Reviews

As Atribulações de um Chinês na China by Jules Verne

ana_r08's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jimena's review against another edition

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

3.75

theoryoftheafro's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted 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

4.25

louloup_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jelinek's review against another edition

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medium-paced

3.5

schwimfan's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

blueyorkie's review

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3.0

Knowing misfortune, fear, and worries is necessary to understand and appreciate happiness; such can quickly summarise the basic idea of the novel The Tribulations of a Chinese in China by Jules Verne. A little gem of Extraordinary Voyages, written by Jules Verne when he had never set foot in China, this story works wonderfully; it is full of twists and keeps us spellbound from start to finish. Indeed, you will find considerations that lend themselves to irritation, but it is generally quite successful. This work is a journey through an imagined China of the 19th century. To discover!

junedelecea's review against another edition

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2.0

average idk I didn’t really enjoy it

epictetsocrate's review against another edition

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3.0

— Trebuie, totuşi, să cădem de acord că viaţa are şi lucruri bune! strigă unul dintre meseni, sprijinindu-se pe braţul scaunului său cu spătar de marmură, în timp ce mesteca o rădăcină de nufăr cu zahăr.

— Dar şi destule rele! răspunse, între două accese de tuse, un altul, care fusese cât pe ce să se înece cu spinul unei delicate înotătoare de rechin.

— Să fim filozofi! zise atunci un personaj mai în vârstă, al cărui nas susţinea o enormă pereche de ochelari cu lentile mari, prinse în rame de lemn. Azi poţi să te sufoci şi mâine totul a trecut, precum aceste delicioase înghiţituri de nectar. Asta e viaţa, în cele din urmă.
Acestea fiind spuse, acest epicurian[1], aflat într-o dispoziţie binevoitoare, dădu pe gât un pahar cu un excelent vin călduţ, ai cărui aburi se ridicau încet dintr-un ceainic de metal.

— În ceea ce mă priveşte, vorbi al patrulea mesean, viaţa mi se pare foarte acceptabilă, când nu faci nimic şi ai posibilitatea să trăieşti astfel!

— Greşeşti! răspunse al cincilea. Fericirea stă în studiu şi în muncă. Să acumulezi cât mai multe cunoştinţe înseamnă să cauţi fericirea!

— Şi la sfârşit să afli că, de fapt, nu ştii nimic!

— Dar nu-i acesta începutul înţelepciunii?

— Şi care e sfârşitul ei?

— Înţelepciunea nu are sfârşit! răspunse, ca un filozof, bărbatul cu ochelari. Să ai bun simţ este mulţumirea supremă în viaţă!

Atunci primul dintre meseni i se adresă gazdei ce stătea în capul mesei, adică în cel mai rău loc, după cum cereau legile politeţei. Indiferent şi neatent, acesta asculta şi nu spunea nimic despre această dizertaţie inter pocula.

— Ia să vedem! Ce zice gazda noastră despre aceste divagaţii la un pahar de vin? I se pare că viaţa e bună sau rea? E pentru sau împotrivă?

Gazda ronţăia, nepăsătoare, câţiva sâmburi de pepene verde. Se mulţumi, ca răspuns, să dea dispreţuitor din buze, ca unul pe care nu-l interesa nimic.

muriel__my's review against another edition

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

3.75

I found this book mostly entertaining! I really loved to read a story placed in a not-European/American country during 19th century (I got tired of reading almost the same thing over and over again, with American contemporary authors dominating the libraries). I had fun seeing Kin-Fo and his mates going through a lot of difficulties and surprises in their journey, while he discovered life meaning and looked for his friend.

Loved too how Verne also did some historical and cultural explanations in every chapter, as someone who is interesed in history and cultures. It was like discovering a little bit of how Chinese people lived during those times.

For me, the finale was a little bit flat. I think Verne ended it like that because he didn't know at all how to, and reading it, I was not completely satisfied. There were also some pages where I lost interest because I found them kinda boring.

At the end, I think I can recommend this book as an option to get out to reader lock. I was losing interest in reading for fun, but this book has helped me to get back to it. It's not a must-read neither my favorite one, but I can understand why some people like it, and I respect it.