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Snuff-Bottles and Other Stories
Book by Youmei, Deng
- GenresFiction
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 15, 2017
This is a book by Deng Youmei, translated into English by Gladys Yang.
I liked the first story up until the last three pages, when it became anti-climatic. The second one, rather short, had remarkable characters. The third one, again, despite having a protagonist of intricate making, becomes dull by the end. The fourth one read like a morality tale.
I believe the author's forte is in historical settings with bright characters, the eponymous story, "Snuff Bottles", might stand as a proof of that.
Mind, these are not stories with metaphors, these are stories with happenings.
These stories are essentially tales detailing incidents that are set in real historical settings. Though the times portrayed are circa 1900, it is hard to believe China has changed so much in a century. In fact, it almost felt like medieval times. It would be an overstatement to claim I have become a fan of the writer, but this book did initiate me in Chinese history, of which I have remarkably low knowledge.
Will be looking for Chinese lit. At least subconsciously.
I liked the first story up until the last three pages, when it became anti-climatic. The second one, rather short, had remarkable characters. The third one, again, despite having a protagonist of intricate making, becomes dull by the end. The fourth one read like a morality tale.
I believe the author's forte is in historical settings with bright characters, the eponymous story, "Snuff Bottles", might stand as a proof of that.
Mind, these are not stories with metaphors, these are stories with happenings.
These stories are essentially tales detailing incidents that are set in real historical settings. Though the times portrayed are circa 1900, it is hard to believe China has changed so much in a century. In fact, it almost felt like medieval times. It would be an overstatement to claim I have become a fan of the writer, but this book did initiate me in Chinese history, of which I have remarkably low knowledge.
Will be looking for Chinese lit. At least subconsciously.
Displaying 1 of 1 review