Crouch This!
Mar. 21st, 2006 11:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieI am reading The Book and the Sword by Louis Cha, which is amusingly labeled as a "martial arts novel." Does this novel wear a lot of black, do strenuous exercises, and can chop bricks in one stroke of its pages? Not sure.
It's quite interesting, actually, though mainly for the 'never read anything like this before' factor. Not great literature though. I am not sure whether it's the fault of the author or the translator but the prose is very simplistic and clanky. Also, it has way too many characters and I find it very hard to keep track of them, despite a helpful index in the beginning. Of course, seeing the rapid rate at which they seem to drop off in sudden and amusing ways, this is becoming less and less of a problem. But despite all this, it's keeping me entertained.
I am also amused by one of the OTPs because all they do is argue and insult each other, even though they are OMG attracted. Of course, since their first meeting consisted of fighting each other, as he was trying to kill her father (a giant misunderstanding as the characters in this book are prone to act first think later. Much later), that's rather understandable. I am not too worried about their future as the helpful character index, which clearly does not believe in suspense, states they marry each other.
Oh, and then there is a character who is madly and angstily in love with a wife of a fellow secret society member. He finally confesses and says that he's always taken long missions for the society so as not to be around her but after all he is closer to her in age than he elderly husband but she is all outraged and tells himolder guys are better in the sack he should be ashamed of himself. And then he goes emo and tells her he knows he is all wrong and evil and paraphrases the famous song by admitting "When I think about you I cut myself" and shows her his arm which is full of cut scars. Yes. He cuts himself. When he isn't clobbering bad guys or scheming against the evil government. And when you add in the fact that he fights using a flute, I am forced to admit the man is a fruitcake. Ergo he is my favorite character.
As to the plot, it's much too confusing, but it involves a noble secret society out to overthrow the evil bad Manchu emperor. And there are some Uigurs who want to get their Quaran back. And lots of fighting. And men with flutes who cut themselves. And the leader of the secret society falls tragically in love with the same woman evil Emperor wants. It's delicious.
Also, I caught the last 10 minutes of Prison Break ep last night and I didn't know much of what was going on (I saw eps 5 and 7 and that's about it), but I liiiiiked it. It's like a hit of angst straight to the veins. I think I'll start watching the show now.
It's quite interesting, actually, though mainly for the 'never read anything like this before' factor. Not great literature though. I am not sure whether it's the fault of the author or the translator but the prose is very simplistic and clanky. Also, it has way too many characters and I find it very hard to keep track of them, despite a helpful index in the beginning. Of course, seeing the rapid rate at which they seem to drop off in sudden and amusing ways, this is becoming less and less of a problem. But despite all this, it's keeping me entertained.
I am also amused by one of the OTPs because all they do is argue and insult each other, even though they are OMG attracted. Of course, since their first meeting consisted of fighting each other, as he was trying to kill her father (a giant misunderstanding as the characters in this book are prone to act first think later. Much later), that's rather understandable. I am not too worried about their future as the helpful character index, which clearly does not believe in suspense, states they marry each other.
Oh, and then there is a character who is madly and angstily in love with a wife of a fellow secret society member. He finally confesses and says that he's always taken long missions for the society so as not to be around her but after all he is closer to her in age than he elderly husband but she is all outraged and tells him
As to the plot, it's much too confusing, but it involves a noble secret society out to overthrow the evil bad Manchu emperor. And there are some Uigurs who want to get their Quaran back. And lots of fighting. And men with flutes who cut themselves. And the leader of the secret society falls tragically in love with the same woman evil Emperor wants. It's delicious.
Also, I caught the last 10 minutes of Prison Break ep last night and I didn't know much of what was going on (I saw eps 5 and 7 and that's about it), but I liiiiiked it. It's like a hit of angst straight to the veins. I think I'll start watching the show now.
