Reviews

English by Michael Sun Lee, Martin Merz, Wang Gang, Jane Weizhen Pan

caresays's review against another edition

3.0

More interesting now, after the events in Xinjiang.

raaahella's review against another edition

3.0

I never would have picked this book up if it hadn't been for a book club member who recommended it. Though it is fiction, I found it enlightening for what was happening in China during the 1960's. Not at all what I expected. Some scenes were shocking. You are warned. Animal cruelty.

cforss's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

jthhhhhhhh's review against another edition

3.0

The Chinese title is 英格力士 -- funny!

The book is not funny, though -- not really.

100 pages in, there is plenty of horrible cultural revolution stuff, and some great stuff about English education in China. More later...

dersan's review against another edition

1.0

The kid is a shit. The dad is a coward. The mom is a slut.

And the kid has this extraordinary ability to overhear every private plot-advancing conversation. Amazing!

I think I'd be more interested in reading this author's autobiography.

garseta's review

Reasonably diverting.

megelzbth's review against another edition

3.0

This was a fascinating tale, but there must have been tone or something along those lines that was completely lost in translation for me. I felt disconnected with the narrator most of the time. Maybe forgive me, I've never read a book translated from Chinese before this one.

I didn't love it or hate it, but I feel glad to have read it. I think it was an important read for that period of time and history.

myotinae's review

2.0

Holy hell there is a lot of voyeurism in this book.