it didn't work out.
paradesi's review against another edition
2.0
This was a difficult book to get through, the language alternated between shocking/crass and poetic. Perhaps you could say that the crudeness of Butterfly's voice is one way of depicting the ugliness and pain of her situation, but it made it harder to read about an already difficult life. The author's afterword was instrumental in putting this story into context, and conveyed the subtext much more clearly than the actual story. I don't want to read this particular book again the way it was written, but the story painted in the afterword will keep me thinking about it for a long while yet.
frostatmidnite's review against another edition
4.0
Oh my God! this book is such a moving read.
And it opens up another world that one can't imagine exists even now. But the book brings about such a drastic depiction of this little village hidden away in some remote corner of the world and the practices and rituals of its people.
An absolutely well written, and well translated, book.
For more book reviews, visit Frost At Midnite.
And it opens up another world that one can't imagine exists even now. But the book brings about such a drastic depiction of this little village hidden away in some remote corner of the world and the practices and rituals of its people.
An absolutely well written, and well translated, book.
For more book reviews, visit Frost At Midnite.
goldenfenris's review
4.0
I currently live in China and my students have told me about Jia Pingwa and his books. I had never had a chance to read a book by him until now. I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for giving me this ARC, but I would like to add that all opinions are my own.
I think that for someone who is unfamiliar with either Chinese literature or Chinese culture that they would have a lot of problems with this book. To start off the naming situation would be quite difficult for some foreigners, but the thing to remember that they are using a literal translation of their name in Chinese. Chinese people usually have a name that reflect some sort of quality or wish that their parents would like them to have. It would be like if they translated our names to be the literal meaning in a book so the main character would be "Blessed by God" and his girlfriend would be "Raven haired" or something like that.
Also, it was mentioned before and I agree that the author's note at the end should be a forward instead. It explains so much to the reader in terms of the translation, the work itself, and where the story came from. It will make the story clearer yet for the Western audience.
And in case you are mystified by some of the things that occur in this novel. My students have told me of similar traditions and events such as the ones in the novels, so the author is giving a fairly accurate portrayal of the life that people in these villages probably have.
All the things that happen to the main character, Butterfly, are absolutely heart breaking and the ending is going to confound most of its foreign audience where the emphasis on family and the next generation isn't as strong of a cultural factor as it is in China. I also feel a bit bad about saying this, but I would not recommend this as a first foray into Chinese literature. It would be better for someone who has already read a few novels and are familiar with some of the different things happening in the culture and the style of Chinese authors. However, this book does discuss a very serious subject that does need more light shed upon it.
I do hope that more people read this book, but I acknowledge that it will not be for everyone. I will be posting a review on my blog for this novel at a later date this week.
I think that for someone who is unfamiliar with either Chinese literature or Chinese culture that they would have a lot of problems with this book. To start off the naming situation would be quite difficult for some foreigners, but the thing to remember that they are using a literal translation of their name in Chinese. Chinese people usually have a name that reflect some sort of quality or wish that their parents would like them to have. It would be like if they translated our names to be the literal meaning in a book so the main character would be "Blessed by God" and his girlfriend would be "Raven haired" or something like that.
Also, it was mentioned before and I agree that the author's note at the end should be a forward instead. It explains so much to the reader in terms of the translation, the work itself, and where the story came from. It will make the story clearer yet for the Western audience.
And in case you are mystified by some of the things that occur in this novel. My students have told me of similar traditions and events such as the ones in the novels, so the author is giving a fairly accurate portrayal of the life that people in these villages probably have.
All the things that happen to the main character, Butterfly, are absolutely heart breaking and the ending is going to confound most of its foreign audience where the emphasis on family and the next generation isn't as strong of a cultural factor as it is in China. I also feel a bit bad about saying this, but I would not recommend this as a first foray into Chinese literature. It would be better for someone who has already read a few novels and are familiar with some of the different things happening in the culture and the style of Chinese authors. However, this book does discuss a very serious subject that does need more light shed upon it.
I do hope that more people read this book, but I acknowledge that it will not be for everyone. I will be posting a review on my blog for this novel at a later date this week.
goldenfenris's review against another edition
4.0
I currently live in China and my students have told me about Jia Pingwa and his books. I had never had a chance to read a book by him until now. I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for giving me this ARC, but I would like to add that all opinions are my own.
I think that for someone who is unfamiliar with either Chinese literature or Chinese culture that they would have a lot of problems with this book. To start off the naming situation would be quite difficult for some foreigners, but the thing to remember that they are using a literal translation of their name in Chinese. Chinese people usually have a name that reflect some sort of quality or wish that their parents would like them to have. It would be like if they translated our names to be the literal meaning in a book so the main character would be "Blessed by God" and his girlfriend would be "Raven haired" or something like that.
Also, it was mentioned before and I agree that the author's note at the end should be a forward instead. It explains so much to the reader in terms of the translation, the work itself, and where the story came from. It will make the story clearer yet for the Western audience.
And in case you are mystified by some of the things that occur in this novel. My students have told me of similar traditions and events such as the ones in the novels, so the author is giving a fairly accurate portrayal of the life that people in these villages probably have.
All the things that happen to the main character, Butterfly, are absolutely heart breaking and the ending is going to confound most of its foreign audience where the emphasis on family and the next generation isn't as strong of a cultural factor as it is in China. I also feel a bit bad about saying this, but I would not recommend this as a first foray into Chinese literature. It would be better for someone who has already read a few novels and are familiar with some of the different things happening in the culture and the style of Chinese authors. However, this book does discuss a very serious subject that does need more light shed upon it.
I do hope that more people read this book, but I acknowledge that it will not be for everyone. I will be posting a review on my blog for this novel at a later date this week.
I think that for someone who is unfamiliar with either Chinese literature or Chinese culture that they would have a lot of problems with this book. To start off the naming situation would be quite difficult for some foreigners, but the thing to remember that they are using a literal translation of their name in Chinese. Chinese people usually have a name that reflect some sort of quality or wish that their parents would like them to have. It would be like if they translated our names to be the literal meaning in a book so the main character would be "Blessed by God" and his girlfriend would be "Raven haired" or something like that.
Also, it was mentioned before and I agree that the author's note at the end should be a forward instead. It explains so much to the reader in terms of the translation, the work itself, and where the story came from. It will make the story clearer yet for the Western audience.
And in case you are mystified by some of the things that occur in this novel. My students have told me of similar traditions and events such as the ones in the novels, so the author is giving a fairly accurate portrayal of the life that people in these villages probably have.
All the things that happen to the main character, Butterfly, are absolutely heart breaking and the ending is going to confound most of its foreign audience where the emphasis on family and the next generation isn't as strong of a cultural factor as it is in China. I also feel a bit bad about saying this, but I would not recommend this as a first foray into Chinese literature. It would be better for someone who has already read a few novels and are familiar with some of the different things happening in the culture and the style of Chinese authors. However, this book does discuss a very serious subject that does need more light shed upon it.
I do hope that more people read this book, but I acknowledge that it will not be for everyone. I will be posting a review on my blog for this novel at a later date this week.
hauntedburgerplant's review
1.0
DNF. Difficult writing style to follow, and I'm not interested in an old man's writings about women suffering at the hands of men.
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