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trailofmonkeys's review against another edition
4.0
I'm pretty sure that China in 1983 is actually what the future of the human race looks like.
mariella02's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
tense
medium-paced
3.25
jbo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This was a very good book documenting a period of Ma Jian's life when he travelled around China and up into Tibet and back. Some parts were funny, others sad, and still others quite disturbing. I didn't like Ma Jian's depiction of himself all the way through the book but I think it shows that, when writing such a personal piece of narrative non-fiction, he didn't sugar-coat his character in any way which gave it a more real feel.
There are parts I want to go back and re-read; sentences that resonated with me and inspired reflection. I may not read the whole book again but I will definitely be dipping in to it from time to time in the future.
There are parts I want to go back and re-read; sentences that resonated with me and inspired reflection. I may not read the whole book again but I will definitely be dipping in to it from time to time in the future.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death, and Abortion
gopalms's review
5.0
This was my second Ma Jian book, one after another. I am going to pick up the third one even though I have 10 other books waiting to be read or finished. He writes like a machine gun.