Xueqin Cao
Paperback | Pages: 640 pages Rating: 4.42 | 553 Users | 37 Reviews
Particularize Books As The Warning Voice (The Story of the Stone #3)
| Original Title: | 紅樓夢 [Hónglóu Mèng] |
| ISBN: | 0140443703 (ISBN13: 9780140443707) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | The Story of the Stone #3 |
Description Concering Books The Warning Voice (The Story of the Stone #3)
"The Story of the Stone (c. 1760)", also known by the title of "The Dream of the Red Chamber", is the great novel of manners in Chinese literature. 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 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.Details Based On Books The Warning Voice (The Story of the Stone #3)
| Title | : | The Warning Voice (The Story of the Stone #3) |
| Author | : | Xueqin Cao |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 640 pages |
| Published | : | January 29th 1981 by Penguin Group (first published January 3rd 1791) |
| Categories | : | Cultural. China. Fiction. Classics. Asian Literature. Chinese Literature. Literature |
Rating Based On Books The Warning Voice (The Story of the Stone #3)
Ratings: 4.42 From 553 Users | 37 ReviewsCrit Based On Books The Warning Voice (The Story of the Stone #3)
Definitely the best of the volumes thus far, in that I think it is here that we really get to see the individuality of the characters in the garden (both maids and mistresses) on full display. I also like the almost Greek tragic nature of the anecdotes and the family at large; the reader can see the end coming for each of the fated characters in turn, but is powerless to save them, and the resulting pathos is enough to bring tears to the eyes. Skybright, I am still crying for you!Volume 3 of the Story of the Stone continues the saga of the Jia family. In this volume readers see signs of what may signal an upcoming decline in the family's fortunes. Money difficulties are hinted at but not taken seriously by most in the family. Volume three highlights the cracks in the surface of the family by taking us inside their domestic lives.I enjoyed this volume more than the previous one which for me was too filled with poetry (which either didn't translate well or I didn't enjoy).
Probably the best volume so far. You'll get to know more of the lesser characters and some of the side characters become all-important such as Tan-Chun who takes over from Xi-Feng whilst she's ill.How household managed?Financial situation = not good - Pawn shopsPower struggle in houseBullying amongst staffSide story of San Jie and Er Jie with Jia Lian
After greatly enjoying Volume 2, I found this long middle volume a bit of a slog.I can't tell how much of this is due to any intrinsic difference (after all, the 5-volume division was made by the translator, not the author) and how much of it is due to the fact that I have a finite, if large, patience for this kind of story. In my review of Vol. 2 I made a big deal out of how formless the plot is -- sometimes dramatic, sometimes very mundane for long stretches, never following predictable "arc"
The Warning Voice is a good title for this third volume, which starts with a growing sense of foreboding and ends with more and more members of the extended Jia clan in unhappy circumstances. The volume retains some of the comedy, beauty, and elegant circumstances of the prior two, but theres also a growing frequency of conflict, pettiness, and ugly selfishness.
Where to start? Volume 2 was as good as it was going to get in terms of consistency, character and plotting. Although Volume 3 often feels like it is falling apart despite the editors (Rouge Inkstone, Odd Tablet, translator David Hawkes) best efforts. Still, I continue to rate this five stars and place it on par with earlier volumes. The first reason is for the authors audacity to introduce a whole slew of new characters midway through the overall story and sidelining major characters such as
Warning voice indeed! This volume is full of discussion of money. The family must pawn things, and they begin to talk of having fewer servants. Bao-yu loses Skybright to innuendo. Xi-feng is horrified to find her husband has taken a secret wife. Chaos and infighting upset everyone, though there are several lovely holiday scenes, such as the mid-Autumn moon-viewing festival, and some poetry writing.I discuss the book further on my blog, as an example of a thoroughly un-Western paradigm:
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