FICTION
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The Dowager Empress Cixi
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Sun Yat-sen
Chinese revolutionary and political leader known as the Father of
Modern China. Sun played an instrumental role in overthrowing the Qing
Dynasty in 1911.
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Mao Zedong, 1935
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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
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Feathered Serpent
by Xu Xiaobin
Better read in an academic environment or
bookclub with more supplemental material
I
ordered this book in part on account of the publisher's description
of this book as being one of the most important works of 20th century
Chinese literature. Although Chinese literature is not my forte, I have
a keen interest in exploring international literature. I have mixed
feelings about this book. Generally, I find that FEATHERED SERPENT
would be a fascinating book to study in an academic setting or in a
book club with input from others but a difficult book to read as a
pleasure nighttime read or as an introduction into Chinese literature.
FEATHERED SERPENT
is a book lush and lyrical in its descriptions,
descriptions that lead the reader into the setting and tone of the
story. The narrative structure is non-linear and shifts between first
and third person. Xu Xiaobin gives a reader a feeling for the changes
in Chinese culture through the generations, generations whose stories
are intertwined. Distinctions are not clear. Some events seem to be
illusions while others have a sense of realism. The publisher
introduces the author to an international audience as "A political
satirist in the guise of a mystical writer". For readers less familiar
with the intricacies of Chinese political thought, the mystical element
feels is more accessible and seen the most clearly. Mystical writing in
and of itself tends to add a challenging element to reading so FEATHERED SERPENT
has many elements adding together to make a reader
non-conversant in Chinese literature feel lost within the narrative
without much grounding.
Several aids at the back of the book do help the reader, such as a
table of the generations, a list of the main characters, a very
abbreviated list of historical dates in Chinese history. This is simply
not enough to aid the reception of this book in an international
environment. Many works of classic literature often have introductions.
While these introductions are often elementary compared to the beauty
of literature, they do give the non-academic reader some touchstones
for a more satisfying read. As part of Atria's International Edition
program, FEATHERED SERPENT is a welcome edition that makes the works of
international authors more accessible to a North American public. With
this goal in mind, a goal I heartedly welcome, the publisher needs to
go that extra step with this book and others in the program and provide
a introduction and thoughtful book club questions at the end which can
often help to guide a reader and pinpoint certain scenes. While I am
not conversant in Chinese literature, I have a strong background in
literary studies (10 years in Comparative Literature graduate school).
I am probably the target audience for this book and this line of books
more than some others I read. I enjoyed many aspects of the prose
enough to enjoy the process of reading the book from page to page, but
I also know I missed whole levels of the book that would interest me
greatly. FEATHERED SERPENT would be a fascinating book to read in an
academic setting or for those with more knowledge of Chinese literature
and politics. This reader certainly hopes that the publisher does a
better job of proving ancillary aids to improve the reception of these
books to a wider audience --- which is after all, the point of this
line.
Publisher: Atria
(February 2009)
Translators: John Howard-Gibbon, JoanneWang
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
Courtesy of Amazon Vine
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