2008-07-09 Could have been good.

This book apperaed to cover a few literary interests of mine. Mainly Chinese literature. I find the insights into China, past and present, interesting for some reason (but do I need one?). I also enjoy a good story that is able to move me emotionally. This can include a romance story. This book failed to please my appetite in both instances.

I found the structure clever enough to give this review two stars, however.

The potential for this book was big. The diary format is not my favourtie, it has to be said but it is not bad. Overall though, I found the book rushed and lacking a lot of depth. This made any potential for emotion to build non existant. For example, I could not build up any mental picture for what the man looks like other than he is 40 something and he looks old when he is tired. I had no idea what Z looks like or any detail at all. The was not enough detail about the house looks like. Even a general colour of the place would have been nice. I also found the final letter confusing. Was that only half of it? In any case it lacked any form of a "tearful goodbye" or an "I must never see you again" letter.

The only time when the detail shows is during the fairly graphic sex seen descriptions. It is far too frank for my likeing. I found it all an attempted to express passion but it comes off as immature. The metaphors to describe her sex organs are a prime example of this. Her "cave". Honestly, I would have felt really silly writing this.

I did find the insight into China interesting, but not nearly enough information was present and all it was was a comparison with the west, mainly with food, which did not interest me enough.

Overall, the book lacked too much detail and it also lost the pace towards the end. (I think that is a general opinion about this book based on the other Amazon reviews). A missed opportunity.

For a novel that gives an insight into ancient China I'd recommened any of the four classics of Chinese literature and "Empress Orchid" and "The Last Empress" by Anchee Min. For an insight into modern China I'd recommend the Inspector Chen mysteries by Qiu Xiaolong. For an emotional love story I'd recommend "A Dream of Red Mansions" also known as "The story of the Stone" (which is one of the four Chinese Classics)