Waiting : A Novel

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Summary: Waiting - Ha Jin
Review: I'm surprised more reviewers didn't compare this work to Edith Wharton's "Ethan Frome". The same passive personality of Frome that makes one grind one's teeth in frustration is found in Lin Kong--a good, yet essentially weak man caught in a social lose-lose situation--yet Ha Jin takes the story that one step further that makes it so much more true to life: that there are no quick fixes in life, whether triumphant or (like Frome) tragic. One must carry on, daydreaming perhaps (of which Kong does aplenty) of an easier time, but at the end of the day, one goes home to twin infants who need their diapers changed, a spouse who has needs, and a life that needs living. This quality of realism lends an optimistic twist to Waiting that made the book so enjoyable for me.

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Summary: bored. bored. bored.
Review: Although there is some stunning prose in the book that is simple and profound in its wisdom, the language doesn't make up for unlikeable characters, slow moving plot and odd dialogue. The book reads as if it was translated which is wasn't. I enjoyed the glimse into the Chinese culture, but it was really hard to care about Manna or Lin, the main characters. By the end I didn't care what happened to either one of them. I enjoy reading books that are slower in pace (I loved Plainsong) but no book can get away with a thin plot and characters that are hard to root for. Waiting decades to get married only to be disatisfied with the marriage and want to end it. That's life I guess, but hardly the payoff the reader expects. We've struggled through all their tedious trials and tribulations only to have Lin realize he might have been better off with his now ex-wife. Hard to like the guy.

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Summary: short & sweet
Review: For me, this book is an observation of human nature, i.e craving for something that we don't have, come to regret it later when we have already attained what we are wanting for, & wondering what life would be like should we maintain status quo. Matter of the heart is never black & white but constantly entrapped us in the "gray" area where we are seeking for answers but none we shall find. Rather, we just have to take life as it comes. Along the way, we also come across the ever changing "political storms" that swept through China over many years. What & who would be deemed the right ideologies & model citizen of the moment respectively would become the news of yesterday. To put it succinctly, the only certainty in life is uncertainty. The novel also explores how human behaviour is effected by their surroundings & the system that has been imposed upon them. What I'm finding intriguing is the ability of the author to interweave many issues together & to narrate them as one simple tale. Highly recommended.

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Summary: "Waiting" was simple yet profound
Review: I thoroughly loved the sweet simplicity of this story. It is so true to life: we wait and wait and wait for something, then it ends up not being all we hoped it would be! The insight into the restrictions and pressure for conformity to Communism was so sad. It gave a wonderful insight into the Chinese culture. Don't be fooled by the simple prose...there's alot more going on than meets the eye! This book is recommended for the contemplative reader, not the thrill seeker.

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Summary: witholding of the spirit deadens the soul
Review: Waiting is a wonderful story. It's characters are brought to life in a simple calm narrative that engages the reader immediately. The effects of the book are felt long after the reading experience has ended. The book is not only an exploration of the effects of living in a severely repressive environment, but it is a study of what it means to be a full human being. Desire is withheld for an eighteen year period between two compatable workers at an army hospital. They are seemingly in love. Yet, the effects of their witholding of their passion from one another leads to a very tragic end. Understanding their choices and restraint is a difficult journey that the author skillfullly takes the reader on. I have beneffited enormously from the ride and recommend this book wholeheartedly.

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Summary: Don't be fooled by it's simplicity
Review: Charming,ingenious,and profound, the author Ha Jin has pegged the human heart correctly and written a brilliant story to match. This love story is full of bittersweet pathos that is very believable: we wait and wait for the one great love of our lives only to discover the gem that we overlooked along the way. Westerners will get a unique glimpse into the Chinese culture, political system and the pressures that influence their lives and decisions. Highly recommended for the contemplative reader.

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Summary: Magical
Review: I hope readers will ignore--and manage to forgive--the profound stupidity displayed by the last two readers. What is exquisite and understated about Ha Jin's beautiful novel will be lost on those expecting the equivalent of Jurassic Park and Terminator 3. This novel operates on a very different level, with a different sense of time and plot development. If you're genuinely interested in reading about another culture, and prepared to give this book the time and attention it deserves, Ha Jin's novel really is a magical piece of writing.

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Summary: Boring Boring Boring
Review: This is a terribly slow tale filled with dispassionate characters. Everything about the story and characters is bland. It is story of 18 years where nothing changes. If you are looking for a simple, yet elegant, story, pass Waiting by. It missed the mark. Go read Shipping News.

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Summary: WAITING for it to end
Review: This book was so boring. If I didn't have to read it for my book club, I never would have finished. The writing, story and characters were BORING. I was not impressed with any of it. Waiting 20 yrs. to marry someone and then still not happy? Comrade Lin had a major character flaw. If it had been a boring book which took place in France or Italy, at least the food would have been interesting. Pig's ears, tofu, YUK.

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Summary: WANT TO KNOW ABOUT LIVING IN CHINA..TODAY?
Review: This is such a simple story that I don't know why it is so good. Possibly because the reader discovers the thinking and reality of the average citizen in China in a way that all can understand. You are always sympathetic with the two women in Dr. Lin's life and always want to know what is going to happen next. "Waiting" is an apt title..but to the new reader...what is the waiting for? The winning of the National Book Award is warranted here.