Christopher > Recent Status Updates

This is beginning to look like a new favorite

It's been way too focused for a while on the self-help side of 难得糊涂, which doesn't really interest me. Seems to be saying the exact same thing page after page after page, just quoting different self-help books that said it.

So many pointless mistakes. No, not every '60s Shaw Brothers film was an adaptation of a Gu Long book! It took all of 10 seconds to confirm that.

This book took quite an interesting turn. I'm not so oblivious to contemporary Japanese discourse that the full political weight of the twist is lost on me. I do wonder, however, how such outspoken condemnation of Japanese treatment of Koreans fared at the time.

The author claims neutrality but makes no effort to hide his dismay towards the mainland and tolerance for the similar negatives of Taiwan. The writing style is nearly unreadable at times, not dense by any means, just poorly structured. I'm not enjoying this book, but I have broadened my perspective a little so I'll continue with it for now.

Why is he still explaining the meaning of nande hutu after he uses the expression? "Make explains to his old friend how Nande hutu (diff i cult to obtain feigned ignorance) has absolutely nothing to do with the ‘minor smartness’ that townspeople now exhibit". This is page 161!! The whole book has been about explaining that phrase and yet he still feels the need to define it after using it?!?!

This book could only be more perfect if the translator was more aware of ancient Chinese. 史 he gives with the modern translation, historian, in a very ancient context that predates by maybe a millennium its usage as such. Scribe would have been better, though still not quite able to capture the essence of the ancient usage.

Too much reliance on European comparisons. I would have liked this a decade ago when I was deeply involved in European history and culture, but over time I've come to look upon Europe with disdain. I see how useful (though probably not beneficial) this might be for a novice, after several years of absolutely obsessing on Chinese, I'm familiar enough with the material that it ruins the flow of the book for me.

I'm not a fan of the mix of travelogue, memoir, and historical biography. I've never seen it done well and that isn't going to change with this book.

One of the most perfectly fascinating books any true bibliophile could ever ask for.

First chapter was excellent.

I loved the first section but the second is boring and doesn't really say anything substantive so far.

He makes too many comments that leave me thinking he's pro-America. He also reveals in his chapter on China far too little understanding of that great nation.

So many great ideas I can't wait to explore next time I read a wuxia novel. I've certainly noticed the aural nature of the narratives, but I'd never reflected on that before. So excited for the rest of this book.

Not being Hindu, I certainly can't believe a lot of the religious claims he makes, but when it comes to descriptive and comparative treatments, this book is a must-read.

Love this book