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brighthappyness's review against another edition
2.0
While there are some good stories and authors that I'd be interested in checking out in more detail, overall not entirely impressed with selection choices. Favorite ones from each region are the following: The Collector of Treasures by Bessie Head, The Destination by Wang Anyi, Pigeons at Daybreak by Anita Desai, The Tomoshibi by Sawako Ariyoshi (though The Magic Chalk by Kobo Abe gets a shoutout), and finally The Book of Sand by Jorge Luis Borges. Wasn't really too happy about the Act of Worship story by Yukio Mishima, a known right-winger nationalist.
clarxvizconde13's review against another edition
5.0
The book is a one-way ticket to five destinations: Africa, China, India, Japan, and Latin America. And by Africa and Latin America, I mean to say different countries in the specified regions.
Barbara H. Solomon, editor of the book, mentioned in the introduction that "As always, fiction provides a window through which we can view the inner lives of others. It can clarify issues, dramatize themes, and reveal insights about an individual or a group." Although the emphasis for every published work should be on the work itself and not on the author, I can't help but give the spotlight to the latter because it is with the latter's experiences that I get to understand how the events depicted (history), despite being works of fiction, have imparted a piece of the hearts, minds, sufferings, and joys of these writers, which makes the experiences of reading these tales raw and real.
Even if the set-up of the book can be compared to that of textbooks for those majoring in world literature, the introduction and the short biographical information on the authors mentioned in the book allow the reader to understand the context with which the stories were written in. If you're looking forward to exploring works from other authors in these geographical locations which you have not heard of until reading the book (like me), the book is an essential read.
I have not read the stories in the book in order. I started with the Latin American stories followed by the Indian tales. The African, Chinese, and Japanese narratives came afterwards. Solomon did a superb job of selecting the said authors with works translated in English, suggesting anthologies for further reading per geographical category, and giving the reader a sense of what people in the different facets of time and place have experienced that shaped their own perspective of life and the world.
Most memorable stories for me would be the following:
1) All the Latin American stories - Clarisa by Isabel Allende, The Book of Sand by Jorge Luis Borges, The Cost of Living by Carlos Fuentes, Death Constant Beyond Love by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Papito's Story by Luisa Valenzuela;
2) Indian stories - Dhowli by Mahasweta Devi, The Interview by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, A Horse and Two Goats by R.K. Narayan, and The Wog by Khushwant Singh;
3) African stories - The Collector of Treasures by Bessie Head and A Meeting in the Dark by Ngugi Wa Thiong'O;
4) Chinese stories - The Man from a Peddler's Family by Lu Wenfu (*this made me cry); and
5) Japanese stories - The Moon on the Water by Yasunari Kawabata.
Barbara H. Solomon, editor of the book, mentioned in the introduction that "As always, fiction provides a window through which we can view the inner lives of others. It can clarify issues, dramatize themes, and reveal insights about an individual or a group." Although the emphasis for every published work should be on the work itself and not on the author, I can't help but give the spotlight to the latter because it is with the latter's experiences that I get to understand how the events depicted (history), despite being works of fiction, have imparted a piece of the hearts, minds, sufferings, and joys of these writers, which makes the experiences of reading these tales raw and real.
Even if the set-up of the book can be compared to that of textbooks for those majoring in world literature, the introduction and the short biographical information on the authors mentioned in the book allow the reader to understand the context with which the stories were written in. If you're looking forward to exploring works from other authors in these geographical locations which you have not heard of until reading the book (like me), the book is an essential read.
I have not read the stories in the book in order. I started with the Latin American stories followed by the Indian tales. The African, Chinese, and Japanese narratives came afterwards. Solomon did a superb job of selecting the said authors with works translated in English, suggesting anthologies for further reading per geographical category, and giving the reader a sense of what people in the different facets of time and place have experienced that shaped their own perspective of life and the world.
Most memorable stories for me would be the following:
1) All the Latin American stories - Clarisa by Isabel Allende, The Book of Sand by Jorge Luis Borges, The Cost of Living by Carlos Fuentes, Death Constant Beyond Love by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Papito's Story by Luisa Valenzuela;
2) Indian stories - Dhowli by Mahasweta Devi, The Interview by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, A Horse and Two Goats by R.K. Narayan, and The Wog by Khushwant Singh;
3) African stories - The Collector of Treasures by Bessie Head and A Meeting in the Dark by Ngugi Wa Thiong'O;
4) Chinese stories - The Man from a Peddler's Family by Lu Wenfu (*this made me cry); and
5) Japanese stories - The Moon on the Water by Yasunari Kawabata.
tsbowman1124's review
3.0
This is a collection of short stories from different countries. Some of the stories I would rate higher than 3 stars. This book is at times a very hard read, the short stories frequently involve difficult situations.
bahareads's review
4.0
Note: required reading
At this point I'm a bit too lazy to give my thoughts on all the stories individually; overall the stories were short but sweet. My favorites were
- The Collector of Treasures
- The Meeting in the Dark
- Dhowli
- The Book of Sand
- Paptio's Story
spacenoirdetective's review
5.0
One of the best short story collections I have ever read. Especially the Chinese stories, all of which are so layered they defy description. Chinese authors back then had to be very careful not to criticize the authorities, and the work they came up with is so well scripted it is agonized over, refined and filled with double entendres. I cannot recommend this collection enough. It has introduced me to over a dozen authors that I would definitely like to read more of.
awamiba's review
Other Voices, Other Vistas:: China, India, Japan, and Latin America by Various (2002)
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