Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was
Registered by 
GoryDetails
of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 9/18/2014
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
GoryDetails of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 9/18/2014 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
I loved this book when I first read it, so I was glad to find this fair-condition paperback at the Book Cellar for another release copy.
It's a hilarious - and sometimes touching - story set in an alternate-history-China. The whole thing's wonderfully tongue-in-cheek, with the feel of the long-ago-and-far-away culture and mythology. It's narrated by Number Ten Ox (he's the tenth son, and "rather strong" - an understatement, as it turns out), who finds himself in a reluctant alliance with the "old beyond belief" Master Li (who always introduces himself by adding "there is a slight flaw in my character" - though why he'd limit himself to only one flaw is never explained!) to try and solve a very distressing plague that has rendered the village's children comatose.
Their adventures take them far indeed, and generally involve great perils (especially for Number Ten Ox - that sword dance was nerve-wracking!) as well as stunningly beautiful sights. There are eccentric characters everywhere, some almost as eccentric as Master Li himself; there is magic of many types and degrees; there are deities of varying powers and whims. And snark - oh, so much snark! There's romance too, though it doesn't always go well for our hero.
Between the dry humor, the outrageous situations, and the action-packed and inventive explorations and escapes, the story's tremendous fun, with too many delightful bits for me to quote. I loved this book!
[There's a TV Tropes page for the book as well. And the second book, Story of the Stone, is quite entertaining too.]
It's a hilarious - and sometimes touching - story set in an alternate-history-China. The whole thing's wonderfully tongue-in-cheek, with the feel of the long-ago-and-far-away culture and mythology. It's narrated by Number Ten Ox (he's the tenth son, and "rather strong" - an understatement, as it turns out), who finds himself in a reluctant alliance with the "old beyond belief" Master Li (who always introduces himself by adding "there is a slight flaw in my character" - though why he'd limit himself to only one flaw is never explained!) to try and solve a very distressing plague that has rendered the village's children comatose.
Their adventures take them far indeed, and generally involve great perils (especially for Number Ten Ox - that sword dance was nerve-wracking!) as well as stunningly beautiful sights. There are eccentric characters everywhere, some almost as eccentric as Master Li himself; there is magic of many types and degrees; there are deities of varying powers and whims. And snark - oh, so much snark! There's romance too, though it doesn't always go well for our hero.
Between the dry humor, the outrageous situations, and the action-packed and inventive explorations and escapes, the story's tremendous fun, with too many delightful bits for me to quote. I loved this book!
[There's a TV Tropes page for the book as well. And the second book, Story of the Stone, is quite entertaining too.]
Journal Entry 2 by GoryDetails at MC Square (formerly Carriage Depot) in Amherst, New Hampshire USA on Monday, February 1, 2016
GoryDetails at MC Square (formerly Carriage Depot) in Amherst, New Hampshire USA on Monday, February 1, 2016
Released 8 yrs ago (2/1/2016 UTC) at MC Square (formerly Carriage Depot) in Amherst, New Hampshire USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I plan to leave this book on a window ledge in front of the Casual Cat shop in the plaza at around 1:30 or so; hope the finder enjoys it! *** Released as part of the 2016 Great Backyard Bird Count release challenge. ***
*** Released as part of the 2016 Heads, Shoulders, Knees, Toes release challenge, for the embedded "chin" in the title. ***
