BIBLOGRAPHY
Xingjian, Gao. 2000. SOUL MOUNTAIN.New York:Harper Collins.ISBN 0-06-621082-8
(originally published as LINGSHAN in Taiwan in 1990 by Lianjing Chubanshe later translated from the Chinese by Mabel Lee)
PLOT SUMMARY WITH CULTURAL MARKERS
The narrator is in China during the mid 1900’s. The narrator is the main character with some minor companions along the way. The narrator does not have a name in the story. The main theme is that the narrator is on a journey to document folk songs of the different villages and find a particular village by the name of Lingshan. During this journey the descriptions of the landscapes, people, housing, welfare and way of life are very detailed. Xingjian describes the different faces and houses of each of the villages the narrator encounters. The narrator has interactions with the local peoples and a lot of Chinese history is discussed.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In reading this book I discovered that although part of the book contained historical facts part of the book was fiction. As you read through the chapters you were thrown back and forth into different what seemed to be sub novels. There was his (the narrators) time in the mountains with the panda scientists, the stories with the young nurse, stories from his childhood which often were intertwined within the other stories, stories where he is on his own and exploring without a companion. The stories with the young nurse were hard to follow because of the back and forth conversations between them it was challenging to ascertain what was a “story” and what was really happening between them .
I understand that when a country goes through a cultural revolution (which is mentioned several times in the book) that many horrific events can take place. Over 30 of the 81 chapters in the book reference sex and most often rape. In some chapters it is mentioned more than once. In this respect this book was difficult to read to completion.
The well written descriptions of the landscapes and colors of the sky, people, ruins and other items were so expertly done that one could close their eyes and “see” the picture in front of them. The encounters with the priests and rituals were well documented and when reading you could feel the emotion of the time.
There is one line early in the novel that suggests he has found Lingshan. However, near the end of the novel he is still looking for Lingshan. The jumping around chapter to chapter in different places and with different people kept you on your toes to follow the storyline which at times seemed nonexistent.
REVIEW EXCERPTS AND AWARDS
Nobel Prize for literature 2000
Publisher’s Weekly “Seeking out old singers and shamans like a connoisseur of extinct cultures, Gao has created a sui generis work, one that, in combining story, reminiscence, meditation and journalism, warily comes to terms with the shocks of both Maoism and capitalism. Agent, Georges Borchardt. (Dec)” from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060936231/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Booklist “Gao Xingjian's masterpiece expresses sorrow and anger, wonder and confusion, humor and metaphysics, lust and tenderness, and a profound longing for meaning and freedom. Donna Seaman” from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060936231/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
The Economist “He travels on the margins of society to evade political persecution and the horrors of collectivism in China's Past are often evoked.” From http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=686
Le Monde “Chinese literature [of the future] will have to contend with the creative energy and the daring of Gao Xingjian.” From http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=686
Courier-Mail ( Austrialia) “It is a relief to come to a book that celebrates the pleasures of literature with such gusto and knowingness.” From http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=686
CONNECTIONS
This would be a novel that could be used as part of a study about Chinese culture or history. Due to the sexual references I would exercise caution to the type of audience that would use the novel.
Nobel Prize Biography : http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2000/gao-bio.html
Guillian, Charlote. CHINESE CULTURE. ISBN: 1432912186
Chai,May-Lee. CHINA A TO Z.ISBN: 97804522888874
Doeden, Matt. THE CHINESE:LIFE IN CHINS’A GOLDEN AGE. ISBN: 9780822586814
Xingjian, Gao. 2000. SOUL MOUNTAIN.New York:Harper Collins.ISBN 0-06-621082-8
(originally published as LINGSHAN in Taiwan in 1990 by Lianjing Chubanshe later translated from the Chinese by Mabel Lee)
PLOT SUMMARY WITH CULTURAL MARKERS
The narrator is in China during the mid 1900’s. The narrator is the main character with some minor companions along the way. The narrator does not have a name in the story. The main theme is that the narrator is on a journey to document folk songs of the different villages and find a particular village by the name of Lingshan. During this journey the descriptions of the landscapes, people, housing, welfare and way of life are very detailed. Xingjian describes the different faces and houses of each of the villages the narrator encounters. The narrator has interactions with the local peoples and a lot of Chinese history is discussed.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In reading this book I discovered that although part of the book contained historical facts part of the book was fiction. As you read through the chapters you were thrown back and forth into different what seemed to be sub novels. There was his (the narrators) time in the mountains with the panda scientists, the stories with the young nurse, stories from his childhood which often were intertwined within the other stories, stories where he is on his own and exploring without a companion. The stories with the young nurse were hard to follow because of the back and forth conversations between them it was challenging to ascertain what was a “story” and what was really happening between them .
I understand that when a country goes through a cultural revolution (which is mentioned several times in the book) that many horrific events can take place. Over 30 of the 81 chapters in the book reference sex and most often rape. In some chapters it is mentioned more than once. In this respect this book was difficult to read to completion.
The well written descriptions of the landscapes and colors of the sky, people, ruins and other items were so expertly done that one could close their eyes and “see” the picture in front of them. The encounters with the priests and rituals were well documented and when reading you could feel the emotion of the time.
There is one line early in the novel that suggests he has found Lingshan. However, near the end of the novel he is still looking for Lingshan. The jumping around chapter to chapter in different places and with different people kept you on your toes to follow the storyline which at times seemed nonexistent.
REVIEW EXCERPTS AND AWARDS
Nobel Prize for literature 2000
Publisher’s Weekly “Seeking out old singers and shamans like a connoisseur of extinct cultures, Gao has created a sui generis work, one that, in combining story, reminiscence, meditation and journalism, warily comes to terms with the shocks of both Maoism and capitalism. Agent, Georges Borchardt. (Dec)” from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060936231/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Booklist “Gao Xingjian's masterpiece expresses sorrow and anger, wonder and confusion, humor and metaphysics, lust and tenderness, and a profound longing for meaning and freedom. Donna Seaman” from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060936231/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
The Economist “He travels on the margins of society to evade political persecution and the horrors of collectivism in China's Past are often evoked.” From http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=686
Le Monde “Chinese literature [of the future] will have to contend with the creative energy and the daring of Gao Xingjian.” From http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=686
Courier-Mail ( Austrialia) “It is a relief to come to a book that celebrates the pleasures of literature with such gusto and knowingness.” From http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=686
CONNECTIONS
This would be a novel that could be used as part of a study about Chinese culture or history. Due to the sexual references I would exercise caution to the type of audience that would use the novel.
Nobel Prize Biography : http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2000/gao-bio.html
Guillian, Charlote. CHINESE CULTURE. ISBN: 1432912186
Chai,May-Lee. CHINA A TO Z.ISBN: 97804522888874
Doeden, Matt. THE CHINESE:LIFE IN CHINS’A GOLDEN AGE. ISBN: 9780822586814
Book cover image from Barnes and Noble website.
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