Christopher > Recent Status Updates

Surprisingly not too inscrutable for a first time reader on Laos. Doubtless I would be totally lost if not for the dozens of books I've read on Buddhism and folk religion, though.

How is this book not hugely popular? It is a masterpiece of children's literature, though it feels more like a piece of literature about children instead. Such careful observation on childish behaviors and thoughts, set against the harsh background of life. I love this story.

This begins around 1600 while Mote ends at 1800. Hopefully it'll be a good continuation now that I'm near the end of Imperial China: 900-1800.

Terrific.

The translation feels a little bland

I am greatly enjoying the descriptions of old Japanese novels from 200 years ago. I've found it incredibly difficult to learn of such books in English given the Western obsession with denying agency to other peoples and thus only treating that which is influenced by Western models as respectable. However, it does seem quite confused at times.

This might be up there with Nishan Saman as one of the greatest folk epics I've ever read.

As was the case with The Brigands' Song, most of these 658 pages are of almost no interest to somebody who isn't a specialist. However, the introduction is quite fascinating and it's giving me high hopes for the translation of the actual text.

Feels a lot less busy than the first book, yet it's even longer. Not much seems to be happening.

I'm really hoping the next half brings this up from 2 to 3 stars. It's pretty bad.