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A review by frankkasell
A Dictionary of Maqiao by Han Shaogong
4.0
An interesting book, this. When I discovered it, the immediate comparison that came to mind was with the [b:Dictionary of the Khazars|321566|Dictionary of the Khazars (Male edition)|Milorad Pavić|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173743451s/321566.jpg|1025689] by Milorad Pavić. Ultimately, though, outside of the main structural conceit (eschewing a conventional linear plot in favor of short, interconnecting "dictionary" entries), the connections are limited. In Han's fictionalized dictionary (it's unclear to me where the line is between the fiction and the reality, to be honest...not that I think it's important to know) of the Maqiao dialect (one of hundreds of dialects in China, many of which are incomprensible to one another), he cheerfully employs vignettes, anecdotes, personal musings, and essays to describe both a particular moment in Chinese history (30 years is basically a moment in a culture with a 5000 year history) and the nature of language. Unlike Pavić's book, the dictionary structure is just a framework. It would behoove a reader to read this straight through as if it were a linear novel, as later entries rely on the reader having read the earlier ones (as opposed to the Pavić book, which actively encourages the reader to flip through and read at random).
As historical fiction, the book does a fine job of sweeping the reader headlong into a tiny farming village in China. The small details about the culture and the landscape, along with the political climate at the time, allow readers to peek through a porthole into what is likely an unfamiliar setting. The (mostly) well outlined (and deeply Chinese) characters add a lot of heart to the narrative.
Equally important, though, are Han's musings on the nature of language. He spends a lot of time reflecting on the way language is a tool for power (for example, certain villagers have "speech rights" that automatically grant their words more importance than others'), but that power is limited. Those in control can't really control language, particularly when you include time as a factor. The moment words become static in people's minds, the moment they try to pin them down in time, is the moment that they lose their power. In the end, they are just words--you can't assume that the signifier is the signified. You can't turn words into sacred, untouchable relics or they die.
Beyond these thoughts on language and power, Han takes some time to explore the close connections between apparent opposites. As he demonstrates, opposite ideas often share more connections that one suspects at first glance (see, for example, his entries on "awakened" and "dream woman").
Overall, an interesting book. I suspect it was even better in Chinese (and presumably in the cultural context of China), but Julia Lovell does a terrific job of translating what the author himself considered to be nearly untranslatable. I certainly recommend it for people interested in language or in China (or, as in my case, in both).
As historical fiction, the book does a fine job of sweeping the reader headlong into a tiny farming village in China. The small details about the culture and the landscape, along with the political climate at the time, allow readers to peek through a porthole into what is likely an unfamiliar setting. The (mostly) well outlined (and deeply Chinese) characters add a lot of heart to the narrative.
Equally important, though, are Han's musings on the nature of language. He spends a lot of time reflecting on the way language is a tool for power (for example, certain villagers have "speech rights" that automatically grant their words more importance than others'), but that power is limited. Those in control can't really control language, particularly when you include time as a factor. The moment words become static in people's minds, the moment they try to pin them down in time, is the moment that they lose their power. In the end, they are just words--you can't assume that the signifier is the signified. You can't turn words into sacred, untouchable relics or they die.
Beyond these thoughts on language and power, Han takes some time to explore the close connections between apparent opposites. As he demonstrates, opposite ideas often share more connections that one suspects at first glance (see, for example, his entries on "awakened" and "dream woman").
Overall, an interesting book. I suspect it was even better in Chinese (and presumably in the cultural context of China), but Julia Lovell does a terrific job of translating what the author himself considered to be nearly untranslatable. I certainly recommend it for people interested in language or in China (or, as in my case, in both).