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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent essays of the Chinese Diaspora
Review: In this fine-tuned book of intimate essays, China's premier poet--only he's not in China, you see--and descendent of surrealism lets us in on some of the lyrical details of his life & times. The essays range from his friends to his love of gambling, his daughter to what he thinks about cats and dogs, always w/ an impressively lyrical sense of synecdoche: his restraint and ability not to go overboard signal to the gestalt of his--and other poets', dissidents', exiles'--life at the end of the 20th century. Expertly and subtly translated, Huters & Ming let Bei Dao's Chinese breathe in English, granting us w/ a voice that, I'm afraid, not enough people will read.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent essays of the Chinese Diaspora
Review: In this fine-tuned book of intimate essays, China's premier poet--only he's not in China, you see--and descendent of surrealism lets us in on some of the lyrical details of his life & times. The essays range from his friends to his love of gambling, his daughter to what he thinks about cats and dogs, always w/ an impressively lyrical sense of synecdoche: his restraint and ability not to go overboard signal to the gestalt of his--and other poets', dissidents', exiles'--life at the end of the 20th century. Expertly and subtly translated, Huters & Ming let Bei Dao's Chinese breathe in English, granting us w/ a voice that, I'm afraid, not enough people will read.
Rating:
Summary: Bei Dao Rocks
Review: This book is a "book of essays" like Li-Young Lee's "Winged Seed" was a "memoir."Meaning: these guys are (brilliant) poets. What they write--it seems--no matter the intention--comes out poetry. This book is like listening to notes carried on the wind. It's so beautiful, so intense yet gentle; it begins with remembrances of Allen Ginsberg and just travels. If you like Bei Dao's poetry, you'll love this book.
Rating:
Summary: Bei Dao Rocks
Review: This book is a "book of essays" like Li-Young Lee's "Winged Seed" was a "memoir." Meaning: these guys are (brilliant) poets. What they write--it seems--no matter the intention--comes out poetry. This book is like listening to notes carried on the wind. It's so beautiful, so intense yet gentle; it begins with remembrances of Allen Ginsberg and just travels. If you like Bei Dao's poetry, you'll love this book.
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