Scan barcode
travisclau's review against another edition
2.0
I deeply appreciated the novel's interwoven narrative structure and its play with metanarrative as we occupy Iona's position as translator trying to piece life stories together. As we learn the backstory behind Jian and Mu, we see how delicately complex their history is that unfolds through beautifully inset reprints of letters between them and third-person narration.
Yet I left the novel feeling like the characters were sketches or even caricatures at points. Iona felt particularly thin as a character -- defined repeatedly in terms of her short-lived sexual flings (then later pines for her older employer) and then as a kind of valiant white rescuer for the star-crossed lovers, Jian and Mu, who are to be reunited with her volume of translations. The couple, too, seemed ridiculously pretentious in many instances (I.e. Jian's punk aesthetic and the manifesto, Mu's tastes in literature l), which framed them less as memorable characters than parodies of a certain cultural revolution persona that Guo plays with.
Yet I left the novel feeling like the characters were sketches or even caricatures at points. Iona felt particularly thin as a character -- defined repeatedly in terms of her short-lived sexual flings (then later pines for her older employer) and then as a kind of valiant white rescuer for the star-crossed lovers, Jian and Mu, who are to be reunited with her volume of translations. The couple, too, seemed ridiculously pretentious in many instances (I.e. Jian's punk aesthetic and the manifesto, Mu's tastes in literature l), which framed them less as memorable characters than parodies of a certain cultural revolution persona that Guo plays with.
bailo2's review against another edition
2.0
Don’t judge a book by its cover because I admit that I only picked up this book due to the catchy cover art. The story follows a young British translator as she translates letters between a Chinese man in political exile writing to his lover in China, who’s desperate to find him. The book was supposed to relate the political and cultural angst of mainland China. A noble cause to be sure. But completely ineffective because the writing and pace of this book were so blah. That’s all I can really say. I was basically bored out of my mind.
victoriathuyvi's review against another edition
5.0
Something about this book is just so poetic and strikes me in a very personal way. It evokes strong sensory memories of my time in Beijing.
freddie's review against another edition
5.0
Love the sense of adventure and fantasy in this novel. I'm a fan of intersection of cultures so this is a lovely read. The act of translation is pivotal to this book's plot and theme and the execution of that idea is almost perfect.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
PSA: The jacket copy for this book is really inaccurate. Mu is a poet, not a singer. And Jiang leaves China long before Mu goes on a very short tour of the US - maybe 5 collective pages out of the entire book.
The majority of the book explores the relationship between Jiang and Mu and the odd triangle of intimacy it creates with Iona, their translator (who has her own battles, chiefly that she feels disconnected from people). Beautiful writing, occasionally illustrated by "photocopies" of the actual letters or pictures.
The majority of the book explores the relationship between Jiang and Mu and the odd triangle of intimacy it creates with Iona, their translator (who has her own battles, chiefly that she feels disconnected from people). Beautiful writing, occasionally illustrated by "photocopies" of the actual letters or pictures.
mariomenti's review against another edition
5.0
When I come across a new book I really want to read, by an author I haven't read before, I often try and read one of their earlier books first (I'm not sure why).
Xiaolu Guo's I Am China is wonderful - covering language, politics and culture across multiple countries and continents, and yet deeply personal and very touching.
Xiaolu Guo's I Am China is wonderful - covering language, politics and culture across multiple countries and continents, and yet deeply personal and very touching.
louise_jb0's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
frannymuzza's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: War and Violence