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Soul Mountain

Have bought this book in year 2002 or 2003 (symptom of aging - can’t remember the exact year too!). Was introduced to read this book since it was written by a Nobel Prize literature winner. In the first few chapters, I had already struggled to understand the context and the theme. I stopped at chapter 29 or 30. Then the book was left for few months, few years. Until recently, I picked it up again and resumed from where I’ve stopped. Of course, I need to glance through the previous chapters to catch up the writing. At last, I completed all the 81 chapters of this autobiography in three weeks.

There’s nothing much inside. Maybe because I don’t know how to appreciate literature writing. The writer enjoyed using pronouns like I, you, he and she throughout the writing. These characters are imaginative, from the author’s self conversation. If you have watched the animated movie Ratatouille, it’s like Remy's imaginative character of the chef.

At some point, I got confused if the he, she and you are actually real physical characters. So much confusion that caused me to give up reading it few years ago. But now, I understand some of the context (at least). The story about the author’s journey into southern China. The story about China’s cultural revolution. The story about some folk tales and folk songs. And the story about you, me, he and she.

As always, I will give away or trade in the novels or books which I've read. Any taker?

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hm...the book doesn't seem exciting at all, what with it being 'abandoned' some years ago & one get confused while reading it. So, no takers from my side.

What other books u have?
What kind of books u will be interested in reading? I can lend u my books.

PH

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