A Case of Two Cities: An Inspector Chen Novel (Inspector Chen Novels)
by Qiu Xiaolong
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Read in June, 2008
Passage One:
"Sure, I'll read it for you," Chen responded with an air of utter confidence. "When Chuangjie first created the system of Chinese written characters, every archetypal stroke of a character came out of the cosmos in miraculous correspondence to the omnipresent qi, and that in turn, in correspondence to the microcosmos of an individual human being. So that's called tianren heyi-- heaven and human in one. For a virtuous woman like you, whatever character you may write ...more
"Sure, I'll read it for you," Chen responded with an air of utter confidence. "When Chuangjie first created the system of Chinese written characters, every archetypal stroke of a character came out of the cosmos in miraculous correspondence to the omnipresent qi, and that in turn, in correspondence to the microcosmos of an individual human being. So that's called tianren heyi-- heaven and human in one. For a virtuous woman like you, whatever character you may write ...more
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Read in September, 2007
The book, one of a series of related detective stories, makes interesting reading. The story takes place in modern China against a background of China's changing economic and government. I chose the book because of the author. The story takes place in China and the USA. The main character, a police inspector from Shanghai, in addition to being a competent english speaking policeman and loyal party member, is also a poet, published author, and holder of a degree in Western Literature. One of ...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in December, 2007
Note to self: only read this author after a hearty meal. the description of the meals makes one feel really hungry. And they keep meeting at restaurants.
a chinese crime novel interspersed with chinese peotry (inspector chen, the hero, is a poet).
interesting view of corruption in modern china.
only one thing bugs me: how could the police get transcripts from those phone conversations? Ok, maybe An's land line and her cell phone was monitored already, but the guy who buys a pre-paid cell phon...more
a chinese crime novel interspersed with chinese peotry (inspector chen, the hero, is a poet).
interesting view of corruption in modern china.
only one thing bugs me: how could the police get transcripts from those phone conversations? Ok, maybe An's land line and her cell phone was monitored already, but the guy who buys a pre-paid cell phon...more
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Read in June, 2007
Enjoyed this Inspector Chen book, though not quite as much as the previous three in the series...perhaps I should have taken more of a break between them, but I felt compelled to get the next one and then to finish it. I do highly recommend the series though; very enjoyable. Also, as a side note, great little descriptions of meals throughout, making me crave Chinese food, especially dumplings...
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Read in August, 2008
I thought this book started out good - corruption in the Party. But it seemed about half way through the book that it was getting more focused on his trip to America than the actual case and then it came to a sudden end. I thought for sure we'd find out more about the corruption in the Party but we didn't. I still enjoyed the book - it had a little less "mystery" to it...but still a good read.
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My memories, somewhat faded, of the first books in the Inspector Chen series were of solid mystery writing set in a different culture. The fourth installment has jettisoned solid writing. Inspector Chen has jumped the shark. Right now this book is in serious contention for worst book I’ve read this year. It’s that bad. ( Full review at my blog)
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I enjoyed the cautious way this Chinese police officer deals with the authorities and yet sometimes finds justice. In this book he is trying to figure out a complex corruption case, even though he is being played like a pawn in a chess game. The two cities are Shanghai and St. Louis, not Paris and London!
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
Great mystery and look at Chinese culture, corruption and the inheritances of the Cultural revolution. Also enjoyed the cross play between the author's understanding of Western life and his Chinese sensibilities. A little like the early Lisa See mysteries...
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Read in February, 2008
This works. Perhaps because I've spent quite a lot of my recent working life in Shanghai, I've developed a soft spot for Inspector Chen. Here he is again, trying his damndest to be good when all around him are on the make.
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
sinophiles
this was not as good as I'd hoped, based on laudatory reviews. Intelligent mystery but the language was not beautiful (save for the occasional insertion of a chinese poem) and it was not terribly exciting.
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Another in the series of Inspector Chen novels - this one takes him to St. Louis, my hometown, of sorts. I think Shanghai is captured better than St. Louis though!
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone. poets. chinese-foodies
This might be the best one yet. Inspector Chen gets to go to St. Louis. I learn more about China's weird liminally-Capitalist state every mystery he solves.
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Read in November, 2007
Good old murder mystery, made even more interesting because it is set in modern day China. The protagonist is a poet who works as a police inspector.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in September, 2008
I continue to love this series. Now Inspector Chen comes to the US.for a visit and must work within the confines of two governments...
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Read in August, 2008
Fourth in the series of Inspector Chen mysteries - this time the focus in on corruption in China. Liked it least of the series so far.
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Detective story based in communist story. Pretend that the romance part doesnt exist in this book and then it is a fun read.
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Not his best, but I still find fascinating the glimpses of life in China.
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I've already read one of Qiu's Inspector Chen mysteries and very much enjoyed it, so I'm looking forward to this.
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