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Saturday, January 1, 2011
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Book Review: Chinese Lessons
Non-Fiction: Chinese Lessons: Five Classmates and the Story of the New China
Author: John Pomfret
Genres: Non-Fiction, Historical
Rating: 7/10
I'm not a non-fiction fan, but once I picked up John Pomfret's memoir detailing the last thirty years of Chinese history, I simply couldn't put it down. Pomfret offers a rather compelling account of the significant political and cultural change that has gripped China with the fall of imperialism, the rise of communism and the quasi-authoritarian integration of capitalism.
Pomfret starts off with his first visit to China as an international exchange student from Stanford. Imagine how the dusty, old agrarian villages must have seemed through his worldly, journalistic eyes. And his description was exactly that - workers crowded on hard-seat trains; women in shapeless uniform clothing. But such derelict beginnings was exactly what Pomfret needed to provide a powerful contrast to the growing economic powerhouse China is today. The book's impact was made through the consistent focal lens that saw China through both the bad and the good.
The focus of the book is not on Pomfret himself (though he does occasionally digress to his own experiences), but rather on the stories of five particular classmates of his. There is no point to offer a summary of each one, but I have noticed one thing in common amongst four of them - the injustice suffered by each individual through the political regime of Mao. The last classmate was portrayed as an opportunist who threw away all morals for a seat in the government.
Prejudiced? Of course. Pomfret digs a little too deep for a good story on one side of the extreme, and fails to encompass any other aspects of the culture and society of China in the 1970s-80s. His book seemed to point out that nobody could flourish during that tumoultous period of China's history without losing their dignity by working for the only thing that would allow for them to flourish - the government. The reader is encouraged to empathsize with the Chinese people; rail against the system, but ultimately remain unenlightened of the fact that the system is not Big Brother Mao - it has human faces controlled by human minds.
Definitely a book to check out if you want to get to know China on a deeper and more personal level. It brings to light many of the aspects that define Chinese culture and Chinese life. Well-written, analytical, and a a good read, even if it is a little on the biased side.
By: Annie
Author: John Pomfret
Genres: Non-Fiction, Historical
Rating: 7/10
Pomfret starts off with his first visit to China as an international exchange student from Stanford. Imagine how the dusty, old agrarian villages must have seemed through his worldly, journalistic eyes. And his description was exactly that - workers crowded on hard-seat trains; women in shapeless uniform clothing. But such derelict beginnings was exactly what Pomfret needed to provide a powerful contrast to the growing economic powerhouse China is today. The book's impact was made through the consistent focal lens that saw China through both the bad and the good.
The focus of the book is not on Pomfret himself (though he does occasionally digress to his own experiences), but rather on the stories of five particular classmates of his. There is no point to offer a summary of each one, but I have noticed one thing in common amongst four of them - the injustice suffered by each individual through the political regime of Mao. The last classmate was portrayed as an opportunist who threw away all morals for a seat in the government.
Prejudiced? Of course. Pomfret digs a little too deep for a good story on one side of the extreme, and fails to encompass any other aspects of the culture and society of China in the 1970s-80s. His book seemed to point out that nobody could flourish during that tumoultous period of China's history without losing their dignity by working for the only thing that would allow for them to flourish - the government. The reader is encouraged to empathsize with the Chinese people; rail against the system, but ultimately remain unenlightened of the fact that the system is not Big Brother Mao - it has human faces controlled by human minds.
Definitely a book to check out if you want to get to know China on a deeper and more personal level. It brings to light many of the aspects that define Chinese culture and Chinese life. Well-written, analytical, and a a good read, even if it is a little on the biased side.
By: Annie
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Manga Review: Parasyte
Seinen: Parasyte
Mangaka: Iwaaki Hitoshi
Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Mature, Psychological, Romance, Sci-fi, Seinen
Rating: 10/10
There are perhaps only 2 or 3 horror mangas I've read since I started my obsession with manga, and I never finished them because I'm not a big fan of horror mangas. However, this one is something everybody should read. The art wasn't thrilling at first, but I got used to it as I read into the deep plot and interesting turn of events. The art is suitable for the story itself - it's not all that perfect nor realistic in some scenes, but it gets better during the really horrific scenes where the action and killings happen.
The character development is pretty amazing, and the relationship between the two main characters progresses as the story goes on. The pace is quick, it gets right to the point. The parasite idea is something I've encountered in books and such, so it's not surprisingly creative. But the author does take the suspense and character expression to the next level. Even thought it's really all about the horror and tragedy, it gets really comedic at parts and opens your mind to how you view things.
Mangaka: Iwaaki Hitoshi
Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Mature, Psychological, Romance, Sci-fi, Seinen
Rating: 10/10
Summary [from mangaupdates.com]: They arrive in silence and darkness. They descend from the skies. They have a hunger for human flesh. They are everywhere. They are parasites, alien creatures who must invade - and take control of - a human host to survive. And once they have infected their victims, they can assume any deadly form they choose: monsters with giant teeth, winged demons, creatures with blades for hands. But most have chosen to conceal their lethal purpose behind ordinary human faces. So no one knows their secret - except an ordinary high school student. Shin is battling for control of his own body against an alien parasite, but can he find a way to warn humanity of the horrors to come?
--
There are perhaps only 2 or 3 horror mangas I've read since I started my obsession with manga, and I never finished them because I'm not a big fan of horror mangas. However, this one is something everybody should read. The art wasn't thrilling at first, but I got used to it as I read into the deep plot and interesting turn of events. The art is suitable for the story itself - it's not all that perfect nor realistic in some scenes, but it gets better during the really horrific scenes where the action and killings happen.
The character development is pretty amazing, and the relationship between the two main characters progresses as the story goes on. The pace is quick, it gets right to the point. The parasite idea is something I've encountered in books and such, so it's not surprisingly creative. But the author does take the suspense and character expression to the next level. Even thought it's really all about the horror and tragedy, it gets really comedic at parts and opens your mind to how you view things.
The way the parasites transform is kind of disgusting, then again, you'll encounter a lot of disgusting and pretty awful things as you read on, but you won't be able to put it down for some reason. I really like this manga.
By: Eli
Edited By: Annie
Edited By: Annie
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