The Girl Who Played Go
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
19 journalers for this copy...
I heard about this novel when it won an Asian literature prize, so I picked it up when I saw it today at the Century Scholar bookstore at Xujiahui mall in Shanghai.
This was a beautifully written, lucid and surprisingly fast-paced book. Set in Manchuria during the Japanese occupation, the story is told from two alternating perspectives, that of a Japanese officer in the invasion force and a young Chinese girl with a remarkable skill at the game of go.
As in the game that eventually brings them together, the girl and the soldier take turns making moves that will ultimately decide their fate. It's hard to say more without giving away too much of the plot, but it's probably safe to say that no book about the Japanese occupation of Manchuria is going to be a light-hearted feel good romp of a story.
Here's a link as well to the Kiriyama Book Prize site, which has further information about the book and its author:
http://www.kiriyamaprize.org/winners/index.shtml
This book is going out as a bookray. Please PM me if you'd like to be added to the list!
Here are the participants so far--it's currently on its way to the second person on the list:
bookmaniac70 (Bulgaria)
pimapis (Romania)
gill846 (Canada)
cheli-garza (US-Texas)
tabby90 (US-North Carolina)
cait017(US-Ohio)
maatkare (US-Massachusetts)*
gkkk4 (US-Massachusetts)
kelzhell (US-New York)
DrBrown (California)
nut (Ireland)
auntyjo (Malaysia)
EDDI (Australia)
As in the game that eventually brings them together, the girl and the soldier take turns making moves that will ultimately decide their fate. It's hard to say more without giving away too much of the plot, but it's probably safe to say that no book about the Japanese occupation of Manchuria is going to be a light-hearted feel good romp of a story.
Here's a link as well to the Kiriyama Book Prize site, which has further information about the book and its author:
http://www.kiriyamaprize.org/winners/index.shtml
This book is going out as a bookray. Please PM me if you'd like to be added to the list!
Here are the participants so far--it's currently on its way to the second person on the list:
bookmaniac70 (Bulgaria)
pimapis (Romania)
gill846 (Canada)
cheli-garza (US-Texas)
tabby90 (US-North Carolina)
cait017(US-Ohio)
maatkare (US-Massachusetts)*
gkkk4 (US-Massachusetts)
kelzhell (US-New York)
DrBrown (California)
nut (Ireland)
auntyjo (Malaysia)
EDDI (Australia)
Received the book safely,thank you for including me in the ring! I shall try to be as fast as possible!
Started reading.
I liked very much the book.It is written in a form of two independant narratives- that of the Chinese girl,and that of the Japanese soldier.They don`t seem to have anything in common at the beginning- quite the opposite,they are like day and night,like two enemies.But they both are not happy and suffer.The soldier tries to do his duty but in his heart he is deeply troubled by the war and doesn`t like it.
The girl,on her turn,is confused and perplexed with two boys who are in love with her.She is despaired of the war and uncertainty of future.She finds a strange solace in the intelectual play of "GO".
In a strange way,those two come closer and closer.It is a very strange love story but very powerful.The writer manages to create an atmosphere of war,fear,hate,tragedy,and at the same time to bring two people together in an impossible love.
Thank you,Genevalove,for bringing this book to me! I hope the next ones after me will like it so much as I did.
Going to send it to next reader in Romania.
The girl,on her turn,is confused and perplexed with two boys who are in love with her.She is despaired of the war and uncertainty of future.She finds a strange solace in the intelectual play of "GO".
In a strange way,those two come closer and closer.It is a very strange love story but very powerful.The writer manages to create an atmosphere of war,fear,hate,tragedy,and at the same time to bring two people together in an impossible love.
Thank you,Genevalove,for bringing this book to me! I hope the next ones after me will like it so much as I did.
Going to send it to next reader in Romania.
Sent to pimapis in Romania.
ok, the book is ready to go to the next who
is waiting in line
I was disappointed at first. I expected a
novel about Go, something like Meijin, It
was not, but the story had developed like a
game of go. First at a steady pace, next
faster and faster, asking you to watch for
the end.
Costel
book just started to travel toward gill846 (Canada)
Came back from a camping trip to find this waiting for me. Looks really good. I am in the middle of one other bookring book, so will start this one as soon as I'm done.
Finished reading this yesterday. It was quite interesting. It took awhile to get into and seemed really two-dimensional at first, but as I read on, the story was full of surprises. Quite an interesting read. Ready to head out to the next person!
Well, it took awhile to get in touch with the next person, but we have finally hooked up. This was mailed on Saturday and is on its way to Texas.
Got as part of a bookring, was received in mail about 3 days ago. I had to stay up until 3 in the morning to finish this, I couldn't put it down!!
This is beautiful. Shan Sa is so poetic. Okay, about the characters? Pretty early on, I fell in love with Jing. The bad boy has always had a certain appeal for me. However, later on, the soldier started to look more and more interesting. Here's a blurb from the bookcover (be careful, has a bit of a spoiler to it):
"Shan Sa's novel has a wonderful directness and deceptive simplicity tht catches the reader by the throat, and makes the cruelty and tragedy of its outcome all the more shocking."
That says it all. Genevalove, thanks for letting me be a part of this! It was very enjoyable. Waiting on next address before sending on its way.
This is beautiful. Shan Sa is so poetic. Okay, about the characters? Pretty early on, I fell in love with Jing. The bad boy has always had a certain appeal for me. However, later on, the soldier started to look more and more interesting. Here's a blurb from the bookcover (be careful, has a bit of a spoiler to it):
"Shan Sa's novel has a wonderful directness and deceptive simplicity tht catches the reader by the throat, and makes the cruelty and tragedy of its outcome all the more shocking."
That says it all. Genevalove, thanks for letting me be a part of this! It was very enjoyable. Waiting on next address before sending on its way.
Got in the mail, thanks! I'll start it as soon as I'm done with my current read.
At first it was difficult to keep up with who's voice was telling the story, what with it switching between the two main characters, but soon it was easy. After a sentence or two, you could tell by the attitude and the way of thinking who it was. It seems to me that it takes incredible character development to make that delineation consistently, and without names.
Some of the cultural context was a little foreign to me. Like when she refers to her loneliness as being like 'a bolt of crimson silk at the bottom of a wooden chest.' I didn't understand this until a friend explained that in China, wedding kimonos are red. The bolt being there would have meant a wedding was planned, but then cancelled for whatever reason, meaning the simile refers to lost hope or near happiness that was snatched away.
I did enjoy the book, but there's just so much tragedy in this story. Beautiful loss.
Some of the cultural context was a little foreign to me. Like when she refers to her loneliness as being like 'a bolt of crimson silk at the bottom of a wooden chest.' I didn't understand this until a friend explained that in China, wedding kimonos are red. The bolt being there would have meant a wedding was planned, but then cancelled for whatever reason, meaning the simile refers to lost hope or near happiness that was snatched away.
I did enjoy the book, but there's just so much tragedy in this story. Beautiful loss.
YAY! It got here last week, but my best friends were getting married. I was a little busy.. but I'll be getting started shortly, and sending it on it's way.
FINALLY finished reading this. Sorry it took so long!
So the maatkare review:
Beautiful imagery. Absolutely gorgeous. It did take a while for me to get into the story though. And then once I finally got sucked in, out of nowhere it ended. I felt like there should have been more.. or maybe it was just that I wanted there to be more.
The book is headed on it's way tomorrow!
So the maatkare review:
Beautiful imagery. Absolutely gorgeous. It did take a while for me to get into the story though. And then once I finally got sucked in, out of nowhere it ended. I felt like there should have been more.. or maybe it was just that I wanted there to be more.
The book is headed on it's way tomorrow!
received last week or so from maatkare; started it but have been distracted by other books already in progress. I'll try to finish up this week, or will send on regardless.
Unfortunately I did not finish this book; I just couldn't get into it, in spite of its very engaging title and cover. I read about 1/4, I think, and found it too confusing to keep which character was speaking at which time, straight, and ultimately couldn't connect with the story.
Sent last week to kelzhell, next on the list. Sorry to be so very late sending it on.
Sent last week to kelzhell, next on the list. Sorry to be so very late sending it on.
I recieved this in the mail yesterday and have started reading it already. So far I am enjoying it.
18 October 2005
Very good, an quick read that stayed on my mind days after I finished thinking about the meaning wthin the brevity.
I mailed this to Nut yesterday per Dr Browns request to be skipped.
18 October 2005
Very good, an quick read that stayed on my mind days after I finished thinking about the meaning wthin the brevity.
I mailed this to Nut yesterday per Dr Browns request to be skipped.
Arrived safely, thank you!
A beautiful book. I'll be looking out for more Shan Sa. Don't read the blurb inside the cover before reading the book , I imagine it would be a spoiler (I read the blurb after the book, and was glad I hadn't read it before).
If nobody minds, I'd like to keep it a while longer for my husband to read.
ETA: Went into post 6/12
If nobody minds, I'd like to keep it a while longer for my husband to read.
ETA: Went into post 6/12
Journal Entry 22 by AuntyJo from Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on Monday, December 26, 2005
Got this before Christmas but did not get opportunity to log in. I need to finish two more books before I can start on this ring. But it being in biggish print, it should not take too long before I set it on its last leg of the journey!
Journal Entry 23 by AuntyJo from Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on Thursday, January 5, 2006
Started yesterday and finished it today. Reminds me of Balzac and the little Chinese Seamstress. Good read and haunting! Off it goes to EDDI in Australia!
Received today in the mail. Thank you! I have a library book to finish and then I will read this one... And Aunty Jo, thank you so much for the lovely gift you included!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this hauntingly beautiful book. I 'll see if any others Aussies are interested in a continuation of the ray.
Continuation of ray...
Mailing order:
cat207 (NSW)
amberC (Darwin)
BenjyMouse (NZ)
karinalyssa(CAN)
titihood (CAN)
abismithy (CAN)
enidq (US)
ldpaulson (US)
caligula03(US)*
hshah (India)
* Book here now
Mailing order:
cat207 (NSW)
amberC (Darwin)
BenjyMouse (NZ)
karinalyssa(CAN)
titihood (CAN)
abismithy (CAN)
enidq (US)
ldpaulson (US)
caligula03(US)*
hshah (India)
* Book here now
Arrived today from EDDI. Thank you. And thanks also to Genevalove for sharing.
It took me a while to realise the chapters were alternating between two characters.
A hauntingly beautiful story with a tragic ending.
Heading off to amberC in NT.
A hauntingly beautiful story with a tragic ending.
Heading off to amberC in NT.
Arrived safely today. It looks good, but i have a few other bookrings before i get to read it.
A haunting story beautifully told in two voices. The ending was unexpected, but fitting.
i am waiting to hear from BenjyMouse.
i am waiting to hear from BenjyMouse.
No response from benjymouse even after an ISO in the forums. i will PM karinalyssa.
I received this book today after months of sea travelling from Australia. Thanks Amber and Eddi for letting this book travel up north ! I'm currently reading another book, but this one will right after it.
Since I got another copy and I had tons of books I wanted to read before I left home for university, I didn't read it. When I'll read my other copy, I'll make sure to paste my JE here.
Thanks Eddi for sharing ! I am meeting Titihood to exchange this bookring for another one this afternoon !
Thanks Eddi for sharing ! I am meeting Titihood to exchange this bookring for another one this afternoon !
Am really looking forward to reading this, especially as I do (try) to play Go, and find it a fascinating game! Met KarinAlyssa today and we swapped books; so nice to meet another BCer face to face! Thanks for sharing EDDI.
05/10/06: I was surprised by this book; at first I found it a bit disorientating as I somehow hadn't realised that alternating chapters were written by each protagnoist (I thought was same person's perspective but from past and present). Then it all started making sense and the story that unfolded was beautiful. It was quite a quick read once I'd started, just had lots of other BC books beforehand!
I loved the passages about how Go displays the soul and the players' discerning things about their competitors through gameplay. Sent PM to next BCer to send on.
12/10/06: Sent via express post - should take 2 days or so :)
05/10/06: I was surprised by this book; at first I found it a bit disorientating as I somehow hadn't realised that alternating chapters were written by each protagnoist (I thought was same person's perspective but from past and present). Then it all started making sense and the story that unfolded was beautiful. It was quite a quick read once I'd started, just had lots of other BC books beforehand!
I loved the passages about how Go displays the soul and the players' discerning things about their competitors through gameplay. Sent PM to next BCer to send on.
12/10/06: Sent via express post - should take 2 days or so :)
Journal Entry 35 by abismithy from North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, October 26, 2006
Thanks for posting this to me! I have one other book to read before I can start this but I'm usually pretty quick. Thanks for including me in the bookring!
Journal Entry 36 by abismithy from North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Initially I struggled with this book. I was tricked by the small chapters and didn't read it in long enough bursts but once I started to read for longer, I read the story with interest - and it was quite fast paced. I felt sorry for both of the main characters but loved how the writer switched from one to the other. A good read, thanks for including me. I'll PM for enidq's address and post it off soon.
Journal Entry 37 by abismithy from North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, January 2, 2007
I've sent two messages to the next two people on the list but haven't received a reply so am going to request the address of caligula03 now!
Book is here. Thanks.
Interesting book but not quite what I was hoping for. The book is so tied up with with the metaphor of the go game that the plot suffers.
Released 17 yrs ago (2/16/2007 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Mailing to hshah.
Mailing to hshah.
Thanks very much caligula03 for sending the book and EDDI for organisng the Ray. The book arrived safe and sound.
Its part of a huge TBR pile.
Its part of a huge TBR pile.
Journal Entry 42 by hshah at St Luke's Hospice, Kenton Road in Harrow, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, August 1, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (7/30/2008 UTC) at St Luke's Hospice, Kenton Road in Harrow, Greater London United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Since i have loads of books just lying around in the house, and i need room for more books that i have just bought...............
so a few go to my favourite charity.........
Since i have loads of books just lying around in the house, and i need room for more books that i have just bought...............
so a few go to my favourite charity.........
