Waiting

Rating:
Summary: Spare, compelling, mysterious.
Review: I don't know why this book captivated me so. I was unable to leave it alone even when I was supposed to be doing other things(I suppose this theme of secret happiness stolen at the risk of official censure is appropriate to the book). English is a second language for the writer, and he doesn't make daring attempts at prose style. Most of the sentences seem to be about as simple as they could possible be made. At some points, where the characters experience tragic emotions, the prose is embarrassingly simple, and you feel even more moved, somehow, that their sadness hasn't even the dignity of sentences that can please in themselves. The prose is as drab as Communist interior decoration, but it is compelling. I suppose in some ways my response to the book could be seen as consistent with a racist impression of "Chineseness," equating China with inscrutability: that is, the book's surface reveals little yet one feels that there is much there. I can say, though, that this novel made the idea of life's brevity much more urgently apparent to me than any of Shakespeare's sonnets. When you're thinking about something like "When I consider everything that grows/ Holds in perfection but a little moment,/ That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows/ Whereon the stars in secret influence comment," you are so fascinated by the sentences' grammar ("shows" changing from a verb to a noun, or "everything" changing from the object of "consider" to the subject of "holds" as quickly as your eye travels over a line break)that the sadness of lost time doesn't really strike you as mournful. After all, it is the occasion of so much gorgeous writing. But in "Waiting," the ache of lost life creaks in the ungiving sentences. This novel is almost unbearable. The lack of explanation is worse than explanation, or dazzling display. The characters are so sympathetic, so dutiful and "good" according to their rules, that one wishes that they would find love; one wants them to be loved as the reader loves them. But I suppose that the book's point may be that obedience to morality and rules, which makes these characters sympathetic and deserving of love, in practice frustrates their chances to realize love. In fact, while the book is a love story, the only consummated sex scene related in any kind of detail whatsoever is a contemptible rape, as though only scoundrels have the courage to get what they want.

Rating:
Summary: charming prose and texture outshine plot or character
Review: Ha Jin does some things splendidly: his prose style is supple and evocative for all of its simplicity , especially his descriptions of nature, and he conveys a wonderful sense of the living conditions under which his characters labor and love (or try to). For the first third of the book, I was remarkably engaged. But I don't think Jin has quite escaped the trap of how to wrtie about waiting without becoming a little dull--sort of like trying to write about boredom without becoming boring. These characters never quite came to life for me, and the author's own unkindly dissection of his protagonist's shortcomings near the end undermine the book's ongoing critique of Communist China--yes, Communism bad, especially in the quasi-rabid forms it has taken in China, controlling almost every aspect of these charaters' lives (good thing capitalism doesn't do that)--but could this character have been happy in any society? Another pitfall is that Jin seems to set us up for some sort of slam-bang ending after all the waiting--yet the final 50 pages or so are surprisingly muted. I may have unconsciously docked the book one star for what seems to me the beginning writer's ploy of having characters ask themselves questions in sets of threes--obvious questions at that, and a bit too frequently. After my initial engagement, I was frankly a little disapointed, especially after following up "Waiting" with J.M. Coetzee's "Disgrace" which covers some of the same themes in a starker yet richer tone.

Rating:
Summary: A GOOD BOOK
Review: This was a very good book, one that kept you wondering what was coming next. A great read! If you want to another read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever.

Rating:
Summary: AN OK BOOK!
Review: I think the rating on this book was a bit over done, but I still read it and enjoyed it a little. I didn't think the writing came up to some of the earlier stories. If you want to another read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever.

Rating:
Summary: what's all the hype about on this one?
Review: I found this book -- written at the sixth grade level, according to my analysis -- to be highly overrated by the critics. I can't believe that this simplistic, boring novel received the prizes that it has. Reminds me of "Snow falling on cedars" and "Shipping news," neither of which impressed me at all.

Rating:
Summary: Pisswater
Review: The title says it all: Waiting for what....

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful prose
Review: Waiting is a straightforward, gorgeous book, written in elegant, charming prose. It makes you think about the difficulties of sustaining relationships and the abusudity of human institutions. What could be better than that?

Rating:
Summary: A GOOD BOOK
Review: I enjoyed reading this book, and would suggest it to others looking for a good romantic novel . . .If you want to read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book, honest and touching
Review: Ha Jin has done it again! "Waiting" is absolutely wonderful. Ha Jin has a way of bring a character to life, and give even the most minor player in the story flesh and blood. The honesty in his work really touched me. Buy the book, you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly elegant
Review: Reading this book one is reminded of the old Hemingway saw about how fiction should only give away the tip of the iceberg. The graceful, simple prose of this book reveals just the smallest portion of the complex emotional and politcal currents that run beneath this story. This is the kind of book that, once you have finished, you cannot get out of your head. The book jacket calls Ha Jin a "sturdy realist," but that's not really right; his prose has much more in common with a modernist minimalism. A must read for anyone who thinks that fiction writing in America is moribund.