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Summary: You'd think he's Chinese!
Review: What can I add to the heaps of praise already deservedly lavished on this book? As a person of Chinese origin (albeit thoroughly Westernised) I can say that Mr Hughart has got the Chinese character so right you'd think he were Chinese. The Chinese virtues of love for family, honour, stoicism, respect for elders and admiration for learning are all there. And so are less admirable qualities such as verbosity and hyprocrasy, and the vices of greed (both gastronomical and monetary) and corruption. All portrayed in a affectionate manner which is inoffensive and rather endearing, and doesn't jar with anyone who knows the Chinese character.
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Summary: Completely Charming
Review: This book is a pure treat. From the innocent, wide-eyed, big-hearted narrative voice of Number Ten Ox, to the creative problem-solving of Master Li, this novel charms the reader from beginning to end. Although billed as a novel of "an ancient China that never was" Hughart did excellent research in creating the world through which Ox and Master Li travel. This is a great romp, with a serious background theme (the imperiling of the narrator's village), and a climactic revelation that adds to the moving sweep of the story. Enter the novel as Ox begins his story without knowing what will unfold and let him guide you through the tale -- you won't be disappointed.
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Summary: A lot of fun...
Review: IMHO, this book is a cross between "Snow Crash" and "Lord of Light" (I don't mean that in a negative way: I just happened to read these two prior to reading Bridge of Birds), in that it is as fast-paced as the former and as epic and poetic as the latter. Extremely entertaining!
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Summary: Simply Extraordinary
Review: I know that as you read the other reviews of this book you will tire of hearing that "A Bridge of Birds" is "perfect", "the best book ever", etc. Too bad, it is. I am not particularly a fantasy reader -- I find life is getting too short for that, and too many great works need to be consumed in the time I have left (many more decades I hope). I don't recommend this book to fantasy readers per se, but to ALL readers.I have tried to reach Mr. Hughart through a letter to his publisher. I never heard back. I don't know why he stopped at only three wonderful books. If it is because he needs encouragement, I wish someone could tell me how to reach him. If publishers need to hear from us, I wish someone would tell me who to write. Very simply, if we don't get more books out of Barry Hughart, the world will forever be a poorer place than it might have been.
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Summary: Brilliant fantasy
Review: "Bridge of Birds" is the most effective, most moving fantasy novel I have read since John Crowley's "Engine Summer." Set in (to use the publisher's blurb) "an ancient China that never was," this is at least on the surface the tale of Number Ten Ox, a young man from a rural village who sets out with Master Li, a scholar and sage with "a slight flaw in his character," on a quest for the "great root of power," the only medicine of sufficient potency to cure the village children of a case of ku poisoning. As the story unfolds and these two characters experience adventures enough to fill many novels (one can imagine Tor or some other publisher spinning out these yarns by the tens a la Conan if they got a hold of the publishing rights), their quest begins to intertwine with another one, relating to an ancient wrong done to a goddess. More details would be superfluous, for there is simply no substitute for reading this book. The culture and characters described here are fully realized (writers of doorstop-sized fantasy novels, such as Robert Jordan, could take object lessons from Hughart in how to tell a large story succinctly), and the overall atmosphere that this novel achieves is that of the finest kind of fable, although I would not necessarily recommend it for young children. Hughart spices his narrative throughout with a liberal dose of humor; I found myself laughing aloud many times as I read along. If there is a flaw to be found here, I failed to see it. This is as good as fantasy gets--one of the few novels that merits the adjective "magical."
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Summary: A Perfect Book
Review: I am not saying this is the best book ever written. But it is perfect in and of itself. The flow is constant, the characters memorable, and the plot concludes very satisfyingly. When I first began it, it seemed to me like a more intellectual Robert Asprin novel(MythAdventures series). I wasn't too fond of it at first, but it grew on me with each page. I can honestly say that it is one of the most unique, touching, and clever books I have recently read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good yarn. If you are looking for high-brow prose and complicated plot twists, then maybe it is not for you. There is no pseudo-intellectual posing here, and no vocabulary-straining attempts to use every obscure synonym in the language. It is quite simply a very entertaining read.
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Summary: A work of Genius
Review: Simply, this is one of the best fantasy books ever! It is highly readable, very amusing and brilliantly constructed. The story is full of twists and turns and the suspense will only be broken by your own constant chuckling. Ancient China provides a perfect world for fantasy stories and Barry Hughart makes it so accessible. A mixture of mystery, fantasy, and humour that is unmatched!
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Summary: Wonderfully funny but also moving.
Review: I've never picked up a book and fallen in love with it so quickly before. The characters are uniquely memorable and the first thing you do when you finish it will be to read it again. Only then will you frienziedly try to find any other story in the same series.
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Summary: Remember beauty is highly overated
Review: This a great book to read if you are tired of serious stories with dark themes and depressing endings. Bridge of Birds leaves you with the feeling that matter how bad things are there is always hope and that eventually good will triumph over evil. The brillance of this book is that it manages to onvey this message in a humorous mystery/adventure. It does not come off as being the least bit preachy. I was impressed that the value of the female characters did not depend upon how young and attractive they were. The woman that all the men love is a common girl with a great passion for life. My one criticism of the book is that its humor depends upon poking fun at Chinese culture.
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Summary: a tiny flaw in his character
Review: Master Li always introduces himself modestly by proclaiming his tiny character flaw, but the book has no such flaw. Although my recent bent has been towards actual Chinese history, this fantasy is certainly more fun, and makes me wish I could accompany the esteemed client Number 10 Ox and Master Li on their many adventures. Yes, the story is magical and far-fetched, but its internal consistency is flawless, and the characters are larger-than-life without ever giving in to caricature. What can I say? Except that I will try to find the now out-of-print other two books of the series.
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