A Chinese ginseng hunter lives alone in the valley, where he spends his days preparing for winter. He is scarcely aware of the larger world until s...
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Jan 06, 2009
Starred Review. Novelists who compose stories involving a culture different from their own normally bring to mind the expression "scratching an itch from outside one's boot." Such is not the case with Talarigo (The Pearl Diver), who convincingly tells of a ginseng hunter plying his trade in a border town between China and North Korea. The novel moves from an idyllic to an emotional level as this North Korean loner who emigrated to China refuses to help an illegal alien working as a pro
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Jun 24, 2011
Jason
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I was very thrilled to see Jeff Talarigo s second novel The Ginseng Hunter come into the store. His first novel, The Pearl Diver was a wonderful discovery. It reminded me of Michael Ondaatje s novels with its fluid time-schemes, vivid, poetic descriptions, and rich characterizations. So, I snatched up The Ginseng Hunter with a great deal of excitement. It did not let me down.[return]The unnamed main character of The Ginseng Hunter lives alone on a small farm close to the Ch
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Oct 31, 2009
Wanda
rated it:
Page 105:
"Is there nothing happy in your life?"
She continues along the path before suddenly turning to me.
"Catching snowflakes on my eyelids and seeing how they stay there for a short while and fracture the light into a prism of colors, then melt away, like tears sometimes melt away sadness." She stares up into a tree. "And you?"
***
Page 132
If I look up into the sky it is difficult to see More...
"Is there nothing happy in your life?"
She continues along the path before suddenly turning to me.
"Catching snowflakes on my eyelids and seeing how they stay there for a short while and fracture the light into a prism of colors, then melt away, like tears sometimes melt away sadness." She stares up into a tree. "And you?"
***
Page 132
If I look up into the sky it is difficult to see More...
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Feb 06, 2012
Patty
rated it: 
Jeff Talarigo also wrote "ThePearl Diver". His knowlege and understanding of the culture of the Asian people is so interesting.
I know that right now, this winter as I sit comfortably in my home with the heat turned up to 68 that some people are starving and freezing and being killed. Revolution is in the air. But it seems far away and doesn't affect me. The disparity of the rich and poor is growning even in our country but will it reach the proportions that it has in ot More...
I know that right now, this winter as I sit comfortably in my home with the heat turned up to 68 that some people are starving and freezing and being killed. Revolution is in the air. But it seems far away and doesn't affect me. The disparity of the rich and poor is growning even in our country but will it reach the proportions that it has in ot More...
Jan 21, 2010
Jenny
rated it:
A powerful story about the cruelty of authoritarian regimes. The corruption of power misused brings misery as the human body and soul struggles to survive. No-one escapes from the consequences - the victims, the enforcers and those that observe from a distance - everyone is reduced by the power of corruption. Ginseng is said to restore mental and physical functioning. It might be used when fatigued, after illness, or during times of prolonged stress, chronic disease or low vitality. I pray tha
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Apr 03, 2009
Amy
rated it: 
The blurb says: "Set at the turn of the twenty-first century in China
along the Tumen river, which separates Northeast China and North
Korea, The Ginseng Hunter is an unforgettable portrait of life along a
fragile border." It is about a guy who lives a very solitary life on a
farm along the Chinese side of this border, he hunts for ginseng for a
living, occasionally going to town to sell it and to visit a brothel.
He becomes involved with a North Korean prostitu More...
along the Tumen river, which separates Northeast China and North
Korea, The Ginseng Hunter is an unforgettable portrait of life along a
fragile border." It is about a guy who lives a very solitary life on a
farm along the Chinese side of this border, he hunts for ginseng for a
living, occasionally going to town to sell it and to visit a brothel.
He becomes involved with a North Korean prostitu More...
Jan 04, 2010
Jaki
rated it:
Paints several snapshots of life along the border between China and North Korea, but the plot seemed less interesting to me than some of those self-contained scenes.
Recommended to people with an interest in China and North Korea, an interest in refugees and the reaction to their arrival, and an interest in a short quiet novel to pass the time. If you're looking for ethical dilemmas, those fall in here too...but personally I never grew too attached to any of the characters, which made More...
Recommended to people with an interest in China and North Korea, an interest in refugees and the reaction to their arrival, and an interest in a short quiet novel to pass the time. If you're looking for ethical dilemmas, those fall in here too...but personally I never grew too attached to any of the characters, which made More...
Nov 12, 2009
Brenda (Lansdowne)
rated it:
This simply written book lays before the reader a world we have not even thought about. The sadness of the despair and hunger that North Koreans face and yet, they continue to be brave, courageous and hopeful. When you are reading the book, you think this must have been in the early 1900s, but sadly it is happening even now. The atrocities humans inflict upon one another makes us take pause if we really do value human life, and if we do, whose human life do we value? I am sure some of us may
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Jan 16, 2011
zespri
rated it:
This beautiful little book caught my eye at the library, as I am always interested in books from anywhere in Asia.
What a lovely surprise it was, the style was sparse and beautiful, and the story absorbing and sobering.
A ginseng hunter who lives alone on the border of north east china and north korea becomes caught up in the great tragedy that is north korea. As he befriends a north korean prostitute he learns of the situation in her country, and then he finds a child who ha More...
What a lovely surprise it was, the style was sparse and beautiful, and the story absorbing and sobering.
A ginseng hunter who lives alone on the border of north east china and north korea becomes caught up in the great tragedy that is north korea. As he befriends a north korean prostitute he learns of the situation in her country, and then he finds a child who ha More...
Aug 04, 2008
J.M.
rated it:
Communism and tyranny from both sides of the river.
The turn of the seasons governs a ginseng hunter’s life. From spring to late autumn, he must gather enough carefully unearthed roots to buy what he cannot grow in order to survive the winter. Each spring, he must begin again.
This year, on the eve of the twenty-first century, the hunter’s life changes. On his monthly visit to the brothel in town, he meets a North Korean woman whose haunted chestnut brown eyes slide away More...
The turn of the seasons governs a ginseng hunter’s life. From spring to late autumn, he must gather enough carefully unearthed roots to buy what he cannot grow in order to survive the winter. Each spring, he must begin again.
This year, on the eve of the twenty-first century, the hunter’s life changes. On his monthly visit to the brothel in town, he meets a North Korean woman whose haunted chestnut brown eyes slide away More...
May 05, 2008
Christina
rated it:
A stark and lovely little book. (I checked it out because the cover was nice, typical of me, but it turned out to be a good choice.) Taking place on the river that forms the border between China and North Korea, the plot unfolds in series of events and memories that are small and all-consuming at once.
What I was struck by throughout was the overwhelming absurdity of the men who run the countries - the shadow of Mao darkens one side of the river; Great Leader (and his son Dear Leader) More...
What I was struck by throughout was the overwhelming absurdity of the men who run the countries - the shadow of Mao darkens one side of the river; Great Leader (and his son Dear Leader) More...
Nov 01, 2009
Lynette
rated it:
A beautiful book about people who live on either side of the river which divides China and North Korea. The book is set in the late 1990s and describes the horrific poverty and hunger experienced by the people of North Korea. The protagonist makes his living hunting ginseng in the forests of china,and even his meager life seems abundunt in comparison to thos of the North Koreans who try to escape across the river to China. Highly recommended. Beautiful and poetic prose writing.
Jul 13, 2009
Miko
rated it: 
This was interesting tale about a man on the border of China and Korea. His attempt to live a simple farm life of collecting ancient ginseng becomes mired as more and more North Koreans cross the border and become entangled in his life. The main character was well drawn, but the females that he came into contact with were not so clearly delineated. It was definitely a downer and not with the strong educational component that would have made it worth it for me.
Oct 04, 2011
Cathy
rated it:
Set at the turn of the twenty-first century in China along the Tumen River, which separates northeast China and North Korea. This book takes a look at the atrocities that go on under the screen of North Korea on a micro level. Not an easy book to read. Its subject matter (political oppression, loneliness, the madness of grief) is so overwhelmingly sad. But Talarigo's sparse, beautiful writing makes it all worthwhile.
Jun 20, 2010
Megan
rated it: 
I never do well with books that are extremely poetic, and this definitely was. I finally started skipping over the descriptions of the seasons and getting straight to the plot.
This had some good bits--a very basic introduction to what life was/is like in North Korea. But it's been done much better by other writers. Not highly recommended, unless you really like reading lyrical writing.
This had some good bits--a very basic introduction to what life was/is like in North Korea. But it's been done much better by other writers. Not highly recommended, unless you really like reading lyrical writing.
Dec 14, 2009
Sally
rated it:
Oh my goodness, Talarigo is the quiet and unassuming but upcoming literary novelist. I absolutely love his writing. The story reveals the life behind a leper colony in Japan. Characters, their quirks, their trials, and their compassion, as well as their disinterest for their fellow man, are carefully documented and detailed. Talarigo champions the forgotten of our world.
Oct 25, 2009
Kim
rated it:
This book was just depressing. It's about a Chinese ginseng hunter who lived on the border of China and North Korea. He witnesses some North Koreans sneaking into China and also encounters a North Korean prostitute. However, I didn't like the way Jeff Talarigo told the story -- it was very confusing to me. It was also difficult to relate to ANY of the characters in any way.
Aug 03, 2011
I appreciated the character's struggle between living in his own world or engaging with the world around him. The spare writing added to the starkness and immensity of the N. Korean condition. I am so, so glad the story didn't end with a neat and tidy, wrapped up ending...I was worried for awhile!
Sep 21, 2009
Jen
rated it:
i read this as a result of loving taglario's earlier novel so much. unfortunately, i was a disappointed. i didn't find the protagonist as gripping or sympathetic as in the other novel. i will say, however, it has made me wonder about what life really is or was like in north korea. - its also a quick read.
Mar 21, 2009
Dow
rated it:
Ultimately disappointing. Most of the characters don't have names and by the middle of the book the reader can't distinguish the "girl" from the "her" from the missing daughter. Very exasperating. Not really sure what happened in the end. I couldn't tell who the author was talking about.
Mar 12, 2009
Michael
rated it:
This book is like a haiku. Simple and brilliant, with an ending that changes one's perspective on the work as a whole. No review can really do justice to Talarigo's tale of a ginseng hunter on the border between North Korea and China at the turn of the twenty-first century better than the book itself. A story to be savored. And other such-like hyperbole. Read it!
Jan 31, 2009
Iva
rated it:
Set at the turn of 21st century China on the border of North Korea, are two interwoven stories of a farmer who carefully gathers the valuable ginseng root and a women separated from her daughter. The theme of survival is currently happening as North Korean refugees attempt to flee to China. A spare and moving novella.
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Feb 07, 2009
Lynn
rated it:
This short wonderful story is about a man living simply near the border with North Korea in China. He learns slowly about the refugees coming over the border to survive Kim Il Jong's dictatorship. It is sad and wonderful and has something to say to us about our own immigration issues.
Jan 22, 2009
Jean
rated it:
This is a startling look into the North Korean life...if it is really like this it is really more pitiful than anything we can ever imagine or have ever read in the media. A short but powerful read. I recommend it, but be prepared to be saddened and depressed by the whole scene.
Jan 15, 2010
Brett
rated it:
The two things that stand out most: very scenic, and very sad. Set on the border between China and North Korea, the story was mostly about recent political oppression in North Korea, dressed up in beautiful scenery. The book didn't really have an end, except to say that "life goes on."
Jan 29, 2012
Kiki
rated it:
Der Ginsenjäger ist eine melancholische Erzählung von Einsamkeit und tiefer Naturverbundenheit. Die Handlung ist minimal gehalten. Das Buch lebt von der Fantasie, die es anzuregen vermag.
Eine Vielzahl an Konflikten wird berührt, niemals konkretisiert. Der tiefe Krater zwischen zwei Volksgruppen, die nur durch einen Fluss getrennt voneinander leben; ein Herrscher gegen sein Volk, eine abgeschiedene Bevölkerung als Opfer von Manipulation, der Gehorsam eines Soldaten und nicht zuletzt ein in
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Feb 20, 2009
Karlan
rated it:
Set during the terrible famine in N.Korea, this slim novel follows a man of Korean descent as he searches for roots near the river which divides China from N.Korea. The writing is extraordinary as the failure of the Korean government to feed its people is heartbreaking.
Oct 06, 2011
Fiction set in North Korea can be difficult to come by, but you might try The Ginseng Hunter by Jeff Talarigo. This book follows two interwoven tales, that of a Chinese man who works on the Chinese/Korean border and the story of a North Korean mother and daughter.
Aug 17, 2009
Carole
rated it:
I listened to this book, a grim account of the cruelty and starvation currently imposed on the people of North Korea. It was well written, and serves as a reminder that there are still millions of people around the world who are in bondage to cruel despots.
Apr 13, 2009
Terry
rated it:
Through the eyes of a third generation Chinese ginseng hunter living on the border with North Korea, we get an insight into rural Chinese life and the raw despair of North Korean citizens in a place where the two cultures intersect.
very well written.
very well written.
