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Black Dragon, Black Cat
In ancient China a young girl trains with a great master for many years, learning the principles of kung fu and becoming a skilled and honorable warrior.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 22, 2010
22 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 6, 2012
This is a super book written about the ancient history of my own country. The plot is simple but totally absorbing, and the characters are wonderful and finely developed. It has a depth that is unusual for something so simple, but perhaps that is what comes from keeping things simple: you have a chance to abosrb all of the details and nuances. The author seems to know much about my ancient culture, and it is hard to believe that he is not a chinese. The story line is great, but it is really the attention to details that makes this book really amazing. I have recommended it to all of my chinese student friends, and those who have read it have loved it too. Oh, and the black cat in the story is a very tear jerking creature!
June 4, 2012
I really enjoyed this book but I have trouble recommending it to everyone. Anyone interested in a realistic depiction of kung fu training with a solid plot line will enjoy this book. Anyone expecting a Hollywood-style ninja book will surely be disappointed. It was well written and the character development was excellend, but there was very little action involved. I easily got lost in the life of the characters, which in many ways, by necessity, was routine and repetitive but never boring.
August 27, 2013
This book strikes me as special. I'm not sure how to put my finger on it exactly, but it came alive for me as I read it and it's stuck with me ever since. It's a book I'd like my children to read and that I wish was added to school libraries too. It felt *real* and authentic. It's very well done and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in China, martial arts, or how to grow up into a better person. I felt the character growth was spot on.
July 31, 2016
This book is clever, insightful, and very well thought out, with wholly three dimensional characters you come to know and care about as individuals. The little girl's personal journey will have you rooting for her the whole way through all the hard work, the struggles, the triumphs. It's a very inspiring story with a surprise ending that definitely leaves you wanting that next book!
July 23, 2012
I would never have believed I would find a slow-moving book about martial arts training so utterly absorbing! Hei Mao's development as a warrior and as a person is fascinating to read about, and the climax at the great tournament is just perfect.
August 5, 2016
As I began the book I was immediately taken in by the tone - gentle, innocent, with timeless wisdom, truth and values illustrated in the lives and interactions of the characters. I loved the permeability of cultural boundaries and limitations in the face of one's destiny in the story, and these were formidable in the book's setting in ancient China as they can be today. All of these factors make the book a life lesson of sorts, transmitted in a way that is easy to grasp and understand. The large section of the book dedicated to the kung fu training of the main character (Black Cat) might be best appreciated by people with an interest in this art, but the arduous nature of her preparation make the readers feel as if they themselves have somehow journeyed with her in the process and make her resulting accomplishments and revelations more profound. I think the book could be enjoyed and appreciated by older children and adults and recommend it highly.
August 5, 2015
I was reading this book with mixed feelings. It's written in a language suitable for young children- and I don't count myself as one- but the plot was fascinating and I wanted to know how it all ended. All in all I liked it very much and I look forward to read other books by this author =]
February 21, 2013
I actually quite enjoyed this book for a number a reasons. First of all, as a traditional martial artist, it was great to see an emphasis on the more humble side off the arts, as opposed to more current van damme esq mentalities (I admit, if you don't have a background in martial arts it may not appeal to you in the slightest). Second, the martial arts book genre (in English) is dominated by Japanese/bushido perspectives (not that this is bad), so it is refreshing to see a Chinese orientated novel (easily the best of the limited number I have read). Finally, a really good ending that was well with the journey, it is one of those twists that you guess right before it is clearly stated... Well done to the author there, as this is much better then the 'I saw it coming from a mile off' effect, or the 'wtf, what a load of crap' effect.
Put simply, I'm looking forward to reading more of this author.
Put simply, I'm looking forward to reading more of this author.
August 2, 2012
Simple read with beautiful and detailed descriptions that lead the reader to (hopefully) think beyond themselves. Definitely a story of maturity that displays the cyclical nature of life. The main character, Hei Mao was a bit on the simple side, but she learned a lot physically, emotionally, and mentally.
I'm a bit surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, though of course this is a pleasant surprise. Kudos to the author for a well told story of a girl on a journey.
I'm a bit surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, though of course this is a pleasant surprise. Kudos to the author for a well told story of a girl on a journey.
December 4, 2012
this book is very well written.
I really enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed it.
April 6, 2016
The pace of this book reminds me of Oriental watercolor painting.
August 19, 2015
Very nice book
I liked this book and the way the author introduced morals and action into the plot. It was a pleasure to read and didn't drag on.
I liked this book and the way the author introduced morals and action into the plot. It was a pleasure to read and didn't drag on.
May 4, 2013
Awesome. This book was written by a professor here in on Knoxville at the University of Tennessee
July 29, 2019
Loved, loved, loved this book!!! It’s begging, its puzzles, it’s magic kept me awake for several hours wondering what was the next movement from either parties within the story.
It is so well written, so easy to follow, and so enlightening. It is funny as well .... I couldn’t wait but to get access to the following book “The Poetry of Time.”
The discovery of this book and what goes around itself has brought me a great sense of happiness.
It is so well written, so easy to follow, and so enlightening. It is funny as well .... I couldn’t wait but to get access to the following book “The Poetry of Time.”
The discovery of this book and what goes around itself has brought me a great sense of happiness.
February 13, 2020
Many hard lessons learned about life, pride, and humility, all while learning the ancient art of kung fu.
May 17, 2021
Slow paced but intricate and beautiful story telling.
So glad I read this.
So glad I read this.
December 28, 2011
A rather interesting book, I must say so.
Initially, I had planned to point out a few flaws, like the use of names. Since I speak Chinese, so it wasn't a problem for me, but I would think that if someone that doesn't speak Chinese read this, he might be confused.
For example, for names, sometimes the characters say Hei Lang (meaning "Black Dragon") and sometimes they Black Dragon, essentially meaning the same person, but well, without somewhere explicitly saying that "Hei Lang = Black Dragon" then probably some of the non-Chinese speaking readers may be caught unawares and confused.
This book repeats itself a lot. This is only natural, as when training in the arts of Kung-Fu, you need to do a lot of repetitive training. Around the first half or more of the book is just about the daily training, so if could get boring. However, the values that were taught to the student provide good food for thought.
The latter part of the book is about the Tournament, and the final enlightenment of the final value of Kung-Fu, and that was pretty touching.
The ending was a little of a cliche though, but I guess it ended well enough that way.
An enjoyable read!
Initially, I had planned to point out a few flaws, like the use of names. Since I speak Chinese, so it wasn't a problem for me, but I would think that if someone that doesn't speak Chinese read this, he might be confused.
For example, for names, sometimes the characters say Hei Lang (meaning "Black Dragon") and sometimes they Black Dragon, essentially meaning the same person, but well, without somewhere explicitly saying that "Hei Lang = Black Dragon" then probably some of the non-Chinese speaking readers may be caught unawares and confused.
This book repeats itself a lot. This is only natural, as when training in the arts of Kung-Fu, you need to do a lot of repetitive training. Around the first half or more of the book is just about the daily training, so if could get boring. However, the values that were taught to the student provide good food for thought.
The latter part of the book is about the Tournament, and the final enlightenment of the final value of Kung-Fu, and that was pretty touching.
The ending was a little of a cliche though, but I guess it ended well enough that way.
An enjoyable read!
November 7, 2012
Interesting style written somewhat in the style of a Chinese fable or story. I really liked it, but it was just too long. The same things got repeated over and over. There were times I felt like nothing was happening and no progress in the story was being made. If it was a little shorter and less repetitive, I would have really enjoyed this.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews