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Book 1 - Chapter 1
So, some thoughts on this chapter. Even though it was pretty long, it read extremely well. Part of that was the translation and part of it the writing, I think. I could picture the fight scenes very clearly in my head (and it probably helps that I've seen some wuxia by now). It was all very exciting and so far I only got confused once when I could not remember Qu San (the innkeeper) and got him confused with Qiu Chuji (the Daoist monk) near the end of the chapter.
But wow, so many dead people already! And even the two 'main characters' so far. I wonder how Chinese readers then (and now) saw/see the decision to leave your wife behind to rescue your sworn brother's wife instead?
I felt really sorry for both wives and also, wow, just hoisting heavily preganant women up on horses, all the falling down horses cannot be good. I already know that their children will be major characters later on, but realistically, there would have been a really high chance of losing their babies.
I like Bao Xiruo, she's kind-hearted, but also clever. It's not easy being a woman at that time. Too bad we haven't gotten any information on Li Ping.
"Yan Lie" is quite a clever guy and very smitten. I do not believe he will send someone to bury Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin. That would probably be too dangerous (and how will Bao Xiruo ever tell? She is going north and I don't think she'll ever be back south). He seems to have a lot of money though.
Minor headshake: I always wince at the conditions women are under. Suicide as the only option after your husband has gotten killed? Those sentences about "I'm only a weak woman, what can I do?" (I mean yes, I get it, she's not a jianghu martial artist, there really is nothing she can do, realistically) *sigh*
Can I have an author and book tag, please?
So, what did you all think? Any thoughts on the wife versus sworn brother's wife issue? Any comments?
So, some thoughts on this chapter. Even though it was pretty long, it read extremely well. Part of that was the translation and part of it the writing, I think. I could picture the fight scenes very clearly in my head (and it probably helps that I've seen some wuxia by now). It was all very exciting and so far I only got confused once when I could not remember Qu San (the innkeeper) and got him confused with Qiu Chuji (the Daoist monk) near the end of the chapter.
But wow, so many dead people already! And even the two 'main characters' so far. I wonder how Chinese readers then (and now) saw/see the decision to leave your wife behind to rescue your sworn brother's wife instead?
I felt really sorry for both wives and also, wow, just hoisting heavily preganant women up on horses, all the falling down horses cannot be good. I already know that their children will be major characters later on, but realistically, there would have been a really high chance of losing their babies.
I like Bao Xiruo, she's kind-hearted, but also clever. It's not easy being a woman at that time. Too bad we haven't gotten any information on Li Ping.
"Yan Lie" is quite a clever guy and very smitten. I do not believe he will send someone to bury Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin. That would probably be too dangerous (and how will Bao Xiruo ever tell? She is going north and I don't think she'll ever be back south). He seems to have a lot of money though.
Minor headshake: I always wince at the conditions women are under. Suicide as the only option after your husband has gotten killed? Those sentences about "I'm only a weak woman, what can I do?" (I mean yes, I get it, she's not a jianghu martial artist, there really is nothing she can do, realistically) *sigh*
Can I have an author and book tag, please?
So, what did you all think? Any thoughts on the wife versus sworn brother's wife issue? Any comments?
no subject
Date: 2024-07-06 07:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-07 10:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-07 02:37 am (UTC)In the actual history of Song dynasty (the historical setting of the novel), obligatory suicide of widows had not yet taken hold. Widows remarrying was still socially acceptable despite the male scholars's campaigns.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-07 10:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-07 09:28 am (UTC)But wow, so many dead people already! (...) but realistically, there would have been a really high chance of losing their babies.
MTE when watching the drama!
no subject
Date: 2024-07-07 10:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-07 12:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-07 01:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-13 08:23 am (UTC)I think the translation is done well, too. So far, I didn't even once stumble upon something and thought "uhm, that doesn't work", and from what I remember of the drama, the sometimes hard expressions fit very well with the scenes in question. Ein Gemetzel kann man auch ruhig so nennen!
no subject
Date: 2024-07-07 06:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-07 07:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-08 01:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-12-14 02:29 pm (UTC)