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mary_soon_lee's review
2.0
This is the second book of the five-volume Dent-Young translation of one of the four great Chinese classics, commonly known as "Water Margin." On the plus side, it continues to be a quick read, evidently meant to entertain, with humorous incidents and generous helpings of action, and many interesting details. I note that it also has touches of fantasy, including one encounter with a goddess that reminded me of similar scenes in "The Journey to the West," another of the four Chinese classics.
When reading the previous volume of this story, I failed to warm to the group of characters referred to as the heroes. In this second volume, my feelings toward the heroes ranged from dislike to abhorrence. I particularly hated it when they took revenge on an individual by slaughtering that individual's household members. For example, here is a quote from chapter 41, "The members of Bee Sting Huang's household, family and others, young or old, some forty or fifty all told, were slain one and all." A similar scene takes place, in more detail, in chapter 31. I'm also not partial to the heroes indulging in cannibalism. I recognize that they do stand up for each other, which could be seen as commendable, but it fails to offset their nastier traits. At least for me.
When reading the previous volume of this story, I failed to warm to the group of characters referred to as the heroes. In this second volume, my feelings toward the heroes ranged from dislike to abhorrence. I particularly hated it when they took revenge on an individual by slaughtering that individual's household members. For example, here is a quote from chapter 41, "The members of Bee Sting Huang's household, family and others, young or old, some forty or fifty all told, were slain one and all." A similar scene takes place, in more detail, in chapter 31. I'm also not partial to the heroes indulging in cannibalism. I recognize that they do stand up for each other, which could be seen as commendable, but it fails to offset their nastier traits. At least for me.
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