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A review by andra_mihaela_s
Cei trei regi by Florentina Vişan, 阿城, Ah Cheng, Luminita Balan
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.5
3.5 stars
The 3 novellas contained in this book are a direct representation of the author's courage in writing about what is truly important: morals,principles, and how to live your life during the Cultural Revolution in China.
I see way Ah Cheng is celebrated so much.
I will give my ranking in order of enjoyment and impact for the 3 stories: "The King of Trees", "The Chess Master" and "The King of Children".
For each one of them, we follow throught the eyes of an unnamed narrator an important figure to the comunity/people in the area where the action happens. In "The King of Trees", Xiao Geda is a mangnificent main character who's silence speaks loudly against the disrespect for nature and old traditions, and also against the belief of productive/useful things seen through the lens of the political party in power. The brainwashing of the young intelectuals are sooo evident in these pages in the form of Li Li and the narrator's colleagues. I loved learning about Xiao Geda's past, and I beleive it was very beneficial in showing that not all against your ideas are outsiders or have completely different set of values, but they can be just like you, only unfortunate in their lives. Truly powerful ending.
"The Chess Master" gave me a sense of pride in the fact that , no matter what we adopt in the future as society, we will always respect talent and celebrate it as unique and important.
Wang Yisheng is the quintessential player. He solely cares about one thing and disregards everything else about everyone else. This is a refreshing view, freeing and more open to discourse, bare of rules of conduct, status and polite facade. He is humble and prideful, his relentless search for the perfect game and quite shame of his background a sincere and fragile thing to see.
I absolutely loved the last scene where he meets the last oponent...a truly moving scene.
After those 2 amazing works,"The King of Children" is somewhat different by comparison. Here, for the first time, the narrator plays the key role. His connection to Wang Qitong and his son, Wang Fu, creates anticipation in the reader; something that I don't think the author necessary wanted.(especially when nothing I presumed happened)
The problems the author highlights about the education in that time are front and center in the narrative, but they also struggle with Wang Fu's story. I think some more pages would have created balance and solidified who exactly is the king in this story.Overall, we can think that both the narrator and Wang Qitong are the king..both caring and working earnestly for the future generation, but we also don't have a lasting impression through the kids (in the other stories, the side characters grow respect and admiration for the king)
In conclusion, "The Three Kings" is a beautifull collection of novellas talking about what the communist regime in China wanted people to forget: "Four Old Things " (old ideas, old culture, old habits,old customs) and how that translated to the young intelectuals (the forefront of this movement).
Enjoy
The 3 novellas contained in this book are a direct representation of the author's courage in writing about what is truly important: morals,principles, and how to live your life during the Cultural Revolution in China.
I see way Ah Cheng is celebrated so much.
I will give my ranking in order of enjoyment and impact for the 3 stories: "The King of Trees", "The Chess Master" and "The King of Children".
For each one of them, we follow throught the eyes of an unnamed narrator an important figure to the comunity/people in the area where the action happens. In "The King of Trees", Xiao Geda is a mangnificent main character who's silence speaks loudly against the disrespect for nature and old traditions, and also against the belief of productive/useful things seen through the lens of the political party in power. The brainwashing of the young intelectuals are sooo evident in these pages in the form of Li Li and the narrator's colleagues. I loved learning about Xiao Geda's past, and I beleive it was very beneficial in showing that not all against your ideas are outsiders or have completely different set of values, but they can be just like you, only unfortunate in their lives. Truly powerful ending.
"The Chess Master" gave me a sense of pride in the fact that , no matter what we adopt in the future as society, we will always respect talent and celebrate it as unique and important.
Wang Yisheng is the quintessential player. He solely cares about one thing and disregards everything else about everyone else. This is a refreshing view, freeing and more open to discourse, bare of rules of conduct, status and polite facade. He is humble and prideful, his relentless search for the perfect game and quite shame of his background a sincere and fragile thing to see.
I absolutely loved the last scene where he meets the last oponent...a truly moving scene.
After those 2 amazing works,"The King of Children" is somewhat different by comparison. Here, for the first time, the narrator plays the key role. His connection to Wang Qitong and his son, Wang Fu, creates anticipation in the reader; something that I don't think the author necessary wanted.(especially when nothing I presumed happened)
The problems the author highlights about the education in that time are front and center in the narrative, but they also struggle with Wang Fu's story. I think some more pages would have created balance and solidified who exactly is the king in this story.Overall, we can think that both the narrator and Wang Qitong are the king..both caring and working earnestly for the future generation, but we also don't have a lasting impression through the kids (in the other stories, the side characters grow respect and admiration for the king)
In conclusion, "The Three Kings" is a beautifull collection of novellas talking about what the communist regime in China wanted people to forget: "Four Old Things " (old ideas, old culture, old habits,old customs) and how that translated to the young intelectuals (the forefront of this movement).
Enjoy