Cao Xueqin (1715–1763)

I started reading this novel a number of months ago after reading an article that suggested it as a good place for westerner's to start familiarizing themselves with Chinese literary culture (and that it has a role something roughly akin to that of shakespeare in English-- ie, the original source of all kinds of idioms, allusions, and recycled story lines) . Such a completely different world and mindset from what I'm used to -- I actually quickly gave in and got a commentary/guide to help me get the allusions and implications I was clearly just not getting.

That said it was a fun read as a (very soap opera-y) story, and a great window into another world, and how that world approached all the normal questions of life in ways so fundamentally differently (and yet not) from those of us in the West.

I'm now excited to go read more (the three kingdoms, maybe? Or, shift gears and try the analytics?). Regardless, and highly unusual for me, I fully expect to want to pick this up again in a few years.

(2024 Review # 1)… (altro)