While reading Porter's translation of an elderly hermit's musings, which bounce from entertaining thoughts to the meaning of life, I could not help but think of a disgruntled old man hunched over his table, peering up every once in a while to observe and appreciate his solitary surroundings before grudgingly opening a letter sent from far away, only to turn back to his writings and comment with sudden vigor and, at times, contempt!
This collection of contemplations on contemporary life is definitely worth a read, as it is clever and, at times, cutting. My only complaint is that it is a shame that Porter found the contents of Section 90 to be "unsuitable for English translation" as I now am obliged to sit and ponder exactly what Porter's reasonings were.