National Book Award-winner Ha Jin's arresting debut novel , In the Pond, is a darkly funny portrait of an amateur calligrapher wh...
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reviews
Aug 18, 2010
Rick
rated it: 
Finally, a chance to read - a chance read - of this fine author I had a chance to hear here in Buffalo on the Big Stage. There was an astonishing turnout then, as though this one writers' series is all there is that might, reliably, turn out everyone of a certain intellectual rank. 'What if everyone were to have read the same book?' And "history is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake." Let's all read something different, how about? And compare notes.
Ha Jin's is clea More...
Ha Jin's is clea More...
Jan 27, 2012
Roger
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In the Pond is Ha Jin’s first novel, a fiercely engaging and evocative story that is also serious and funny at the same time. The novel exposes the constraints of Chinese society through the events at a commune called Dismount Fort, where the main character, Shao Bin, a flinty and risky fellow, feels cheated out of his rights and status to attain new housing. He takes offense and turns his displeasure of the local leaders into action against them. He confronts their corruption by creating satiri
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Apr 16, 2009
Cynthia
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 26, 2008
Dj
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I finished reading In the Pond, by Ha Jin, on Wednesday night. This was my introduction to his writing, although I’ve bought several of his books for Diane, including Waiting. She really loved that book. I fell in love with the simple prose and fantastic story of In the Pond. It’s part Sisyphus and part car crash. You watch the main character struggle against the system, manifested at increasingly higher hierarchical levels in himself, his family, his work unit, his factory, his town, his provin
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Feb 21, 2010
Rob
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Earlier this month, I had my first taste of Ha Jin's writings and enjoyed his essay on Georgia which appeared in Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey's State by State. The same, understated, modest tone can be found in this super book, only slightly longer than a novella - a tale of infighting and bureaucracy in the People's Republic of a few years' ago - China, not South Yorkshire that is.
The book's hero, Shao Bin is a talented artist treading water in a dull factory job and on one level, H More...
The book's hero, Shao Bin is a talented artist treading water in a dull factory job and on one level, H More...
Nov 13, 2009
Ronni
rated it:
1) how else would we know what life in china is like?
2) makes you think about what is worth fighting and what is worth fighting for. then makes you rethink it. recommended for idealistic pragmatists or pragmatic idealists.also recommended for idealistic idealists and pragmatic pragmatists.
3) the language is at pared down but not sparse. even if you don't want to think about how to live with or get around convictions, worth reading for the writing itself. but if you don't notice the wr More...
2) makes you think about what is worth fighting and what is worth fighting for. then makes you rethink it. recommended for idealistic pragmatists or pragmatic idealists.also recommended for idealistic idealists and pragmatic pragmatists.
3) the language is at pared down but not sparse. even if you don't want to think about how to live with or get around convictions, worth reading for the writing itself. but if you don't notice the wr More...
Jun 04, 2011
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May 14, 2010
i gulped this down. a fable-like look at life as a worker in a communist chinese factory. i felt after this and after his "waiting" how much i trust this author and then wondered why i would feel that way and whether i have a feeling of not trusting other novelists. maybe i have this feeling because the narrative voice is so modest. i have no sense that the author is saying "look at what a beautiful writer i am." though i suppose i also very much enjoy authors who make lots o
Feb 25, 2011
James
rated it:
This novella length book captures with humor the struggles of the protagonist, Shao Bin, with the socialist work policies during the reign of Mao. Resonances with "The Trial" by Kafka and "Journey to the West" make it an existential exploration of those times. Like the monkey king, every time Shao gets into trouble something turns it around to push him farther along his confrontation with his tormentors.
There are some great lines in the book and a satisfying ending. En
There are some great lines in the book and a satisfying ending. En
Dec 17, 2009
Kathleen
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Ha Jin explores the inner side of China. The injustice, the bribes, ways that people are forced to "follow the rules". The story of Shao Bin, machine fixer in a fertilizer factory in his small room with his wife and child is denied nearly anything he asks for, while other "favorites" get what they want. Using his calligraphy to protest, he gets on the bad side of his bosses. As things deteriorate, one wonders if there is a way out of the "pond". Well written. Recomm
Dec 08, 2010
Neil
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A lovely little book. Ha Jin's writing is simple and touching and his characters sympathetic. His style is perfectly balanced, with description carefully used. I've written some of my favourite metaphors below, mostly as a record for myself.
The quotations on the back describe it as being about politics and art, but mostly a comedy. I'd add tragedy to that, but I guess that depends on how seriously we're meant to take the plight of the central character, and on the author's intentio More...
The quotations on the back describe it as being about politics and art, but mostly a comedy. I'd add tragedy to that, but I guess that depends on how seriously we're meant to take the plight of the central character, and on the author's intentio More...
Jul 29, 2010
Tricia
rated it:
this has a very soft touch to rebellion... an example as to how perseverance, even in the smallest possible way, results in a chain reaction. It is not for the soft hearted, though, the main character is bullied mercilessly, and for freedoms regular democratic countries take for granted.
Mar 13, 2009
Mel
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Poor Bin - forever stifled by the two cadre goons at his workplace. His methods of seeking revenge always seem to backfire on him, but little by little it does the trick and he comes out on top. This was a very quick read for me, but thoroughly enjoyable.
Dec 05, 2011
Mark
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Ha Jin has the ability to just lock you into the angst that is going on in his books. I don't know what it is about his writing that slowly traps the reader like slipping into quicksand, but he can do that. This is a short book and I am not sure if there is a lesson or moral to it but until the end with the escape from his "situation" I too felt the anxiety of our Bin
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Jan 16, 2010
Bill
rated it:
The life of an artist who works at the Harvest Fertilizer Plant in Dismount Fort. Fiction and humor in the communist world. Elegant its simplicity, a story set in a world completely outside my experience or even my imagination. I like this book.
Sep 21, 2010
Jerjonji
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I read this book in one sitting, so caught up in the tale of a small fish in a small pond seeking justice until... surprise... he's a big fish, shocking those who sought to destroy him! Beautifully told.
Oct 08, 2009
Amydebolt
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I read this book years ago and while the details of it are fuzzy--it made Jin one of my favorite authors. It's fascinating to see what lie in China is like for so many people. It's utterly alien.
Dec 03, 2011
Nate
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A tight little tale about a man in Socialist China finding creative ways to make those in charge give him better housing for his family. An interesting look at how Socialism may function from the perspective of a factory worker.
I prefer Waiting by the same author, to this novel though.
I prefer Waiting by the same author, to this novel though.
Oct 01, 2011
Daniel
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Helpful for understanding the psychological make-up of those who carry out individualized acts of often self-destructive revolt in the PRC today.
Feb 07, 2010
Monda
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 20, 2009
Ryan
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See the world through a mid 20th century Chinese man in Soviet China. It's an educational read, if not the most flowing thing in the world.
Sep 07, 2010
Colleen
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Quite a contrast between this book, set in modern day Communist China and the China described in The Good Earth. Enjoyed the book.
Aug 22, 2009
Laura
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This was a very humorous and moving journey through the arbitrary nature of rules; it was both insightful and entertaining.
Feb 15, 2010
Betty
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The anger of the righteous carried through art and words. Story of how to struggle against an oppressive system.
Apr 28, 2011
Jan
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Satire? um. not sure. Would have abandoned if it were not required reading for my daughter
Nov 16, 2008
James
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In spite of myself, I'm becoming quite a fan of Ha Jin. Contrary to my usual preference his prose is austere in the extreme, and despite a very strong record as an American scholar there are times (especially when attempting dialog between profane or uneducated characters) when his English just does not come off at all.
I enjoyed IN THE POND even more than the more recent WAR TRASH, which I praised effusively on this site. It is a tragicomic farce that mocks with equal brutality the b More...
I enjoyed IN THE POND even more than the more recent WAR TRASH, which I praised effusively on this site. It is a tragicomic farce that mocks with equal brutality the b More...
