Svetlana's Reads and Views

Name of Book: The Dreamer Wakes Author: Xueqin Cao ISBN: 0-14-044372-x Publisher: Penguin classics Part of a Series: The story of the stone Vols I-V Type of book: Marriage, death, suicide, karma, evil spirits, China, 1700s, debt, shame, Manchurian dynasty, wealth, poverty, living beyond means Year it was published: 1760 (version I have 1986) Summary: Divided into five volumes, of which The Dreamer Wakes is the fifth, it charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family ( a story which closely accords with the fortunes of Cao Xueqin's own family.) The characters are set against a rich tapestry of humour, realistic detail and delicate poetry which accurately reflects the ritualized hurly-burly of Chinese family life. But over and above the novel hangs the constant reminder that there is another plane of existence- a theme which affirms the Buddhist belief in a supernatural scheme of things. Characters: The characters are only outlines of themselves ...

Name of Book: The Debt of Tears Author: Xueqin Cao, Gao E ISBN: 0-14-044371-1 Publisher: Penguin Classics Part of a Series: The story of the stone Type of book: China, Manchurian Dynasty, soul mates, 1700s, wealth, death, true love Year it was published: 1760 ( Version I have 1982) Summary: Divided into five volumes, of which The Debt of Tears is the fourth, it charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family (a story which closely accords with the fortunes of the author's own family). The two main characters, Bao-yu, and Dai-yu, are set against a rich tapestry of humor, realistic detail and delicate poetry which accurately reflects the ritualized hurly-burly of Chinese family life. BUt over and above the novel hangs the constant reminder that there is another plane of existence- a theme which affirms the Buddhist belief in a supernatural scheme of things. Characters: Although the author tries to keep semblance of the characters from the first thr...

Name of Book: The Warning Voice Author: Xueqin Cao ISBN: 0-14-044370-3 Publisher: Penguin Classics Part of a Series: The story of the Stone Vols I-V Type of book: China, Manchurian dynasty, 1700s, debt  deaths Year it was published: 1760s, (version I have 1980) Summary: Divided into five volumes, of which The Warning Voice is the third, it charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family (a story which closely accords with the fortunes of the author's own family.) The two main characters, Bao-yu and Dai-yu, are set against a rich tapestry of humor, realistic detail and delicate poetry, which accurately reflects the ritualized hurly-burly of Chinese family life. But over and above the novel hangs the constant reminder that there is another plane of existence- a theme which affirms the Buddhist belief in a supernatural scheme of things. Characters: I'm not sure whether or not the characters changed, but we get to meet new characters and there is ...

Name of Book: The Crab-Flower Club Vol II of The Story of the Stone Author: Xueqin Cao ISBN: 0-14-044326-6 Publisher: Penguin classics Part of a Series: Story of the Stone Vols I-V Type of book:  Adult, China in 18th century, Manchu rule, one of Chinese classics Year it was published: 1760? (The Version I have, 1977) Summary: The Story of the Stone (c 1760 A.D>) is the great novel of manners in Chinese literature. Divided into five volumes, of which The Crab-Flower Club is the second, it charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family (a story which closely accords with the fortunes of the author's own family). THe two main characters, Bao-yu and Dai-yu, are set against a rich tapestry of humor, realistic detail and delicate poetry which accurately reflects the ritualized hurly-burly of Chinese family life. But over and above the novel hangs the constant reminder that there is another plane of existence-a theme which affirms the Buddhist belief in...

Name of book: The Golden Days Vol I of Story of the Stone Author Name: Xueqin Cao ISBN: 0-140-44293-6 Publisher Penguin Type of book: Adult, China in 18th century, Manchu rule, one of Chinese classics Year it was published: 1760? (The Version I have, 1973) Part of a Series: Story of the Stone Vols I-V Summary: THe story of the stone (c.1760), also known as The Dream of the Red Chamber, is one of the greatest novels of Chinese literature. THe first part of the story, The Golden Days, begins the tale of Bao-yu, a gentle young boy who prefers girls to Confucian studies, and his two cousins: Bao-Chai, his parents' choice of a wife for him, and the ethereal beauty Dai-yu. Through the changing fortunes of the Jia family, this rich, magical work sets worldly events-love affairs, sibling rivalries, political intrigues, even murder-within the context of the Buddhist understanding that earthly existence is an illusion and karma determines the shape of our lives. Charact...