Jin Yong - Legend of the Condor Heroes Chapter 1

[mekare]

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?

Comments

[geraineon]

Done! Also, all members can make tags in this comm, so feel free to just make new tags in the future, following the comm tag conventions~

[mekare]

Thank you! I‘ll keep it in mind for the future.

[snowynight]

It was considered more honourable, because wives were considered less important than your brothers (at least in theory)


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.

[mekare]

Thanks for that bit of background info.

[dancing_serpent]

I haven't started reading yet, but at least I got my copy of the book yesterday. But I do recognise the scenes and characters you're talking about from watching the 2017 drama adaptation.

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!

[mekare]

Are you going to read in English? And is MTE my thoughts exactly? I havem‘t come across that abbrebiation before. ;-)

[dancing_serpent]

No, I'm going to read in German, same edition as you mentioned in your promo post. Looked it up on amazon and ordered a used copy from medimops. And yes, MTE is my thoughts exactly. *G*

[mekare]

Oh yay! The glossary extremely helpful. Let me know what you think of the translation! I obviously have no reference point, but I thought it is done well so far.

[dancing_serpent]

A bit late, but today I finally finished reading the first chapter. I didn't really need the glossary, it hasn't been long since I watched the drama, and I still remembered about 80% of the characters mentioned. The most important ones, of course. *g*

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!

[goldgust]

Hi! Are you doing a read along at any particular pace? I've read the first book of Condor Heroes awhile back and was looking for some motivation to reread and get further in the series. Maybe I should join in.

[mekare]

Hi! For now, we‘re trying a chapter a week, but I‘m not sure how sustainable that‘ll be in the longterm. Join us if you like.

[duckprintspress]

Hmm I don't have tons to add? I like your thoughts. Yan Lie is sus af, so much so I looked up some spoilers because I was like "no really wtf is up with this guy." I also especially liked how the fights were written, they had so much play-by-play without feeling like they dragged.

[mekare]

A very belated answer, yes the fight scenes are so well written!