RoR: Forum

I don't know why the link to the title of the book doesn't work...

Anyway, since MSK mentioned in another thread that there seems to be a lack of fiction discussion, I thought I'd share some of my recent new finds. Though it is unlikely that anybody here has read any book by Ha Jin. But if anybody is interested, Ha Jin's stories are probably the best written in English about China during the 1970s-80s.

Post 1

Saturday, December 31, 2005 - 10:44pm

I will check this author out, Hong. Sounds interesting.

Michael

Post 2

Monday, January 2, 2006 - 4:45pm

Hong,

I'm unclear on this writer. Since I like many others have a huge TBR stack, do you think this writer's appeal is because you know the world he is writing about...or is he a writer that many of us would like for some reason? In other words, what does he excel at -- style?, or intriguing story?, or characterization?

Thanks,

Phil
(Edited by Philip Coates
on 1/02, 4:48pm)

Post 3

Monday, January 2, 2006 - 5:51pm

Intriguing story and characterization, certainly. I personally like his style very much - clean, economical, exceptionally insightful but not least overbearing. I think the best way to learn about Ha Jin is to read a couple of his short stories, so that if you don't like it, you don't have to suffer too much. Public libraries should carry some of his works.

Post 4

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - 10:01am