A review by debyik
The Story of the Stone, Volume I: The Golden Days, Chapters 1-26 by Cao Xueqin

3.0

3.5 stars

This book has a bit of everything, political intrigue, sibling rivalry, romance, and murder, all with some beautiful poetry sprinkled throughout. I listened to the LibraVox audiobook which is done by volunteers and it was done really well and was quite entertaining. There were a few times I was laughing out loud. There were some references that went over my head as I have a limited amount of knowledge of Chinese literature and religion/mythology, but I don’t think it detracted from the book at all.

While entertaining, it’s not a book you want to rush through, instead, grab a cup of tea and savor each sip as you savor each page. I believe more enjoyment and meaning are gotten out of this book by taking it slow.