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The Republic of Wine is a novel Joseph Heller might have written had he been Chinese. As it is, the honor goes to Mo Yan, one of China's most respected writers. Set in the fictional province of Liquorland, this tall tale begins with a rumor of cannibal feasts featuring children as the delectable main course. In response, Chinese officials send special investigator Ding Gou'er to look into the allegations. He arrives by coal truck at the Mount Lao Coal Mine, where he meets the legendary Diamond Jin, Vice-Minister of the Liquorland Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Bureau, a man known for an epic ability to hold his booze. Almost at once, Ding's worst fears seem to be realized when he is invited to a special dinner, given enough alcohol to stun an ox, and then served what appears to be "a golden, incredibly fragrant little boy." Horrified, he attempts to make an arrest and in the ensuing confusion, accidentally puts a bullet in the main course.
The braised boy was now a headless boy. The unsmashed parts of his skull had tumbled to the edge of the table's second tier, between a platter of sea cucumbers and another of braised shrimp, pieces of head like shattered watermelon rind, or pieces of watermelon rind like shattered head, watermelon juices dripping like blood, or blood dripping like watermelon juices, soiling the tablecloth and soiling the people's eyes. A pair of eyes like purple grapes or purple grapes like a pair of eyes rolled around on the floor, one skittering behind the liquor cabinet, the other rolling up to a red serving girl, who squashed it with her foot.
Despite his hosts' explanation that the boy's arms are made of lotus root, his legs of ham sausage, and his head from a silver melon, Ding remains suspicious--until he is rendered so addled by wine that he ends up eating half an arm all on his own. As Ding continues his investigation, Mo Yan sends up the Chinese preoccupation with food, drink, and sex even as he daringly explores the nature of his country's political structure.
A lesser novelist might be satisfied with just this one narrative thread; Mo Yan, however, has bigger ambitions. In between chapters chronicling Ding Gou'er's adventures in Liquorland, the author has inserted letters and short stories purportedly sent to him by one Li Yidou, a doctoral candidate in Liquor Studies at the Brewer's College in Liquorland, and an aspiring author in his own right. The correspondence between fictional character and author allows Mo Yan to wax satirical on the subject of art, politics, and the troubling point where the two intersect in a Socialist society: "One of the tenets of the communism envisioned by Marx," the hopeful Yidou writes, "was the integration of art with the working people and of the working people with art. So when communism has been realized, everyone will be a novelist." In such a society everyone might write novels, perhaps; but as The Republic of Wine masterfully demonstrates, only a first-rate artist like Mo Yan could pull off such a subversive and darkly comic metafiction so seamlessly. --Alix Wilber
Book Description
The Republic of Wine is a novel Joseph Heller might have written had he been Chinese. As it is, the honor goes to Mo Yan, one of China's most respected writers. Set in the fictional province of Liquorland, this tall tale begins with a rumor of cannibal feasts featuring children as the delectable main course. In response, Chinese officials send special investigator Ding Gou'er to look into the allegations. He arrives by coal truck at the Mount Lao Coal Mine, where he meets the legendary Diamond Jin, Vice-Minister of the Liquorland Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Bureau, a man known for an epic ability to hold his booze. Almost at once, Ding's worst fears seem to be realized when he is invited to a special dinner, given enough alcohol to stun an ox, and then served what appears to be "a golden, incredibly fragrant little boy." Horrified, he attempts to make an arrest and in the ensuing confusion, accidentally puts a bullet in the main course. The braised boy was now a headless boy. The unsmashed parts of his skull had tumbled to the edge of the table's second tier, between a platter of sea cucumbers and another of braised shrimp, pieces of head like shattered watermelon rind, or pieces of watermelon rind like shattered head, watermelon juices dripping like blood, or blood dripping like watermelon juices, soiling the tablecloth and soiling the people's eyes. A pair of eyes like purple grapes or purple grapes like a pair of eyes rolled around on the floor, one skittering behind the liquor cabinet, the other rolling up to a red serving girl, who squashed it with her foot.Despite his hosts' explanation that the boy's arms are made of lotus root, his legs of ham sausage, and his head from a silver melon, Ding remains suspicious--until he is rendered so addled by wine that he ends up eating half an arm all on his own. As Ding continues his investigation, Mo Yan sends up the Chinese preoccupation with food, drink, and sex even as he daringly explores the nature of his country's political structure.A lesser novelist might be satisfied with just this one narrative thread; Mo Yan, however, has bigger ambitions. In between chapters chronicling Ding Gou'er's adventures in Liquorland, the author has inserted letters and short stories purportedly sent to him by one Li Yidou, a doctoral candidate in Liquor Studies at the Brewer's College in Liquorland, and an aspiring author in his own right. The correspondence between fictional character and author allows Mo Yan to wax satirical on the subject of art, politics, and the troubling point where the two intersect in a Socialist society: "One of the tenets of the communism envisioned by Marx," the hopeful Yidou writes, "was the integration of art with the working people and of the working people with art. So when communism has been realized, everyone will be a novelist."In such a society everyone might write novels, perhaps; but as The Republic of Wine masterfully demonstrates, only afirst-rate artist like Mo Yan could pull off such a subversive and darkly comic metafiction so seamlessly. --Alix Wilber
Customer Reviews:
A deliciously sarcastic satire of China's corruption.......2001-08-30
Mo Yan well-deserves his reputation among those in the know as one of modern China's most wonderfully wry writers, as this discomfiting yet compelling novel attests.
Republic of Wine's strength is in its evocative, viciously funny descriptions and depictions and in the symbolic social implications they raise. Centered around a fictitious province in China named Liquorland, the novel portrays China's obsession with food and drink and skewers the extremes to which it is taken by the wealthy and the politically connected (which are often one and the same). There is an expression in Chinese "Chi-he-wan-le" literally "Eat-Imbibe-Play-Joy". In ancient China, the landed and the literati had elaborate rituals and cultures surrounding the consumption of delicacies and fine liquor, which were mingled with the higher arts such as poetry composition, calligraphy, painting, and music. The Cultural Revolution attacked such traditions (among other things), and in its aftermath the finer points disappeared, leaving only its cruder translation: gluttony. Many Chinese know of few entertainments besides food and booze. A Chinese banquet is a grandiose affair, aimed at wasting expensive food and flaunting one's wealth. The higher level the revelers, and the bigger the favors the host is trying to earn, the more obscenely wasteful the dishes. Especially in the 1980s, when government corruption peaked, wining and dining was a popular form of bribery that took a chunk out of the Chinese treasury to the tune of billions of dollars per year. Republic of Wine is beautifully biting in its spoofing of this food obsession, which includes a craving for ever more exotic and expensive foods to impress ones guests with, here taken to the frighteningly logical extreme of serving up braised infants. Mo Yan also mocks the farcical attempt of Chinese men to prove their dubious machismo by "bottoms-upping" toast after toast: the last one standing is the "real man".
Mo's winding, rambling narrative is the book's only shortcoming, which may be deliberate as it flirts with assertions that it was written under the influence. In some ways, the surrealism and sarcasm are overplayed to a degree that makes it difficult to become very involved in the stories. In that regard, it reminds me of the stories of Wang Shuo; the similarity may be partially due to the esteemed Howard Goldblatt, who translated both of Wang's English versions as well as Republic of Wine.
This Guy is Amazing.......2000-03-30
This has been an excellent book. He is by far the best writer in China today and I hope he receives his deserved acclaim from the international literary world one day.
Mo Yan is a great and creative talent...this is an absolutely bizarre book where he displays his profound imagination. He completely condemns the ostentatious consumption of China's corrupt ruling elite and their total, chilling disregard for the lower strata off which they consume. I see the book as a metaphor of the unchecked growth in wealth and power of this elite since the economic reforms.
The main reason I admire Mo Yan is because he is an absolutely fearless writer. He is never afraid to take creative risks; he does so in each book and this gives him a style truly his own. The scatological humor, references to dogs, reptiles, apes and donkeys; through the ugliest specimens of nature he alludes to the human condition. Li Yidou's fight with his wife in the chapter 'Cooking Lesson', where in his eyes she degenerates into an ever more grotesque series of images is a case in point: 'her stumpy little fists, which looked like donkey hooves'; 'like a footless person wearing shoes, she was actually wearing a bra', etc. Hilarious, yet nauseating.
I can't wait for his next novel.
Oh yeah, and the translation by Howard Goldblatt is dead on. Truly excellent, and you can tell he is completely in tune with Mr. Mo's agenda.
Book Description
From Roger L. Simon, author of The Big Fix, comes his best Moses Wine novel yet -- a hilarious, dark thriller set in the movie world.
DIRECTOR'S CUT
A quarter of a century after he first appeared in the now-classic The Big Fix, Moses Wine remains a private investigator par excellence. Still a Berkeley radical at heart, Moses is now thoroughly chastened by the events that have led to the war on terrorism -- so much so that he's started to find himself agreeing with John Ashcroft, which for Moses is like saying that the Grateful Dead were overrated. Then the call comes -- a film crew in Prague keeps finding hate messages on the set and in their hotel rooms, and it's Moses's job to find out who's trying to shut the movie down. In a twist of fate that might only happen to a man like Wine, the director of the film gets knocked off a bridge by a runaway truck, and Moses agrees to take over -- Moses Wine is an auteur!
But there are obstacles: The costars, the sexy Donna Gold and the brooding Goran, can't decide whether to kill each other or have an affair; Moses's wife has a surprise for him; Moses keeps finding himself in places he really shouldn't be; the CIA seems interested in the film, and that's a first; and a guy who resembles the Michelin Man keeps turning up with threats of violent destruction. Clearly something more is at stake than an art-house film, and things turn deadly serious when the threat of terrorism appears at the screening of the film -- Moses has to race to save not only the movie, but the whole of the Sundance festival, too.
Roger L. Simon has been delighting fans of smart thrillers for a quarter century. This time it's the movie world's turn to get the Roger L. Simon treatment, and Director's Cut shows him at the height of his powers -- skewering our mores and making us laugh out loud.
Customer Reviews:
Moses Wine, Movie Director????.......2006-12-11
I've read all of the Moses Wine books, and I enjoyed the movie "The Big Fix" a great deal; I think it's one of my favorite detective novels. Wine's an amusing character, a Berkeley radical who's by now bemoaning the fact that he agrees with John Ashcroft on certain things with regards to dealing with terrorists. Simon appears to be one of the liberals who was (as I read on another one of these people's blogs) "mugged by reality on 9/11". There were little hints of a more intelligent, less idealogical person peeking through even in the earlier books. Wine has always been more of a cynic than most idealists, and more pragmatic, too. You only have to read "The Big Fix" and get Simon's take on self-help gurus to know that he's not quite as trendy as most in Hollywood.
In the current outing, it turns out Moses is buddies with a group of Hollywood types who meet at the Farmer's Market at 3rd and Fairfax. Anyone who's been there can imagine this sort of thing happening--I myself have seen actors in restaurants there, and I'm notorious for not seeing celebrities--and it lends an air of authenticity to the story. One of his Hollywood buddies is a TV guy who's going to make a love story about the aftermath of the Holocaust, only he's been having trouble while he's filming on location in Prague. He contacts Moses, in a panic, and insists that our hero get on a plane and fly there to see if he can stop the threats and pranks that threaten the movie.
Simon has a dry wit that's just about as biting as it can be, at times. From an FBI who questions a *Jewish* private eye about his contacts with the 9/11 hijackers to an Arab terrorist who wants his hostage to tie *him* up to a film festival that's 90% pretence and marketing, this is Simon's send-up of the post 9/11 world, and of Hollywood at the same time. Moses even takes a turn at directing the movie, and of course that turns out pretty funny, especially when it turns out he's not as bad at it as you might think.
I heartily enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it.
An Amusing Tale for Our Time.......2005-01-24
I have read a couple of Simon's books, but I don't remember them being this clever. A private detective becomes a movie director. Quite witty. Wild Turkey (was that the name?) was also humorous.
(Some strange reviews on here with seemingly hostile motive perhaps? I don't understand what that is, but shouldn't Amazon have a way of dealing with this?)
Stunning bad.......2005-01-02
This book would have been merely a laughably sophomoric piece of poorly-edited hack fiction if it didn't try to promote itself as capitalizing on September 11th. The book will probably be historically significant only in that the author's fascination and glorification of such insidious real-world personas as Ashcroft and Freeh lends it a bit of Leni Riefenstahl kitch.
terrible.......2004-10-30
I'd give this zero stars if that were an option. It is poorly written, poorly edited (there are a tremendous number of grammatical and spelling errors for a published book), and, most importantly for a thriller, it is just plain boring.
Don't waste your time on this garbage.
Director's Cut... Cut, cut, cut.......2004-10-13
Like anyone who enjoys a good mystery, I was looking forward to this read especially having been recommended by Hugh Hewitt, a radio talk show host who had previously suggested works from Joseph Epstein and Daniel Silva. Both were great reads.
I should have been somewhat suspicious seeing only 240 pages, surely not enough to develop the characters, background and rich plot that often adds to pleasure of a good novel. I found the plot sophomoric, even laughing out loud not a the humor but the utter ridiculous situations. For example, why would private investigator Wine consider staying on with the production of a "B" rated movie that ends up on some obscure cable channels? Not only does he stay but becomes the director of this crazy movie. Perhaps some of Mr. Simon's humor was lost on me but too many times I found the plot farfetched.
If Mr. Simon were to remove a few choice swear words, this book might be appropriate for junior high school. They might appreciate characters like "Anna Rockova", yes Mr. Simon has seen several episodes of the Flintstones. My advise would be to "Cut" this one off at the pass and move on to more seriously researched terrorist mystery. It's no wonder that Mr. Simon must use a blog to help promote his work. Not worth the $16.95.
Customer Reviews:
Driftwood Valley ý Worth Re-Reading.......2001-06-28
I have an autographeed copy the ©1946 edition of Driftwood Valley. I had the privilege of growing up in the same rural Pennsylvania town as Ms. Fletcher. When I was a teenager, I was employed by Ms. Fletcher to clean house for her one summer while she was away. She is a very nice woman with a remarkable background. She has set aside a nature conservatory in Northeast Pennsylvania which is open to the public. She has always been active in protecting the environment and wildlife. I re-read Driftwood Valley every couple of years and just love the adventure and challenges of this true-life story. What made it even more exiting for me is that the author was from my hometown.
A Field Naturalist's Classic.......2001-02-17
I am pleased to see this book has recently been reissued. I have an old, but treasured paperback copy. The author is observant of, informative about, and acutely responsive to the environment she describes. Having experienced winters in that region I would say she is especially adept at rendering the harsh, but radiant winters.
awesome.......2000-01-05
This book is an amazing journey into the frontiers of nature, exploration and science in the 1930's.
Move Over Annie and Tell Henry David the News.......1999-12-19
Do not buy one copy of this book! When you finish you will press it on a friend, who in turn will press it on another. In a month it will be out of the county; in two out of the state. You will not see the book again and you will sorely miss it. So buy two copies: one for re-reading, one for evangelism.
Driftwood Valley is easily the best book written on an outdoor theme by a woman. Why it remains buried in obscurity is a wonder. The best contemporary writing in the genre connot match it. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek comes close; but to read the two books successively is to realize the limitations of Annie Dillard. Stanwell-Fletcher stands in better company with Thoreau. In her depictions of winter life in particular she approaches the master. One is reminded constantly of "The Pond in Winter", "Brute Neighbors", and "Winter Animals". There is some of the grandeur of Thoreau's contemporary, Francis Parkman, in her prose, too, when she lifts her eye to sweep the horizens of the immense British Columbian landscape.
Ultimately, this is a big, confident, heroic book. No trembler in the world's genetically reductionist sphere is Theodora Stanwell-Fletcher. She sees Heaven's glory shine, and revels in it. So will you when you read this most neglected of American masterpieces!
A last note: Ms Stanwell-Fletcher is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College. I learned this from the bookjacket of the original edition I picked up for a dime at a yard sale. Having spent a year at Mount Holyoke as an exchange student, I took special heed of this and called their library seeking information. Was she still alive, etc. But no one there had heard of her! Later, a friend in South Hadley went to the alumni office, learned that she is indeed still with us, and was able to forward a fan letter to which she received a gracious thank you. I would suggest that any Holyoke grad reading this get the book, read it, contact your alma mater, and demand that they honor this lady. Ms Stanwell-Fletcher deserves it!
Book Description
Washington's rowdy lumber camps were no place
for an innocent young beauty. . . .
When Rachel McKinnon attracts the attention of Jonas Wilkes, she is truly in dire straits. Wilkes, the owner of a lumber empire, has power over most everyone he meets -- and now he wants Rachel. Her only hope is Griffin Fletcher. The town's darkly handsome, unmarried doctor, he once made a promise to Rachel's dying mother to keep her daughter out of harm's way. But little did Fletcher know that looking after the lovely Rachel would mean facing down Wilkes, his nemesis. Now the enmity he harbors for Wilkes is about to erupt in a dangerous confrontation . . . and the young doctor who swore never to love again is suddenly in danger of falling desperately in love with the one woman he swore he would always protect.
One of America's best-loved storytellers, Linda Lael Miller sets passions blazing in the unforgettable tale of Fletcher's Woman.
Customer Reviews:
Historical Romance.......2006-09-21
"Fletcher's Woman" is a heart wrenching story of a young woman straggling to survive after a tragic death of her mother and mysterious disappearance of her father. I agree with one of the other reviewers that it is not at easy plot. There are many grey areas in this novel. LLM is taking us to the limits and forcing us to face the realities that are so often similar to the real life. The good is not entirely perfect and the bad is quite puzzling in its redeeming qualities. At the end of the novel I did feel somehow cheated. Although I did expected Rachel and Griffin to end up together, I also expected a redemption to the character of Jonas Wilkes. I believe that his love for Rachel was pure and wholesome, what a great sequel it could have being...
A LLM favorite!.......2003-06-29
One of the reasons I like this novel so much is that it portrays a realistic conflict of a woman's feelings for two men. Even though her head knows better, the heroine heart is pulled in opposite directions - as can often happen in real life, too! The plot isn't an "easy", typical romance one where boy and girl meet, jump one little hurdle and everything falls into place. I appreciate that LLM takes chances and askes the reader accept a more challenging storyline. The payoff is worth it.
A Memorable Read.......2000-05-22
I enjoyed this book and wouldn't dream of throwing it away. I kept it right along with my other books by Linda Lael Miller. I believe Jonas Wilkes had some redeeming qualities. I think he did love Rachel, however, his love was not enough for him to change his ways. I felt a sudden sadness when he died and he did save Rachel's life. She and Griffin truly loved each other but the rivalry between he and Jonas over Rachel bothered me somewhat. To a certain extent they both were guilty of being like the dog who laid on the bone! I would recommend this book hightly.
This plot stretches believability to the limit........1998-08-01
Linda Lael Miller can't decide whether her villian, the logging baron, is truly evil or if he can be saved. Nor can she decide if her hero, Fletcher--the country doctor, is as pure as she wants him to be. Each of these characters ventures too far into the other's persona, causing much confusion and incredulity for the reader. The heroine, Rachel, is a 17-year-old with the wisdom of Solomon and the beauty of Cindy Crawford. But for all that, she unbelievably still has feelings for the logging baron, although she suspects he's deliberatly killed her father. When you finish reading this book, you want to take it between two fingers and unceremoniously drop it in the nearest trash can.
Book Description
This is the first edition for students and general readers of this pro-woman reply to Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew by a playwright (John Fletcher) who was more admired than Shakespeare in the seventeenth century. A unique and essential companion to the numerous textbook editions of Shakespeare's play, The Tamer Tamed provides exciting new material for current debates about the history of gender, marriage, and drama.
Book Description
More than "just a woman" God created woman with power, purpose and anointing.
The walls of history echo the casualties because of the overlooked anointing of the woman. Because of tradition, maybe fear or just because of common misconceptions, the power and influence of the woman has been underestimated.
The very fiber of the woman is laced with virtue, strength, and the power to bring life to every situation. For the man the keys to true prosperity, true happiness and complete health can be found in the heart of the woman.
It was never God's true design or intention for the woman to stand timidly in the shadows of mankind. Join best-selling author, Kingsley Fletcher on a journey of inspiration, motivation and education as we discover the Power and Influence of a Woman.
Customer Reviews:
Woman of Power and Influence- your time has Come!.......2007-05-26
Praise the Lord for using this man of God, to release the Women of God for ministry. If you read this inspiring message, your heart will rejoice and be uplifted. We have always known we were spiritual leaders,God has used Pastor Kingsley Fletcher (a man of vision), to validate it. Prayerfully read this book Woman of God and dare to go forth in the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Do do the work of the ministry, release your gifts to a dying world. Jesus said greater works than these shall you do; for I go to my Father. Women of God that includes you as well. Let the Lord use you for Such a Time as this. Be a blessing to your Pastor also, buy him a copy. My prayer is that you will catch on fire for Woman your Time has Come!
Servant of the "Most High"
Evangelist Jackson
Enlightening.......2003-09-23
I thought this book was an excellent teaching on how me as woman has so much influence in the God's Kingdom today.
Books:
- The Shattered Alliance (Ice Age Cycle, Book III, A Magic: The Gathering(r) Novel)
- The Showboat Cookbook
- The Silence of the Rain: A Novel
- The Silent Executioner (Being the Second in the Series of Fantomas Adventures)
- The Sinister Pig CD
- The Sky Unwashed
- The Time Regulation Institute
- The Victorians and the Visual Imagination
- "There goes flukes";: The story of New Bedford's last whaler, being the narrative of the voyage of schooner John R. Manta on Hatteras grounds, 1925, and ... of adventures in old deep-sea whaling days
- Towns of the Sandia Mountains (NM) (Images of America)
Books Index
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