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Summary: Still "Waiting".......
Review: Who got paid off to grant this award? I kept waiting for the plot to develop or for any sign of life in this story and none turned up. I forwarded it to my sister to see if I was missing something and she thought it was a waste of time as well. When there are so many other excellent books out there and only a limited time in which to read them I wouldn't waste a second reading this book, try any other book before you waste the time or money on this title.
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Summary: Confused Characters
Review: Well, I was "waiting" for the characters to mature and find their meanings in life. I was disappointed by Lin's weak person and flakiness. He was selfish and immature his entire life. Manna acted like a silly woman with no self-respect. The only person I liked was Shuyu. At least she had some purpose in her being. The story overall was good, but the characters were unrealistic.
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Summary: At first I didn't like the book..
Review: It sort of read like a romance novel.. but as I read further on, I began to feel the futility of the characters lives... how they seemed powerless to change things that were within their power. It was heartbreaking, and I think we have all been there!! A simple, yet powerful story, well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: A mediocre book
Review: This book is a disgrace, I can't believe it won the National Book Award. As a Chinese who spent his childhood in China, this book to be nothing more than a romantic potboiler. There is one cliched situation happening after another, not to mention the random positionings of irrelevant details. This is nothing more than the work of a novice. But I can understand why an American would like this book, because of all the exotic details. If you really want to experience China, go on a vacation and you'll see enough to write your own book.
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Summary: A unique look at the virtue of patience.
Review: I was not impressed by the initial chapters of the book but, like its theme, my patience was rewarded in spades. Ha Jin's writing is simple and schoolboyish at times, not what I would expect from a prize-winning effort. However, it is quite apt for this tale of simple unambitious characters from the heartlands of China caught in the thick of the country's evolution into capitalism. It is to Ha Jin's credit that the waiting is as frustrating for the reader as it is for Manna. The beauty of the novel lies in the underlying themes of the rapid changes in China and how it eventually drives home to even a most loyal follower like Lin Kong. The final chapters where Lin Kong finally realises how he lost 17-years of his life trying to marry the woman he thought he loved and missed the growing years of his daughter, completely blind to the devotion of his duty-bound wife, is simply heartbreaking. This book is a little gem that's worth the wait.
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Summary: Lives spent waiting
Review: Waiting for your life to happen is one of the saddest things that humans go through, but we do go through it. With so much criticism of books and movies where characters commit adultery, you would think that everyone would be happy to see "morally responsible" characters, but then people complain that the characters spend too much time "waiting" and should move on with their lives. Some people will never be happy.This book is a wonderful cultural critique and I enjoyed it a great deal. Yes, you may get irritated waiting for something to happen, but something IS happening. It is just much more simple than a passionate sex scene in the middle of a park or in the quiet office. Characters are lovers without being lovers. We do get frustrated waiting for something to happen, but that is the subtlety of the writing style. We are made to feel what the characters feel through the author's masterful use of language and imagery. If you're looking for fast paced action, go see your local summer blockbuster. If you're looking for a thoughtful and interesting look at another culture, read this book.
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Summary: A book about the importance of time
Review: "Waiting" is the story of the long relationship between Lin Kong, a doctor of the Chinese Army and Manna Wu a nurse who works in his same hospital. Lin feels in love with Manna but he is married and moral rules are very strict in the Communist China. Although every year he tries to divorce his wife to end his loveless marriage he always finds a refusal on her side and he is forced to postpone his plans. Trapped between two different women he leads his life, in quite desperation, waiting for happier times. In spite of the very good description of the Chinese habits, environment and customs during the period of the Cultural Revolution this is not a book about China or, at least, only about China. I think that the main themes of the story are about men's life styles and attitudes. The story, although China during the period described is a very favourable set, could have happened in every other place and time. Lin is presented as a very considerate and sensible person. These qualities and the subsequent fears of hurting others bring this character to an unnerving state of paralysis. Sometimes this lack of action might be unnerving to the reader who sees the lives of the characters going by without major events. I found this book exceptionally enlightening especially for the way it ends. It really makes the reader think about life and about the soundness of our aims. As Tolstoy wrote in "what men live by" referring to a character that ordered a pair of shoes when he actually needed slippers because the next day he was going to die: men really do not know what they need.
Rating: 
Summary: Will Waiting for True Love Really Bring True Happiness?
Review: The reader spends the greater part of this book waiting and rooting for the love between Manna Wu and Lin to materialize and bring them happiness. Their circumstances prohibit consummation, allowing them only a prolonged platonic relationship. While implausible from today's American perspective where divorce and adultery come easy, the situation is understandable in the Communist Chinese setting. Tight control is exerted over personal lives with divorce very rarely permitted. The punishment for adultery for modern military colleagues threatens them with permanent geographic separation. When longing for fulfillment is replaced with discord ensuing from blame and fault finding, deep disappointment overcomes both the reader and protagonists. It is at this very point that Ha Jin's profound sense of irony takes over. In the final act we see the stage set for yet another surprising entirely unexpected wait, one that promises with the book's last sentence to be another long one. Ha Jin's irony extends to the broad changes he has witnessed in his native China during this time period as well. The book's early events occur during the Cultural Revolution. Books must be hidden to prevent destruction. The treasured contents of a locked jewelry box turn out to be just Chairman Mao pins, the only beautiful material collection possible. In contrast modern day Chinese television programs today feature wealthy capitalistic entrepreneurs as paragons of a new society. Some have even been rewarded with Party Membership. Are we seeing a return to the Old China symbolized by the waiting faithful Shuyu with her bound feet after a disappointing flaunt with the modern woman? The author's plot and writing style are simple and easy to read on the surface. His hidden insights on society and human relationships make this a very worthwhile read.
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Summary: It's worth the wait ...
Review: This is a bittersweet testament to love ~~ Chinese style. It is also an unexpected surprise to read something based on a foreign culture and totally relate to the characters. And "Waiting" is an apt title for this book ~~ probably the best title for any book I've ever read as it matches closely the story. Lin Kong, a doctor in the Chinese army returns to his village every summer to end his loveless arranged marriage with his wife, loyal Shuyu, only it fails. Lin wants to marry Manna Wu, a nurse in the same hospital he works at. Lin is caught between two different women and trapped by a culture in which adultery can ruin lives and careers. And when the divorce is granted, much to Lin's surprise, he's in for an interesting journey through self-discovery and love. I have found myself becoming impatient with each of the characters at one time or another ~~ but mostly with Lin because he just couldn't seem to make up his mind about anything. Then I would get impatient with Manna ~~ why doesn't she leave Lin and find happiness on her own? Or with Shuyu, why doesn't she let go? And the answers that come along are very interesting and revealing. I promise this is a good read ~~ and the descriptions of some of their food are just mouth-watering. Ha Jin writes a very intimate and revealing book, one that explores the definition of what love is and how love between a man and a woman, wife and husband, father and child affect everyone around them. Jin writes thoroughly of the Chinese Culture and how the Revolution changes the way of people's mindset ~~ and how the rural folks resist the change. This is a definite book I would recommend to anyone and everyone who even has a slight interest in Chinese culture. I am not even surprised that it has won a National Book Award ~~ it is that well-written. And Lin will linger in your mind for hours after you've put the book down. His conflicts and confusions are just the same as anyone else's when they confront what love is.
Rating:
Summary: The title of the book says it all
Review: In this book, I did spend a lot of time waiting. Waiting for something to happen... I turned each page anticipating the next big event, but much to my surprise there was no big exciting event. Then I realized, this is what life was like in communist China. People lived their lives following all the rules and waited for their chance at happiness. Problem is, they never found that happiness. This is not to say they were unhappy, they just always wanted more. At first I really did not like this book, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized the author did an amazing job of getting me to feel the emotions of the characters.
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