Book of the Month Oct. 2005: 兄弟 (Brothers) by 余华 (Yu Hua)

[gougou]

A review of the English version just appeared here. It made me remember many things that I had already forgotten - or didn't get while I was reading it.

[abcdefg]

Has anyone read Xiong Di 兄弟by Yu Hua 余华? A friend recently lent it to me and I'm unsure about investing the time it will require to decipher.

I am blessed and cursed by being able to converse much better than I can read and write. My Chinese friends seldom realize this even though I try to tell them. They think I'm just being modest.

In class I'm struggling with very simple texts about going to the post office to buy stamps, and then at night someone lends me a complex 475 page book. Strange situation. But I guess it could be worse.

[renzhe]

Many people have read it and recommended it.

The best way to improve your reading is to read and read a lot. You'll have to see whether your level will allow you to get through this book now, though.

It will likely be pure torture for the first 100 pages, but absolutely worth it in the long run.

[roddy]

Merging.

[abcdefg]

Profound apologies for not searching more carefully before posting. The forum is a great resource and sure don't want to abuse it.

Sounds like it's worth giving this book a shot. I'll wade in, and if it gets too labor intensive, will shelve it until later in the year.

I can also just take it out for air sometimes to impress the locals with how literate I am.

Edited April 14, 2009 at 03:11 PM by abcdefg
addition

[wushijiao]

Two of my friends recently finished 兄弟. In a nutshell, one thought part 1 was ok, but part 2 was pretty bad. The other intensely disliked/hated both parts. So, the consensus doesn’t seem too good.

[BertR]

Recently 锵锵三人行 had an episode about this book: http://phtv.ifeng.com/program/qqsrx/detail_2012_08/28/17150225_0.shtml