Fugui, the narrator, is a spoiled son from a rich family in a Chinese village who loses his family's land by gambling. Yu Hua then follows him through the decades of the twentieth century: the civil war, the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. He sees his family die one by one, and he gradually learns to live in poverty, with an old ox for company. The story is told in a simple, direct voice, and it shows how an ordinary man endures historical upheaval without losing his sense of dignity.
It's a short, moving novel for readers who like Chinese fiction and family stories. It is sad, but its message about survival is humane and plain.
Deep, inward-looking, contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Mindful Reader. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1992
- Language
- EN
