The HJU Festival of Books!

[Faded.Memories]

Oh god, Amy Tan... :sweat:

What's wrong with Amy Tan!???! I've read her books several times! Those are a couple books I'd never be without!

WHY ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF ME! :disappoin

 

[Bolt]

Haha, she's just one of those authors that, bless her heart, writes more for a niche cultural audience and therefore isn't really all that memorable for the quality of her stories. It's kind of like black comedians that only tell jokes about how black people are different from white folks; they can be funny, but they don't have a lot of range and are generally forgettable.

 

[Faded.Memories]

Ok, I do have to agree with that.

The only people more than likely, to like her stuff, are First Generation Chinese, like me. Wait...first generation is where your parent(s) were born in China and then their kid was born in North America, right?

Cause that's me. And that's why I like it.

 

[Bolt]

I can understand that, and for you there's probably a lot more subtext to her writing that speaks to you as a person of Chinese heritage. To me, it's just kind of... boring. I remember reading her story Two Kinds and thinking it was one of the most generic things I've ever read in my life.

 

[Dark Kabuto]

Anyone know a good book that takes place in either feudal Japan, or an ancient Asian setting?

 

[Bolt]

The Ramayana (Thai) is a great read, and I think there are some fairly well-translated versions of Journey To The West out there.

 

[DigDoug]

The Ramayana (Thai) is a great read, and I think there are some fairly well-translated versions of Journey To The West out there.

I've been looking into reading a translated version of Journey to the West, but I've heard that most translated versions aren't even completed. Do you know any versions, in particular, that are translated well and are complete?

 

[Bolt]

Apparently Anthony C. Yu's translated version is the best, but it's in 4 volumes to it would probably be pretty costly, not to mention a lengthy read. There are tons of abridged and retold versions out there, though.

 

[PriestTimeTraVelX]

Anyone know a good book that takes place in either feudal Japan, or an ancient Asian setting?

Look for the Tales of the Otori series, I cannot recommend them enough.

^Bolt, C. Yu's version is the best I've ever read, but it is incredible costly, with the entire series costing upwards of $120 depending on where you buy them, I still haven't found all four in one place.

 

[Miaka975]

Anyone know a good book that takes place in either feudal Japan, or an ancient Asian setting?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Five_Rings

read this one XDDD... if u can get through it....... i can't

http://www.amazon.com/47-Ronin-Stor...r_1_49?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241069201&sr=8-49

and this one is a classic story.. i can't tell if this is the same version of the novel i read in hs just reprinted.... but the book i have is at least 20 years old.........

journey to the west = saiyuuki rite? .... isn't that a ridiculously long series? well from what i've heard...... dunno if it's worth reading XD

aaaand i just finished breaking dawn... and i'm off to read 君空(kimizora) next