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Die Jadefrau.
Die Jadefrau - bk1128; Blanvalet im Goldmann Verlag; Nicole Mones; pocket_book; 2001
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First published January 1, 1998
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July 1, 2016
3.5 stars
A myriad of thoughts are running through my head as I contemplate what to write about my reaction to this book. The characters in this story are all a bit lost in the translations of their lives. It's rather poignant, maybe even a bit relatable. Do we not all lose our sense of self at some point, or at the very least question it?
But where I struggled with this book was that I never fully engaged with the protagonist. I guess I never really understood her drive to run away so thoroughly as to attempt to change her ethnicity. It reminds me of a saying a Scottish friend said, "There are two types of people. Scots, and those who want to be Scots." In Alice's case, it was that she wanted to be Chinese.
That brings up another point. I really didn't think her name was a good fit. Alice. It grated every time I read it. Perhaps it was symbolic of the incongruity of who she was compared to who she wanted to be.
A myriad of thoughts are running through my head as I contemplate what to write about my reaction to this book. The characters in this story are all a bit lost in the translations of their lives. It's rather poignant, maybe even a bit relatable. Do we not all lose our sense of self at some point, or at the very least question it?
But where I struggled with this book was that I never fully engaged with the protagonist. I guess I never really understood her drive to run away so thoroughly as to attempt to change her ethnicity. It reminds me of a saying a Scottish friend said, "There are two types of people. Scots, and those who want to be Scots." In Alice's case, it was that she wanted to be Chinese.
That brings up another point. I really didn't think her name was a good fit. Alice. It grated every time I read it. Perhaps it was symbolic of the incongruity of who she was compared to who she wanted to be.
May 25, 2010
366 Pages. Donated 2010 May.
Nicole Mones doesn't waste any time getting to the heart of the matter in her first novel, Lost in Translation. Within the first 10 pages we discover that protagonist Alice Mannegan, an interpreter based in Beijing, has a yen for sex with Chinese men. By the time we reach page 20, we've learned that Alice is in full flight from her father, a racist U.S. congressman, and about to start working for Adam Spencer, an American archeologist on the hunt for the missing bones of one of the century's biggest scientific finds: Peking man. Having set the stage, Mones steps back and lets her characters do the work as she proceeds to spin a tale that is part mystery, part love story, and part cultural exchange. Alice and Spencer travel to a remote region of China, accompanied by Dr. Lin Shiyang, with whom Alice falls in love. Mones spends a fair amount of time on the team's search for the bones, whose mysterious disappearance during the Second World War has never been explained, but her main focus is less on finding Peking man than on exposing the skeletons in her main characters' closets. As Alice, Spencer, and Dr. Lin move forward in their quest, they are forced to reckon with their pasts. Each, it seems, has an ulterior reason for being where they are and doing what they do, and it is in the subtle play of personalities, motivations, and misunderstandings that Lost in Translation finds its rhythm.
The key to the novel's success is Mones's in-depth knowledge of China's culture, history, and politics. The question of cultural identity is at the core of her tale, and she skillfully weaves various aspects of Chinese life--from ancestor worship to the Cultural Revolution--into the personal relationships of her characters. By novel's end, readers have discovered a great deal about archeology, China, and most especially about the unmapped territories of memory, desire, and identity. Lost in Translation is a fine first novel, the first salvo of a promising literary career.
And it was a really good movie too.
Nicole Mones doesn't waste any time getting to the heart of the matter in her first novel, Lost in Translation. Within the first 10 pages we discover that protagonist Alice Mannegan, an interpreter based in Beijing, has a yen for sex with Chinese men. By the time we reach page 20, we've learned that Alice is in full flight from her father, a racist U.S. congressman, and about to start working for Adam Spencer, an American archeologist on the hunt for the missing bones of one of the century's biggest scientific finds: Peking man. Having set the stage, Mones steps back and lets her characters do the work as she proceeds to spin a tale that is part mystery, part love story, and part cultural exchange. Alice and Spencer travel to a remote region of China, accompanied by Dr. Lin Shiyang, with whom Alice falls in love. Mones spends a fair amount of time on the team's search for the bones, whose mysterious disappearance during the Second World War has never been explained, but her main focus is less on finding Peking man than on exposing the skeletons in her main characters' closets. As Alice, Spencer, and Dr. Lin move forward in their quest, they are forced to reckon with their pasts. Each, it seems, has an ulterior reason for being where they are and doing what they do, and it is in the subtle play of personalities, motivations, and misunderstandings that Lost in Translation finds its rhythm.
The key to the novel's success is Mones's in-depth knowledge of China's culture, history, and politics. The question of cultural identity is at the core of her tale, and she skillfully weaves various aspects of Chinese life--from ancestor worship to the Cultural Revolution--into the personal relationships of her characters. By novel's end, readers have discovered a great deal about archeology, China, and most especially about the unmapped territories of memory, desire, and identity. Lost in Translation is a fine first novel, the first salvo of a promising literary career.
And it was a really good movie too.
March 14, 2021
Kutija.
Sanduk.
Taman prave veličine da sadrži lobanje, kosti i zube.
Pekinški čovek.
Da li ovaj roman precizno prikazuje kulturološke misterije ili ne, apsolutno je nevažno jer ovim saznanjem se svakako ne umanjuje uživanje čitalaca u ovom izuzetno lepo oblikovanom romanu. Radnja romana usmerena je na gotovo nemoguću potragu za ostacima drevnog pekinškog čoveka za koga se verovalo da je izgubljen negde u Kini, pre perioda Haosa. Komunistička revolucija u Kini, veliki Haos, promene u društvenom pogledu i odražavanje na stanovnike ove azijske zemlje, najbolje se očitava kroz priču dva kineska i jednog američkog arheologa, kao i prevodioca američkog porekla koje zdušno želi da se u tom novom svetu, toj po svemu drugačijom zemlji, pronađe. Bežeći sa američkog tla i sramote koju doživljava zbog svog rasističkog oca, Alis gorko želi da izgradi svoj lik i ličnost kao sasvim druga osoba. Iako ni ovaj put ne beše posut laticama, uspeće da se na njemu, koliko-toliko zadrži i istraje u svom naumu.
Uprkos poteškoćama u komunikaciji, ovaj tim će postati jedna koherentna, čvrsto povezana grupa koja će složno hrliti ka svom cilju. Odnosi koji se među njima stvaraju polako se razvijaju paralelno sa samom potragom pekinškog čoveka, preklapajući se sa podjednako beznadežnim traganjem za nestalom suprugom jednog od arheologa. Autor kroz ove redove beleži neverovatnu mešavinu emocija, nade i očaja, čežnju za pripadanjem (negde, nekome) kao i ožiljke nanete sputavanjem, gotovo gušenjem (nemoguće) ljubavi. Ljubav u svim mogućim oblicima – ljudskom, seksualnom, božanskom, ljubav između nacije i njene istorije, čoveka i njegove prošlosti, oca i njegove ćerke – vodi priču do njenog završetka kojim ne možete ostati ravnodušni.
Ovaj emocijama nabijen, pokatkad erotičan, široko prevođeni roman, hvaljen je zbog svog odličnog prikaza Kine koji je retko zabeležen u savremenoj literaturi. Jedno od priznanja je i nagrada Kafka za najbolje delo beletristike ikad koje je napisala jedna Amerikanka. Ima tu nečeg gotovo poetičnog i senzualnog u načinu na koji je autorka opisivala stvari i događaje u ovoj knjizi: napetost između Alis i Lin, očaj i tuga dr Spensera... Alis, jedan je od jako kompleksnih likova, lik koji beži od vlastitih problema, pretvarajući se da je neko drugi, lik koji življaše u iluziji koja se na kraju raspukla i osvestila je, lik koji nam pokazuje da moraš biti ono što jesi kako ne bi nestao, iščezao...
Generalno, ovo misteriozno traganje za pekinškim čovekom nam donosi mnogo više od “izgubljenih kostiju”. Uvid u kinesku i mongolsku kulturu, običaje i verovanja je i više nego puko nabrajanje svega pomenutog i navešće vas da o ovim stvarima podrobnije istražujete. Bar mene jeste.
p.s. Ukoliko ste očekivali neku sirovu erot’ku, s obzirom na činjenicu da je delo svrstano i u erotske knjige, moraću da vas razočaram. Ona je data u iskricama, u toj seksualnoj napetosti koja se provlači kroz delo. Ponekad su varnice mal’ jače pa mogu i da pecnu, ali je ponajviše samo suptilno data čitaocima.
“Šijang”, huknula je, omađijana njegovim imenom, mekoćom njegovih usana, njegovim dodirom za kojim je toliko čeznula. Izvila je leđa da se utisne u njegove šake. Napokon, posle nekog vremena njegova ruka je stigla između njenih nogu i tu ju je stegao, snažno, kroz odeću. “Pan-wangle hao jiu“, prošaputao je: toliko sam dugo to želeo. Blago je stegao i njeno čitavo telo se zgrčilo.
p.p.s. Od mene, velika preporuka!
Sanduk.
Taman prave veličine da sadrži lobanje, kosti i zube.
Pekinški čovek.
Da li ovaj roman precizno prikazuje kulturološke misterije ili ne, apsolutno je nevažno jer ovim saznanjem se svakako ne umanjuje uživanje čitalaca u ovom izuzetno lepo oblikovanom romanu. Radnja romana usmerena je na gotovo nemoguću potragu za ostacima drevnog pekinškog čoveka za koga se verovalo da je izgubljen negde u Kini, pre perioda Haosa. Komunistička revolucija u Kini, veliki Haos, promene u društvenom pogledu i odražavanje na stanovnike ove azijske zemlje, najbolje se očitava kroz priču dva kineska i jednog američkog arheologa, kao i prevodioca američkog porekla koje zdušno želi da se u tom novom svetu, toj po svemu drugačijom zemlji, pronađe. Bežeći sa američkog tla i sramote koju doživljava zbog svog rasističkog oca, Alis gorko želi da izgradi svoj lik i ličnost kao sasvim druga osoba. Iako ni ovaj put ne beše posut laticama, uspeće da se na njemu, koliko-toliko zadrži i istraje u svom naumu.
Uprkos poteškoćama u komunikaciji, ovaj tim će postati jedna koherentna, čvrsto povezana grupa koja će složno hrliti ka svom cilju. Odnosi koji se među njima stvaraju polako se razvijaju paralelno sa samom potragom pekinškog čoveka, preklapajući se sa podjednako beznadežnim traganjem za nestalom suprugom jednog od arheologa. Autor kroz ove redove beleži neverovatnu mešavinu emocija, nade i očaja, čežnju za pripadanjem (negde, nekome) kao i ožiljke nanete sputavanjem, gotovo gušenjem (nemoguće) ljubavi. Ljubav u svim mogućim oblicima – ljudskom, seksualnom, božanskom, ljubav između nacije i njene istorije, čoveka i njegove prošlosti, oca i njegove ćerke – vodi priču do njenog završetka kojim ne možete ostati ravnodušni.
Ovaj emocijama nabijen, pokatkad erotičan, široko prevođeni roman, hvaljen je zbog svog odličnog prikaza Kine koji je retko zabeležen u savremenoj literaturi. Jedno od priznanja je i nagrada Kafka za najbolje delo beletristike ikad koje je napisala jedna Amerikanka. Ima tu nečeg gotovo poetičnog i senzualnog u načinu na koji je autorka opisivala stvari i događaje u ovoj knjizi: napetost između Alis i Lin, očaj i tuga dr Spensera... Alis, jedan je od jako kompleksnih likova, lik koji beži od vlastitih problema, pretvarajući se da je neko drugi, lik koji življaše u iluziji koja se na kraju raspukla i osvestila je, lik koji nam pokazuje da moraš biti ono što jesi kako ne bi nestao, iščezao...
Generalno, ovo misteriozno traganje za pekinškim čovekom nam donosi mnogo više od “izgubljenih kostiju”. Uvid u kinesku i mongolsku kulturu, običaje i verovanja je i više nego puko nabrajanje svega pomenutog i navešće vas da o ovim stvarima podrobnije istražujete. Bar mene jeste.
p.s. Ukoliko ste očekivali neku sirovu erot’ku, s obzirom na činjenicu da je delo svrstano i u erotske knjige, moraću da vas razočaram. Ona je data u iskricama, u toj seksualnoj napetosti koja se provlači kroz delo. Ponekad su varnice mal’ jače pa mogu i da pecnu, ali je ponajviše samo suptilno data čitaocima.
“Šijang”, huknula je, omađijana njegovim imenom, mekoćom njegovih usana, njegovim dodirom za kojim je toliko čeznula. Izvila je leđa da se utisne u njegove šake. Napokon, posle nekog vremena njegova ruka je stigla između njenih nogu i tu ju je stegao, snažno, kroz odeću. “Pan-wangle hao jiu“, prošaputao je: toliko sam dugo to želeo. Blago je stegao i njeno čitavo telo se zgrčilo.
p.p.s. Od mene, velika preporuka!
May 19, 2015
Let's start with a seemingly obvious but wildly overlooked detail: Nicole Mones' "Lost in Translation" is not Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation." I mean, sure, they're both about American women floating adrift in Asian countries who have asexual relationships with American men that teach them about the culture in which they've been absorbed and also about themselves. But OTHER THAN THAT, they're totally different stories. (Full disclosure: I didn't realize how similar they were when when I started this rant. Nicole Mones may very well be due a piece of an Oscar in a IP settlement.) But just as China isn't Japan (seriously, people, stop all the conflating), the novel's heroine Alice, isn't Coppola's little ball of ennui. Alice gets LAID. She loves Chinese men, she isn't shy about it and she'll readily hop on her bike to go get some action (which she does in the very first chapter, #HYFR #feminism).
Her Bill Murray (I'm sorry, I'll stop now, I'm making it worse) is archaeologist Adam Spencer, who recruits her to be his interpreter on a mission to find the missing bones of Peking Man, a fossil that had been missing since WWII. If this sounds like a meet-cute in a lesser Reese Witherspoon movie, stay with me. Adam and Alice (my god, it IS an aborted romcom setup) don't hook up. They don't have Mulder and Scully-level sexual tension. Their trip is a conduit through which we discover the intricacies of China's past and the way they affect the present.
What separates this from other White Lady Goes to Foreign Country stories is the level of detail. Mones gives us both an insider's perspective - Alice's archaeological trip allows Mones a perfect excuse to unleash her encyclopedic and fascinating knowledge of Chinese culture - and an outsider's perspective as Alice tries to navigate a land that isn't always entirely welcoming to outsiders. Alice's journey into China's past, firmly entrenched in its present, is a reminder that exploring the unknown - not just a foreign country but anyplace or culture or even a generation we don't fully comprehend - can be terrifying and uncertain but it can also be thrilling and transformative, reminding the traveler of who she was, who she is and who she could be.
Her Bill Murray (I'm sorry, I'll stop now, I'm making it worse) is archaeologist Adam Spencer, who recruits her to be his interpreter on a mission to find the missing bones of Peking Man, a fossil that had been missing since WWII. If this sounds like a meet-cute in a lesser Reese Witherspoon movie, stay with me. Adam and Alice (my god, it IS an aborted romcom setup) don't hook up. They don't have Mulder and Scully-level sexual tension. Their trip is a conduit through which we discover the intricacies of China's past and the way they affect the present.
What separates this from other White Lady Goes to Foreign Country stories is the level of detail. Mones gives us both an insider's perspective - Alice's archaeological trip allows Mones a perfect excuse to unleash her encyclopedic and fascinating knowledge of Chinese culture - and an outsider's perspective as Alice tries to navigate a land that isn't always entirely welcoming to outsiders. Alice's journey into China's past, firmly entrenched in its present, is a reminder that exploring the unknown - not just a foreign country but anyplace or culture or even a generation we don't fully comprehend - can be terrifying and uncertain but it can also be thrilling and transformative, reminding the traveler of who she was, who she is and who she could be.
May 25, 2011
This book really surprised me! I purchased it from a library discard pile. What luck! For this book I would have happily paid more than the dollar that I did. It's an agonizingly lovely book that uses the dischord between an American woman and her given culture, and family, to craft a tale that puts the alienation anybody can feel into a deeper perspective. Unlike just anybody, the protagonist loses herself in the classic language and ancient traditions of her chosen home: in China. Reading it, you find yourself there as well. A lot happens from there, but I encourage you to read this one yourself. Suffice it to say that I also found the book sexy, exciting, and full of gems about love (and trust). I read it in one day, and almost one sitting, if that says anything.
October 1, 2014
This is my second Mones book, and I've decided that she's a keeper! Her two-fold view of cultural China is enlightening. This book is in many ways similar to The Last Chinese Chef, especially with both viewpoints: that of a foreigner and a native. Alice's interal demons and her eventual resolution of these issues closely paralleled my situation at this time. Imagine that!? So yes, so glad I read this and would highly recommend it.
December 23, 2012
Perhaps I have benefited by not yet having seen the well publicised but little understood movie version of “Lost in Translation”. I was able to tackle the novel with no preconceived notions of the delicacy required to preserve the cultural bridge between westerners and Chinese, and indeed between Chinese people themselves in their daily dealings with each other.
Whether the novel accurately portrays the cultural mysteries or not is not an essential ingredient for the reader’s enjoyment of this beautifully crafted fictional work. The plot involves the almost impossible search for the remains of the ancient “Peking Man” believed to have been lost somewhere in China prior to the chaos surrounding the communist revolution. Involved in the search are 2 Chinese archaeologists, 1 American archaeologist and an American interpreter.
Despite the difficulties of communication the team becomes a coherent tightly knit group. The relationships that develop between them slowly evolve in parallel with the search and coincide with the equally hopeless hunt for the missing wife of Lin, one of the Chinese archaeologists.
The author captures the mix of emotions, the threads of hope and despair, the longing to belong, and the scars inflicted by overpowering smothering love. This is a book with meaning. It explores both a culture little understood by outsiders, and the magical pain of romantic and filial love.
Will the movie be a disappointment after reading this wonderful book? I can only wait and see.
Carinya
Whether the novel accurately portrays the cultural mysteries or not is not an essential ingredient for the reader’s enjoyment of this beautifully crafted fictional work. The plot involves the almost impossible search for the remains of the ancient “Peking Man” believed to have been lost somewhere in China prior to the chaos surrounding the communist revolution. Involved in the search are 2 Chinese archaeologists, 1 American archaeologist and an American interpreter.
Despite the difficulties of communication the team becomes a coherent tightly knit group. The relationships that develop between them slowly evolve in parallel with the search and coincide with the equally hopeless hunt for the missing wife of Lin, one of the Chinese archaeologists.
The author captures the mix of emotions, the threads of hope and despair, the longing to belong, and the scars inflicted by overpowering smothering love. This is a book with meaning. It explores both a culture little understood by outsiders, and the magical pain of romantic and filial love.
Will the movie be a disappointment after reading this wonderful book? I can only wait and see.
Carinya
February 6, 2008
Lost in Translation is a novel about love--between a nation and its past, between a man and a memory, between a father and a daughter.
May 23, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded up
August 16, 2022
"Ona je voljela te osobine kod Kineza, njihovu istančanu tjelesnu osjetljivost, njihovu uzdržanost".
April 11, 2012
This is NM's first book but I read it last. So even though I think it is good I felt the sense of an author finding a formula and sticking with it.
Mones books are interesting, well researched, compelling to read, and they always teach you something - Peking Man, Chinese porcelain, food, but there is that repetition of elements that dominate the books. Obviously the geographical setting - China - is one of them, there's the strong, smart, female character, aged 35+, and there is the romance.
Possible Spoiler here:
The love story unfolds slowly, the man is similar to the main female character - smart, older, dealing with a past that is a barrier to relationships. Most of all the love story ends in almost exactly the same way in every book. The characters get to bed one another but part with a promise of sorts to contact one another again. So cliffhanger love story.
I love the history and culture, I get annoyed by the recurring plot.
It is in danger of becoming hackneyed.
This surprises me because NM is obviously a very capable writer.
Time for a change, Nicole!
PS: My favourite was Cup of Light.
Mones books are interesting, well researched, compelling to read, and they always teach you something - Peking Man, Chinese porcelain, food, but there is that repetition of elements that dominate the books. Obviously the geographical setting - China - is one of them, there's the strong, smart, female character, aged 35+, and there is the romance.
Possible Spoiler here:
The love story unfolds slowly, the man is similar to the main female character - smart, older, dealing with a past that is a barrier to relationships. Most of all the love story ends in almost exactly the same way in every book. The characters get to bed one another but part with a promise of sorts to contact one another again. So cliffhanger love story.
I love the history and culture, I get annoyed by the recurring plot.
It is in danger of becoming hackneyed.
This surprises me because NM is obviously a very capable writer.
Time for a change, Nicole!
PS: My favourite was Cup of Light.
March 29, 2009
Retrieved this book from my storage locker; hidden within a medium size box of other treasures. Last read was over 4 years ago.
The story concerns a Chinese translator, Alice Mannegan, working in Guangzhou, China. She ran away as far as was possible from being the poster child for "white America" by her father, a U.S. Congressman. The story details the struggle she has not only with the language but the nuances built in over the centuries to it. The words don't necessarily correspond to their meaning based on the inference/intonation.
The novel unfolds as she takes a position with U.S. archaeologist in search of Peking Man. The bones of Peking Man were found in the early 1920 and loss during the war.
The book, from what I have read from papers, and other media, represents accurately the Chinese mindset and living conditions. It was a great read!
The story concerns a Chinese translator, Alice Mannegan, working in Guangzhou, China. She ran away as far as was possible from being the poster child for "white America" by her father, a U.S. Congressman. The story details the struggle she has not only with the language but the nuances built in over the centuries to it. The words don't necessarily correspond to their meaning based on the inference/intonation.
The novel unfolds as she takes a position with U.S. archaeologist in search of Peking Man. The bones of Peking Man were found in the early 1920 and loss during the war.
The book, from what I have read from papers, and other media, represents accurately the Chinese mindset and living conditions. It was a great read!
July 27, 2014
I would really love the chance to travel to China. This novel takes place there and it's a bit mysterious, the book has a way of drawing me in! I love it and I want to read Nicole Mones other 2 books, one on my kindle and one I just ordered in Paperback, didn't like the print on kindle for that one, for some reason.
Oh, this book was exotic and erotic. I loved the story about Alice and her desire to stay in China or move back to the U.S. Her job as interpreter to an Archeaologist was so interesting as well as the sights, culture and the people of China. Her affair with Dr. Lin. Nicole Mones leaves it up to us whether Alice will return to him or not? I can't wait to read The Last Chinese Chef and Cup Of Light. I'm so glad I found Nicole Mones, by accident too, searching on amazon and goodreads. Great summer read.
Oh, this book was exotic and erotic. I loved the story about Alice and her desire to stay in China or move back to the U.S. Her job as interpreter to an Archeaologist was so interesting as well as the sights, culture and the people of China. Her affair with Dr. Lin. Nicole Mones leaves it up to us whether Alice will return to him or not? I can't wait to read The Last Chinese Chef and Cup Of Light. I'm so glad I found Nicole Mones, by accident too, searching on amazon and goodreads. Great summer read.
April 21, 2014
I wonder how many people are like me, and picked up this book because they thought it was the origin of the movie?
Whatever, I'm glad I did pick it up (even though it has nothing to do with the movie at all), because I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked the heroine, I liked the insight into the Chinese people, language and country, and I enjoyed the plot.
I will certainly look out for other books by this author.
Whatever, I'm glad I did pick it up (even though it has nothing to do with the movie at all), because I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked the heroine, I liked the insight into the Chinese people, language and country, and I enjoyed the plot.
I will certainly look out for other books by this author.
October 12, 2018
First of all, it is important to note that this book is not in any way related to the film of the same name. The only similarity is they are both set in Asia, but this book takes place in China, not Japan.
This intriguing novel centers on an American woman who works as a Chinese translator, and the people she is thrown together with on an archeological project in a remote area of Northwest China. I won't give away the plot here, but just say that I found this a very satisfying read.
This intriguing novel centers on an American woman who works as a Chinese translator, and the people she is thrown together with on an archeological project in a remote area of Northwest China. I won't give away the plot here, but just say that I found this a very satisfying read.
March 4, 2017
Hard to believe that this was published almost 30 years ago. Except for the missing technology this feels as though it could have been written in the last decade.
This haunting examination of actively choosing to be in a minority as a sort of penance is stitched into a treasure hunt and a bungling sort of Big Brother-ish governmental scheme.
This haunting examination of actively choosing to be in a minority as a sort of penance is stitched into a treasure hunt and a bungling sort of Big Brother-ish governmental scheme.
October 26, 2022
Beautifully written. Atmospheric. Interesting.
But bailed at 67%. Just a bit too "sensual" for me. Didn't pass the "recommend" to mom test. The reference to the female lead masturbating finally put me over the edge. Moving on.
But bailed at 67%. Just a bit too "sensual" for me. Didn't pass the "recommend" to mom test. The reference to the female lead masturbating finally put me over the edge. Moving on.
August 14, 2023
Romance between two seemingly different people who both face things that they are afraid to do. Absolutely beautiful way of depicting two destinies of two souls who are looking for their purpose.
Reading story, author inspired me a lot. As someone who is studying Chinese in college and who is still new to so many things, I found this book helpful to learn more things that i haven’t and to re-remember the things I’ve already learnt. The story built around Chinese history, literature, culture, language, the way of how Chinese places look. Everything author spoke of, I found as very useful. I loved all these information we get to learn and educate ourselves, but also feel the things for two main characters.
I’d love to read her othet books. It refreshing to read this type if genre as I’m not the type for romance books, but the hashtag adventure pulled me in to it.
No regrets whatsoever.
The only thing why it is 4🌟is probably because of the start of the book. I am not sure if it’s to author or to the person who translated this work, it felt weird with some parts.
I wish to read her other books soon (in English, I’d read this one again if I were to read it again.
The actually rating is 4.5🌟, but it was leaning more towards lower one.
Reading story, author inspired me a lot. As someone who is studying Chinese in college and who is still new to so many things, I found this book helpful to learn more things that i haven’t and to re-remember the things I’ve already learnt. The story built around Chinese history, literature, culture, language, the way of how Chinese places look. Everything author spoke of, I found as very useful. I loved all these information we get to learn and educate ourselves, but also feel the things for two main characters.
I’d love to read her othet books. It refreshing to read this type if genre as I’m not the type for romance books, but the hashtag adventure pulled me in to it.
No regrets whatsoever.
The only thing why it is 4🌟is probably because of the start of the book. I am not sure if it’s to author or to the person who translated this work, it felt weird with some parts.
I wish to read her other books soon (in English, I’d read this one again if I were to read it again.
The actually rating is 4.5🌟, but it was leaning more towards lower one.
June 17, 2020
Labai keista, kad ši knyga kadaise išleista Svajonių leidyklos, nes ji visai nepanaši į saldžius, romantiškus kūrinius, kokius jie dažniausiai leidžia. Galbūt kūrinį jie pasirinko dėl palaido veikėjos būdo, beprasmių sekso scenų čia pasitaikė iki soties, tačiau jos ir ne erotinio tipo, kai aprašoma nuo A iki Z, labiau vien paminėjimai, kad toks dalykas nutiko.
Visas kūrinys tuščias, veikėjai blankūs, juose niekas taip ir nepasikeičia, kaip pradėta rašyti apie nieką, taip ir užbaigta. Tarsi begalė įvykių, bet jie kažkokie nesijungiantys, atsainūs lyg į viską autorė žvelgtų per užrasojusį stiklą ir nesugebėtų apibūdinti aiškiau ir nuoširdžiau. Knyga dvelkia kažkuo snobišku, veikėjai žvelgia į gyvenimą paviršutiniškai, tačiau yra savimylos, niekinantys kitus ir besielgiantys taip lyg pasaulis priklausytų tiktai jiems. Meilės romanu visiškai nepavadinčiau. Neįtraukė ir nepatiko.
Visas kūrinys tuščias, veikėjai blankūs, juose niekas taip ir nepasikeičia, kaip pradėta rašyti apie nieką, taip ir užbaigta. Tarsi begalė įvykių, bet jie kažkokie nesijungiantys, atsainūs lyg į viską autorė žvelgtų per užrasojusį stiklą ir nesugebėtų apibūdinti aiškiau ir nuoširdžiau. Knyga dvelkia kažkuo snobišku, veikėjai žvelgia į gyvenimą paviršutiniškai, tačiau yra savimylos, niekinantys kitus ir besielgiantys taip lyg pasaulis priklausytų tiktai jiems. Meilės romanu visiškai nepavadinčiau. Neįtraukė ir nepatiko.
October 12, 2017
this is a story about archeologists looking of the lost Peking Mans' bones. It is more fiction than historical fiction, but it is a good interesting fast read.
Amazon :Expatriate translator Alice Mannegan spends her nights in Beijing's smoky bars, seeking fleeting encounters with Chinese men to blot out the shame of her racist father back in Texas. But when she signs on to an archaeological expedition searching for the missing bones of Peking Man in China's remote Northwest deserts, her world cracks open. As the group follows the trail of the Jesuit philosopher/paleontologist Teilhard de Chardin to close in on one of archaeology's greatest mysteries, Alice finds herself increasingly drawn to a Chinese professor who is shackled by his own painful memories. Love in all its forms--human, sexual, divine, between a nation and its history, a man and his past, a father and his daughter--drives the story to its breathtaking finish.
Emotionally charged and erotic, this widely translated bestseller has been universally praised for its authoritative portrayal of a China rarely captured in contemporary fiction. The novel's accolades include the Kafka Prize for the year's best work of fiction by any American woman, the Pacific Northwest Bookseller's Association Book Award for the year's best novel from the five northwestern states, and the New York Times Book Review's Notable Book and Editor's Choice.
Amazon :Expatriate translator Alice Mannegan spends her nights in Beijing's smoky bars, seeking fleeting encounters with Chinese men to blot out the shame of her racist father back in Texas. But when she signs on to an archaeological expedition searching for the missing bones of Peking Man in China's remote Northwest deserts, her world cracks open. As the group follows the trail of the Jesuit philosopher/paleontologist Teilhard de Chardin to close in on one of archaeology's greatest mysteries, Alice finds herself increasingly drawn to a Chinese professor who is shackled by his own painful memories. Love in all its forms--human, sexual, divine, between a nation and its history, a man and his past, a father and his daughter--drives the story to its breathtaking finish.
Emotionally charged and erotic, this widely translated bestseller has been universally praised for its authoritative portrayal of a China rarely captured in contemporary fiction. The novel's accolades include the Kafka Prize for the year's best work of fiction by any American woman, the Pacific Northwest Bookseller's Association Book Award for the year's best novel from the five northwestern states, and the New York Times Book Review's Notable Book and Editor's Choice.
August 14, 2023
don’t like this book, i really wanted to finish reading it but couldn’t do it. maybe i don’t get it but i dislike how she only seems to find her worth in men. also don’t like how chinese is woven so much into the narration - even though im mandarin and understand the pinyin it throws me off while reading. what i did like about this book was how seamlessly the author switched perspectives in this book. overall, i just don’t love the pacing and the dialogue and the descriptions.
June 2, 2023
Enjoyable novel about a China that has vanished — that of the 1990s. It rings as authentic and the main character is intriguingly flawed. Interesting subtext on the way racialization is culturally constructed.
August 8, 2020
A brilliant tale of culture, history, evolution and racial identity. Of the Orient, the Occident, the other and the other-ed. One of my top 5s so far!
June 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this historical fiction about the Peking Man. Fossil bones found in China of ancient man. These bones were lost or stolen during WWII never to be found.
April 26, 2021
Wow. The complexity, the yearning! This book was such a good read.
March 2, 2012
It took me awhile to get into this book. It was very slow building but once it got me, it got me. There was something very poetic and sensuous in the way the author described things. The tension between Alice and Lin. The desperation and sadness of Dr. Spenser. Alice was such a complex character yearning to be accepted but at the same time not accepting herself. She had obviously gone to China to, what she thought, to find herself but what she was really doing was running away from herself and her problems. Like a little girl, she wanted to be someone else and so she pretended, she yearned to be Chinese. In the end, no one can live like that, with that illusion. You are who you are. Your past and present make you into the person you're going to be in the future. It was heartbreaking when all her illusion came falling down, and when they fell, they hit rock bottom. But we do get a bit of hope in the end of the book. She finally realizes what she's doing. She knows that she has to go back to the States and once and for all deal with the issues of her father and make peace with it. She knows that this is her last chance as her father is terminally ill. Lin finally has some closure with finding out what happened with his wife and comes to gripes with his relationship with Alice. They said some pretty hurtful things to each other but in the end Lin tells Alice that he'll wait for her, not forever, but he will wait.
The mystery of Peking Man was an interesting journey. I find Mones theory interesting of what she describes happens to Peking Man. In some ways it is horrifying but in others it seems fitting that Peking Man is "reabsorbed into the Chinese population." I'm glad though that Dr. Spenser and Kong were not left with nothing. Dr. Spenser's character was interesting. He had thrown himself completely into the search of Peking Man. He thought that if he found it, it would validate him as a father. That his son would be proud of him even though he was far away. I'm glad he realized that his son would love him and be proud of him regardless. That all his son really wanted was for him to spend time with him. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The glimpse into Chinese culture and Mongolian culture was definitely educating. Mones' writing - I could literally feel the sexual tension between Lin and Alice, the yearning of Alice to be part of something. Just excellent.
The mystery of Peking Man was an interesting journey. I find Mones theory interesting of what she describes happens to Peking Man. In some ways it is horrifying but in others it seems fitting that Peking Man is "reabsorbed into the Chinese population." I'm glad though that Dr. Spenser and Kong were not left with nothing. Dr. Spenser's character was interesting. He had thrown himself completely into the search of Peking Man. He thought that if he found it, it would validate him as a father. That his son would be proud of him even though he was far away. I'm glad he realized that his son would love him and be proud of him regardless. That all his son really wanted was for him to spend time with him. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The glimpse into Chinese culture and Mongolian culture was definitely educating. Mones' writing - I could literally feel the sexual tension between Lin and Alice, the yearning of Alice to be part of something. Just excellent.
May 19, 2013
Lost in Translation by Nicole Mones is set in modern-day China. Alice Mannegan is an American woman living on her own in China, working as a freelance translator.
Her father Horace Mannegan is a US Congressman. When she was a small child, he gave a pro-segregation speech that incited a race riot. She is ashamed of his racism and refuses to live in America. However she readily accepts his money to support her lifestyle. Alice holds another grudge against her father: when she fell in love with a Chinese man and declared her intention to marry, her father flew to China to stop her. Now Alice seeks only one-night-stands with Chinese men under a false name, and tells herself she is seeking “a true Chinese man”. She keeps in close touch with her former fiancé’s mother, and revels in learning traditional ways.
Alice accepts a job translating for an American archaeologist who believes he can find Peking Man, missing for decades. They travel into the desert with 2 Chinese professors, Dr. Kong and Dr. Lin. Unknown to the others, Dr. Lin has a personal quest. Their movements are watched, it’s not always clear by how many or why; but no worries, it doesn’t matter in the end.
The book is rich with Chinese phrases, historical traditions and political background, as well as archaeology and anthropology. Alice finds herself in a relationship she doesn’t want to lose – although her actions jeopardize it. News from home forces her to question her life choices and follow her innermost values.
I first discovered the author when I read The Last Chinese Chef, which so enthralled me, I purchased multiple copies for gifts to family and friends. I did not enjoy Lost in Translation (her award-winning debut novel) nearly as much, probably due to Alice’s spoiled-rich-girl attitude. The characters in The Last Chinese Chef were more earnest and the plot more poignant – I recommend it.
Her father Horace Mannegan is a US Congressman. When she was a small child, he gave a pro-segregation speech that incited a race riot. She is ashamed of his racism and refuses to live in America. However she readily accepts his money to support her lifestyle. Alice holds another grudge against her father: when she fell in love with a Chinese man and declared her intention to marry, her father flew to China to stop her. Now Alice seeks only one-night-stands with Chinese men under a false name, and tells herself she is seeking “a true Chinese man”. She keeps in close touch with her former fiancé’s mother, and revels in learning traditional ways.
Alice accepts a job translating for an American archaeologist who believes he can find Peking Man, missing for decades. They travel into the desert with 2 Chinese professors, Dr. Kong and Dr. Lin. Unknown to the others, Dr. Lin has a personal quest. Their movements are watched, it’s not always clear by how many or why; but no worries, it doesn’t matter in the end.
The book is rich with Chinese phrases, historical traditions and political background, as well as archaeology and anthropology. Alice finds herself in a relationship she doesn’t want to lose – although her actions jeopardize it. News from home forces her to question her life choices and follow her innermost values.
I first discovered the author when I read The Last Chinese Chef, which so enthralled me, I purchased multiple copies for gifts to family and friends. I did not enjoy Lost in Translation (her award-winning debut novel) nearly as much, probably due to Alice’s spoiled-rich-girl attitude. The characters in The Last Chinese Chef were more earnest and the plot more poignant – I recommend it.
April 14, 2019
This book is flawed in various ways. Part of it is because it's dated, and the characters' attitudes towards women (and the female character's attitude towards herself) are painfully ageist and misogynistic. The characters do not think of women except in terms of their outward appearance, even if they aren't sexually interested in them--this was so apparent that I had to check (and be surprised) that the book was written by a woman. They are constantly surprised that Alice is intelligent even while they are looking through her clothes. Alice's accomplishments as an interpreter are trampled on throughout the book ("she could have made a career!"--what the hell else would we call what she's doing then?) They are always concerned about how much she's eating in relation to her size. Also, at thirty-six, she's just so darn old, decrepit really (and yet the impression she gives to readers is immature).
Alice's relationship with her father is so confusing and unbelievable. The conflicting emotions she supposedly has about them are not well explained. She runs a half a world away from him yet allows him to derail--because of his racism--her impending marriage to a member of a society that she claims as her own? Doesn't make sense. Sure, she's confused in other ways, and it's a relief when one of the Chinese characters finally calls her out on her appropriation of his culture, but nothing about the storyline with her father falls into logical place. He's variously described as a man who ruined her life and someone who is her constant and only family member. Sure, the two don't have to be mutually exclusive, but much lacks in the execution.
The hunt for the Peking Man is random, the Adam Spencer character is hollow, and let's not mention the sex scenes.
Alice's relationship with her father is so confusing and unbelievable. The conflicting emotions she supposedly has about them are not well explained. She runs a half a world away from him yet allows him to derail--because of his racism--her impending marriage to a member of a society that she claims as her own? Doesn't make sense. Sure, she's confused in other ways, and it's a relief when one of the Chinese characters finally calls her out on her appropriation of his culture, but nothing about the storyline with her father falls into logical place. He's variously described as a man who ruined her life and someone who is her constant and only family member. Sure, the two don't have to be mutually exclusive, but much lacks in the execution.
The hunt for the Peking Man is random, the Adam Spencer character is hollow, and let's not mention the sex scenes.
October 1, 2020
I listened to this audiobook thinking that it was the precursor to the movie. It is not, thankfully. Lost in Translation follows an American interpreter, in China, as she tries to make a life for herself there.
I am thankful that I chose to listen to this novel-- hearing Angela Lin speak the Chinese dialogues instead of whatever silent incoherence I might've encountered had I read the book myself.
The story travels from Beijing, to the remote city of Yinchuan, and eventually to inner Mongolia. Nicole Mones' writing was so descriptive and clearly well researched, that even in moments where I found myself uninterested in the plot I was still immersed in the settings. I do not know much about modern Chinese culture or history and I felt like I learned a lot with every chapter I listened to. This book gave me a new interest for, and some insight into, modern Chinese history & culture.
The characters in this book are diverse, multidimensional, and mostly likable. What seems to set Alice, the protagonist, apart, is her serious struggle with cultural identity. While this could be called a love story, or an archeological adventure story, it is also definitely a story about escaping from white American guilt. While I wish Nicole Mones acknowledged the appropriative impulses that motivated Alice's behavior (as well as Alice's exoticization of Chinese men) throughout the book- she does touch on it in the end. I recommend this audiobook for Angela Lin's narration, it's flawed but highly intelligent female protagonist, and for the hours of rich visual imagery you'll come away with.
I am thankful that I chose to listen to this novel-- hearing Angela Lin speak the Chinese dialogues instead of whatever silent incoherence I might've encountered had I read the book myself.
The story travels from Beijing, to the remote city of Yinchuan, and eventually to inner Mongolia. Nicole Mones' writing was so descriptive and clearly well researched, that even in moments where I found myself uninterested in the plot I was still immersed in the settings. I do not know much about modern Chinese culture or history and I felt like I learned a lot with every chapter I listened to. This book gave me a new interest for, and some insight into, modern Chinese history & culture.
The characters in this book are diverse, multidimensional, and mostly likable. What seems to set Alice, the protagonist, apart, is her serious struggle with cultural identity. While this could be called a love story, or an archeological adventure story, it is also definitely a story about escaping from white American guilt. While I wish Nicole Mones acknowledged the appropriative impulses that motivated Alice's behavior (as well as Alice's exoticization of Chinese men) throughout the book- she does touch on it in the end. I recommend this audiobook for Angela Lin's narration, it's flawed but highly intelligent female protagonist, and for the hours of rich visual imagery you'll come away with.
April 7, 2013
Alice Mannegan is a young American woman working as an interpreter in modern day China. When she is hired by Dr. Adam Spencer to help him search for the missing “Peking Man”, she embarks on a journey of intrigue, love and an enticing mystery.
The Asian cover of the book may make some think Nicole Mones’ novel is related to the movie of the same name, but let me assure you, it’s not. From the first chapter, I was absolutely drawn into this book. Mones presents a credible mystery – a clue that could enable the recovery of Peking Man, one of the most important finds in the history of human archaeology. In Lost in Translation the reader is given some real history, and at the same time, Mones’ personal knowledge of China really shines. The mystery is gripping, and as if that weren’t enough, the story of Alice Mannegan is an impressive means of showing the barbs of racism both in her native and her chosen country. I loved this book and can’t wait to read more by this author. 4 1/2 stars!
The Asian cover of the book may make some think Nicole Mones’ novel is related to the movie of the same name, but let me assure you, it’s not. From the first chapter, I was absolutely drawn into this book. Mones presents a credible mystery – a clue that could enable the recovery of Peking Man, one of the most important finds in the history of human archaeology. In Lost in Translation the reader is given some real history, and at the same time, Mones’ personal knowledge of China really shines. The mystery is gripping, and as if that weren’t enough, the story of Alice Mannegan is an impressive means of showing the barbs of racism both in her native and her chosen country. I loved this book and can’t wait to read more by this author. 4 1/2 stars!
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