Rating:  Summary: In simplified characters Review: Please note that this is a bilingual edition, with ***simplified*** Chinese characters. Amazon does a poor job at identifying which Chinese script is used. They don't appear to be aware that many people read only one or the other. I hope you'll join me in complaining to them about this.
Rating:  Summary: most popular novel ever written in the Chinese language Review: Three Kingdoms is undoubtedly the most popular novel ever written in the Chinese language. For centuries since it's publication, it has enjoyed unparalled success and been the source of inspirations to many. The 17th century nomadic tribal chief and founder of the Qing Dynasty is said to have derived many of the strategies of his compaign conquering China from Three Kingdoms. This alone tells the immense impact of the novel on Chinese civilization. : ) The book has also immortalized many of its characters. For instance, Guan Yu has become a Daoist deity and symbol of courage and loyalty (and so has his sidekick, Chou Cang, who in fact never appeared in true historical records). Altough in pure literary sense, Three Kingdoms probably may not be as connotative as Outlaws of the Marsh and not as beautifully written as Dream of the Red Chamber, it has proven to be the most enduring and universally popular.
Rating:  Summary: The best book ever Review: I have read many different kinds of novels. Just like Lord of the Rings, Tom Clancy's books. But I have never seen a book like this in my life. This book teaches you about the valor and courage of this warriors. My favorites are Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and the greatest of all Wei Yan. But all I hate is the fact that Liu Bei didnt rule over China. Think about it. In Dynasty Warriors 4 he is the best character you can use. For all of you this book is the best. Terrific. 6 Stars.
Rating:  Summary: Great Review: I can't belive it. I recently played a video gamecalled "Dynasty Warriors 4" and its a heck of a lot of fun. But the story line of it was so rich and interesting and everytime I played i thought "wow, whoever designed this game has an amzing mind/imagination" at the end it said "this tale has come to be told ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINDOMS" and since all the levels had accual dates in every level a thought came into my mind and i immediatly rushed to my computer and went to amazon and bang, here it is. The tactics of Zhugai Liang, the tiger Sun Jian, Cao Cao, Lu Bu, Dong Zouo, it was all here. I thought to myself, a REAL story. By what I've read so far, the game has to kind of bend the story so whoever you are, you win if you beat all the levels (ex. Shu dynasty conquering all of China at the end) but i cant wait to find out what really happened.
Rating:  Summary: Best Book I have ever read!! Review: I am a normal 15 year old boy who likes china. And let me tell you somthing this book is the best book ever!! It has a huge stand point on war and art. This book is the Unabriged version and has a lot of names but you will get the main people in the story. For any of you who have played the viedo game, forget everything you know because it's alot different. I give this book 5 out of 5. The version should be bought because Robert Moss has about 200 pages of helpful quotes, pictures, and maps.
Rating:  Summary: Chinese history mixed with some fiction Review: I first became interested in the Three Kingdoms book after buying Dynasty Warriors 3, a game by Koei that interperts history from this era into an action game. First of all, DO NOT buy the abridged version of this book. Buy the full length book. If you're someone who complains about the size of books, don't buy this book as it has 2000+ pages (veries from version to version.) The book Three Kingdoms is about near the end of the Han Dynasty when the Chinese empire's future lay in the balance. Three such rulers struggle for control over the land. It begins with three men, Liu Bei (styled Xuande), Guan Yu (styled Changsheng), and Zhang Fei (styled Yide)take and oath in a peach garden, pledging brotherhood. The story takes off from there. Yes, most events in this story did once happen, no, not all characters in this story exist. Mainly unimportant characters (with a couple exceptions, such as Diao Chan) whose names are mentioned once. But most characters (such as Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Lu Su, Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun, and others) once did exist. Now, with the many names in the story, it can get confusing. Such as sometimes Moss Roberts calls them by their styled names, such as Liu Bei, Moss Roberts calls Xuande, so each time you read something about Xuande, it is Liu Bei, do not get confused. Many names are alike, like Xu You and Xun You. Zhao Yun (styled Zilong) is often called Zhao Zilong, not Zhao Yun, don't get him confused with another person. So as you can see, names are often alike, and sometimes style names as used. Although a great book, there are many errors. I found Xuande often printed as Xuade, and no it is not a different person. Although not a big issue, it becomes a problem when this happens: There is a man named Xu Chu, and a man named Xu Shu. Once, when refering to Xu Chu, Moss Roberts had it: Xu Shu. Obvisouly an error, although at first I was confused, and thought he was indeed talking about the real Xu Shu, when he meant Xu Chu. So, in all, this book is for someone who isn't afraid of long books, and many names. It is easy to get lost, so try your best not to. Over all, it is safe to say this book is comprised of about 70% fact, and 20% fiction. Keep that in mind, also.
Rating:  Summary: GREAT CHINESE CLASSIC NOVEL EVER READ ! Review: To better understand Chinese Culture or human being, you will not miss reading this fascinating great Chinese novel. There are 3 volumes under this title. Moss Roberts' translation makes this great classics very popular all over the world. I believe the TV series of "A Romance of Three Kingdoms" with English subtitles in 58 CDs is also available at Amazon. Check it out, you will definitely like it. Also if you like this novel, you do not want to miss other great Chinese Classics: "Journey to the West", "Outlaws of the Marsh", "A Dream of Red Mansions" and "Creation of the Gods" too.
Rating:  Summary: A Stunning Mix of Pageantry, Drama and Warfare Review: "What of the typos and errors?" whine some reviewers. "Or the tediousness of the story as a whole?", cry others. One even proposes the introduction of a television show based upon the events of the Three Kingdoms, so as to alleviate the "dullness" within this epic. So, before I begin my review, I must submit a brief warning: If you possess the attention span of a five year old, have the vocabulary skills of a newborn (all errors can be corrected mentally, within seconds of their discovery)or prefer movies to books, than this is not for you. Hopefully anyone that suffers from all three ailments has not defiled this book by even considering its purchase. Enough ranting. To the book itself. This is a passport to the ancient China of lore, where great heroes mingled with Taoist sorcerers, where the pageantry and lavishness of the Emperor's court was matched only by the suffering of the peasants at the other extreme. This is the China of the treacherous yet mighty Lu Bu, the wise Zhuge Liang, and the ambitious Cao Cao. And lastly, this is the China of the Three Kingdoms: Wu, Wei and Shu. From the rout of the Yellow Scarves in the opening scenes of the novel to the fall of Wu and the unification of the Empire over a hundred years later, this story flows seamlessly, intricately weaving the clash and bloodshed of battle with the scheming and intrigue that fills the tale's early pages. This is a blend of fiction and fact, after all, so Luo Guanzhong does not have the ability to twist the plot in any one direction (though Liu Bei emerges as a hero to Cao Cao's brutal villain)and so some of the lesser fights are told matter-of-factly. However, there is something about The Three Kingdoms - the Taoist magic, the great warriors, the colorful picture that the author paints of palace life - that keeps it fresh, and wipes away the dryness that fills other legends. While Jiang Wei's endless string of defeats at the end of the novel appears to grow old, it is only because the reader has grown so attached to the Kingdom of Shu that its losses are your losses, and so, when Liu Shan capitulates so suddenly, you are disgusted. But it had to occur, did it not? As promised in the novel's opening line: "The empire, long united, must divide. The empire long divided, must unite. So it has been..."
Rating:  Summary: You don't have to pay... Review: First, San Guo Yan Yi is truly a masterpiece although it will be boring on the last section (That's why only 4 stars), because after Zhuge Kong Ming died, there wouldn't be any interesting heroes, except Jiang Wei (who was also not quite interesting compared with other previous heroes, such as Guan Gong, Zhao Zi Long, and Cao Cao). Second, you don't have to buy it, you can read it free... Third, try to also read Water Margin (Shui Hu Zhuan), if you really like Chinese literature, you'll probably like that. That's it!
Rating:  Summary: Excellent story Review: The story gets Five stars But the quality of the books gets a Three or Four. The pages are really thin and there are a lot words that are spelled incorrectly. Thankfully, the words are fairly easy to figure out, but having to solve the occasional word puzzle in the middle of the story can be quite annoying. This is still one of the greatest stories ever written and an excellent buy.
|