democratwaifu's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
eshafe41's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dom_millennium's review against another edition
5.0
THE GOOD: At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book or not.
The story of "To Live" is really a sad one, but a realistic one at the same time. Life is suffering, and nobody seems to suffer more by the fate of their loved ones than the main character Fugui. What is truly remarkable is that even though fate can be cruel at times, Fugui never ever gives up and even seems to find the positive in a little things as life goes on.
THE BAD: There are no chapters, and the style of writing (even though translated) feels very much like a Chinese written book. Which I guess really started to grow on me as the story progressed.
THE UGLY: If I have to find any fault at all, perhaps it has to be that the book is too short and that I wished it was somehow longer. However, I really enjoyed this story. By the end, I felt like I had lived with Fugui and gone through his troubles as well. Seeing his transformation at the end of novel really gave me hope that I can learn through my travails as well. I am instantly adding this book to my list of "favourites" as I will never forget the story of Fugui and his family. Thank you so much Yu Hua.
rinnie's review against another edition
4.25
this book was so depressing lol but so startling in how it clings to the idea of survival. delightful to read directly after we the survivors ! (this is a joke). such a stark and simple writing style
sblkrstl's review against another edition
5.0
Akıcı dili ve kurgusuyla beni hemen içine çeken nadir kitaplardan biriydi. Okurken içimi kaplayan derin hüzün duygusu kitabın son sayfasına kadar etkisini sürdürdü. Ben kitabı sevdim, okumanızı tavsiye ederim.
“Fakirlik adamın hırsını köreltir.”
“Yavaş kanar çırpan kuş, erken uçmaya başlamalı.”
“Her gün yorgunluktan ölene kadar çalışınca, başka şeyler için endişe edecek vaktiniz kalmıyor.”
“Yaşamaya devam etmek zorundasın!”
Derler ki: “Bir felaketten kurtulunca ardından güzel günler gelir.”
“Bütün aile her gün bir arada olduğu sürece, paranın ne önemi vardı?”
“Umudumuzu yitirirsek nasıl yaşardık?”
“İnsanların unutmaması gereken dört kural vardır: Yanlış söz söyleme, yanlış yatakta uyuma, yanlış eşikten girme, elini yanlış cebe atma.”
“İnsan ne kadar şanslı olursa olsun, ölmek istiyorsa hiçbir şey onu yaşatamaz.”
“Fakirlik adamın hırsını köreltir.”
“Yavaş kanar çırpan kuş, erken uçmaya başlamalı.”
“Her gün yorgunluktan ölene kadar çalışınca, başka şeyler için endişe edecek vaktiniz kalmıyor.”
“Yaşamaya devam etmek zorundasın!”
Derler ki: “Bir felaketten kurtulunca ardından güzel günler gelir.”
“Bütün aile her gün bir arada olduğu sürece, paranın ne önemi vardı?”
“Umudumuzu yitirirsek nasıl yaşardık?”
“İnsanların unutmaması gereken dört kural vardır: Yanlış söz söyleme, yanlış yatakta uyuma, yanlış eşikten girme, elini yanlış cebe atma.”
“İnsan ne kadar şanslı olursa olsun, ölmek istiyorsa hiçbir şey onu yaşatamaz.”
sevdezeynep's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.5
simonator's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Absolutely devastating and a profound insight into human suffering.
fantasicel's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fantasyreader223's review against another edition
5.0
In his quest to define the essence of life, Yu Hua creates a compelling story about a man who never loses hope in the face of tragedy and constant suffering. To Live depicts the transformation of Fugui, a man troubled with gambling addiction. To Live is a captivating story that compels every reader and viewer to see the value in life and all it has to offer. Yu Hua left me with a raw, intense, viciously honest truth that life is a harsh occurrence to endure. I love this book so much because it was completely honest in telling you that life is a harsh, cruel force that can only be endured through everlasting hope. As an avid reader, I have read books from a variety of genres, but I tend to avoid realistic fiction. This is because I find these novels revolve around teenage love triangles and “too good to be true” endings. To my surprise, To Live exceeded all of my expectations. I have never read such a moving or inspiring novel and I have never met a more compelling or authentic character than Fugui. Yu Hua leaves nothing out when relaying the brutality that life can have on a person through the deaths of Fugui’s entire family, leaving him to live out the rest of his days alone. However, Fugui’s resilience through these losses has inspired me to remain strong in times of suffering and sorrow. I also found Jiazhen’s devotion to Fugui something I can only strive for in any friendship or relationship. The commitment to her family and her love for Fugui during times of pain and loss is truly magnificent. Hence, I have come to the conclusion that To Live is one of the most amazing novels I’ve ever read and because of this, it is my new favorite novel.