Many years ago, I had the opportunity to read the book Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian translated by Mabel Lee. Later in the year, I had the opportunity to view a late night interview with Mabel Lee, which truly made me embrace her as a translator and individual. Lee had me laughing along with her in the interview as she inadvertently fell in and out of Chinese to English and visa versa. She laughed each time she did this, which endeared me to her. She became a real personable individual that I felt was sitting right across the table discussing Gao Xingjian's book Soul Mountain with me. I don't understand why some of the best interviews happen so late at night?
Soul Mountain was an excellent read written by Xingjian, who ultimately won the Nobel Prize for Literature. What I initially found most difficult to understand was the use of "I" as the pronoun was declarative in identifying with the people his character happened to be associating with at the time. Somewhat like Charles Dickens had done in his use of the name "Jack," in identifying with the movement in, A Tale of Two Cities.
It is critical to have an open mind when reading Soul Mountain as it is one man's journey and yet, the journey of so many more individuals. The book in its translation by Lee offers and understanding of the Chinese culture and the various dynasties of the time. Sadly, most Chinese may never have the opportunity to appreciate Gao Xingjian as he wrote a work, which reflected on Tiananmen Square Massacre. Hence, Gao's work is banned.
Soul Mountain will challenge ones' understanding of morals, values, ethics, and religion. This book is an excellent read for those wishing to discover and question the status quo. The book offers a window for free thinking that one can either choose to walk through or close the book without understanding the complexities presented within each chapter.
In 1989, I had just given birth to my daughter and suffered a bought of post-partum psychosis. I was watching what was happening in China. I was horrified by what I was witnessing. In that moment, I saw the horrors of Kent State in Ohio all over again. How could this be, our own inhumanity?
Later that year, I wrote the poem dedicated to the Tiananmen Square Massacre. My heart is in poetry and prose like many writers. The words flowed from heart to paper like an intercessory controlling my very thoughts. That particular poem emerged within minutes not hours or days like other works.
Some day, the young people who have become soldiers of ISIS will have to reconcile their actions and deeds should they survive the movement. The children of a new generation are growing up in an era of war. An era, I had hoped would be less violent.
Soul Mountain offers a temporary reprieve from today's events and grants one the opportunity to explore the meaning of life in its beauty rather than death in its cruelty.
Note: To view my earlier work on Tiananmen Square type into the search engine on my blog Insurrection in China.
Soul Mountain was an excellent read written by Xingjian, who ultimately won the Nobel Prize for Literature. What I initially found most difficult to understand was the use of "I" as the pronoun was declarative in identifying with the people his character happened to be associating with at the time. Somewhat like Charles Dickens had done in his use of the name "Jack," in identifying with the movement in, A Tale of Two Cities.
It is critical to have an open mind when reading Soul Mountain as it is one man's journey and yet, the journey of so many more individuals. The book in its translation by Lee offers and understanding of the Chinese culture and the various dynasties of the time. Sadly, most Chinese may never have the opportunity to appreciate Gao Xingjian as he wrote a work, which reflected on Tiananmen Square Massacre. Hence, Gao's work is banned.
Soul Mountain will challenge ones' understanding of morals, values, ethics, and religion. This book is an excellent read for those wishing to discover and question the status quo. The book offers a window for free thinking that one can either choose to walk through or close the book without understanding the complexities presented within each chapter.
In 1989, I had just given birth to my daughter and suffered a bought of post-partum psychosis. I was watching what was happening in China. I was horrified by what I was witnessing. In that moment, I saw the horrors of Kent State in Ohio all over again. How could this be, our own inhumanity?
Later that year, I wrote the poem dedicated to the Tiananmen Square Massacre. My heart is in poetry and prose like many writers. The words flowed from heart to paper like an intercessory controlling my very thoughts. That particular poem emerged within minutes not hours or days like other works.
Some day, the young people who have become soldiers of ISIS will have to reconcile their actions and deeds should they survive the movement. The children of a new generation are growing up in an era of war. An era, I had hoped would be less violent.
Soul Mountain offers a temporary reprieve from today's events and grants one the opportunity to explore the meaning of life in its beauty rather than death in its cruelty.
Note: To view my earlier work on Tiananmen Square type into the search engine on my blog Insurrection in China.
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