I so very much wanted to like this book.

It had won several awards, and I had heard numerous good things about it from various sources.

However, as I delved into its pages, I found to my dismay that I had absolutely no interest in the characters.

In fact, I really detested the time that I had to spend with them.

I was almost relieved when the book finally came to an end.

I believe that it was the author's intention for me to feel frustrated with the characters.

The title "Waiting" seemed to be a perfect reference to the lives of these people, who appeared to be constantly stuck, unable to act or do the very thing that they thought would bring them happiness.

But the more I read, the more I felt as if I was one of the characters in the book myself, waiting impatiently for something to occur that would make me suddenly interested in their story.

Regrettably, that something never happened, leaving me with a sense of disappointment and dissatisfaction.

Waiting is a novel written in English by Ha Jin, a Chinese writer and a professor of English at American universities. It has won the prestigious National Book Award in the United States. In this story, we follow the life of a doctor named Lin who works in a military hospital in the 1960s in Communist China. His parents arrange a marriage for him with a woman named Shuyu, who is very meek and submissive. When Lin returns home, he finds that his wife is extremely thin and her feet have been bound according to the old Chinese custom. After their first child, he never has any intimacy with his wife again. Over time, he meets a young nurse named Manna in the hospital and they fall in love and decide to get married. After the death of his parents, Lin goes back to his village every year to file for divorce, but the court rejects his request until after eighteen years, when a new law is passed and he finally gets a divorce and marries Manna. However, this marriage brings strange difficulties for Lin, and he begins to think about going back to his past life.

This novel is very engaging and well-written. The perspective is well-handled, and we can see the changes in China from the 1960s, when it was a very strict Communist country, to the 1980s, when capitalism was being promoted. This change is, in a way, the anticipation for the arrival of a better life for all, but it also brings limitations for the Chinese people under Communism. Now, Lin is going back to the past, and it is the traditional Chinese herbal medicine and the traditional way of life that save him from his difficulties. He belongs to a generation that has endured this transition with great difficulty, but now he doesn't know if all this anticipation has been worth it.

From the perspective of character portrayal, Lin's character is extremely unbelievable. How can a man live with a woman for all these years but never have any desire to have sex outside of marriage because of his obligations to his superiors? How is it possible that in that closed environment, everyone knows that these two people are in love, but at the same time, they are sure that nothing improper has happened? It seems that the author is trying to introduce a man with almost no sexual desire in order to make his story succeed, and at the same time, Shuyu, his wife, is a very simple-hearted and kind woman who endures all the shortcomings of her husband and still loves him even after the divorce.

However, the most important point of this book is that it is written for the Western palate. Personally, I don't have a positive view of this kind of writing, just as in Iranian cinema and literature, usually the works that are popular with the West are those that present a very negative image of the country. According to the same logic, probably the image that Ha Jin presents of China is also like this. The issue is not whether it is true or not, but that a part of the image is presented that is pleasing to the West.

https://delsharm.blog.ir/1402/03/04/w...

Waiting by Ha Jin has been patiently awaiting my perusal for a long time. In fact, I've possessed this National Book Winner for so long that it has simply sat there, gathering dust on my Goodreads' shelf for years.

I wasn't the first owner of this book, but my cat Roxanne has left her own unique mark on it in the form of teeth marks. I hope to part with it in the near future and perhaps it will find a new owner who is eager for a free book and not too bothered by the tiny pinpricks on the cover.

Now, enough about my personal story regarding this book. I want to share with everyone that I truly enjoyed reading it. Ha Jin is indeed a captivating author who has the remarkable ability to transform the concept of waiting into something far more profound than mere boredom. In this novel, everyone is waiting. Lin Kong, a military doctor, is waiting for his wife Shayu to follow through on her annual promise of divorcing him. Meanwhile, Shayu is waiting for him to come back to her as her husband. And Manna Wu, Lin's girlfriend, is waiting for him to obtain the divorce and marry her.

One can't help but wonder how long this state of affairs can persist. We are informed in the prologue that this situation has endured for 17 years. It seems almost不可思议. As one friend tells Lin:

\\"You've been shilly-shallying and made yourself miserable. I've handled hundreds of men for many years. I know your type. You're always afraid that people will call you a bad man. You strive to have a good heart. But what is a heart? Just a chunk of flesh that a dog can eat. Your problem originates in your own character, and you must first change yourself. Who said 'Character is fate'?\\"
\\"Beethoven?\\"
\\"Yes. You know so much, but you can't act decisively.\\"

I wholeheartedly encourage anyone who has the strength of character to grapple with the indecisive Doctor Lin to pick up this book and embark on this literary journey.

National Book Award Winner

Favorite quote:
"Let me tell you what really happened," the voice said.

All those years you waited torpidly, like a sleepwalker, pulled and pushed about by others' opinions, by external pressure, by your illusions, by the official rules you internalized.

You were misled by your own frustration and passivity, believing that what you were not allowed to have was what your heart was destined to embrace.

This powerful quote serves as a reminder that we often allow ourselves to be influenced by various factors, losing sight of our true selves and desires.

The National Book Award Winner, through this quote, encourages us to break free from the chains of external influence and discover our own path.

It challenges us to be more active in shaping our lives and not simply accept the status quo.

By heeding this advice, we can begin to take control of our destinies and pursue the things that truly matter to us.

I truly have a profound love for this book.

I am happily and thoroughly satisfied, far exceeding my initial expectations.

The manner in which Ha Jin arranges those words to meticulously detail the plot is truly captivating. It's as if we are right there on the scene, closely observing every little thing!

The ex-wife of the protagonist is truly someone to be admired. Her character makes me deeply ponder the essence of what a marriage really is.

This was my very first encounter with Ha Jin's work, and now I have fallen completely in love with his writing.

His words have a unique charm that draws me in and makes me eager to explore more of his literary creations.

I can't wait to see what other wonderful stories he has in store for us.

This novel truly lived up to its title - I WAITED. From start to finish, I patiently endured, hoping it would transform into something I would cherish having read. However, it was essentially a passionless account of an extremely dull life. While it provided some insights into the arduous nature of existence in post-Cultural Revolution China, it failed to capture the true essence and uniqueness of the land. It was a literary whitewash, perhaps of some scholarly significance, but it held no interest as a fulfilling read. Despite being set in China, there was no genuine flavor of the country.

Lin Kong was a feeble man, and Manna Wu was a manipulative, shrewish woman. I lost interest in both of them around the midway point of the book. Regrettably, I persisted in reading, "waiting," and longing for some deeper relevance to emerge within this tale. Emotionally, it was devoid of substance and dry (with the exception of the portrayal of the poor, illiterate country wife).

The story seemed to lack the spark and vitality that would have made it a truly engaging and memorable read. It left me feeling disappointed and unfulfilled, as if I had invested my time in something that ultimately failed to deliver.

Finished this book in one day when my internet was down. It was truly a blessing to have nothing competing for my time.

The story is set in Communist China from the 1960s to the 1980s and is a very poignant one. The main character, Lin, has an arranged marriage to the simple and sweet Shuyu. She is extremely generous and a hard worker. However, the educated Lin is ashamed of her illiterate peasant status and never brings her to the city where he works as an army hospital doctor. Lin is a very passive character, incredibly rational, and never lets his emotions come to the surface. A nurse in the hospital, Manna, sets her sights on Lin, and over an eighteen-year period, Lin and Manna carry on a non-sexual affair. He promises Manna every summer that he will divorce Shuyu on his visit home to marry her, but always comes back still married for one reason or another.

The patience of Shuyu and Manna forms the central themes of the book, while the rationality of Lin is the third part of the theme.

The writing style is so simple, reminiscent of some of Hemingway's work. After discussing this book with a co-worker a few days later, she drew a parallel to the American novel _Ethan Frome_ by Edith Wharton. I read the book in high school, so it wasn't as fresh in my mind, but I did remember that the basic plot was similar.

Simple sentence constructions, no inner monologues for the characters, and no in-depth descriptions of the surroundings. It was refreshing, in a way, to read such a minimalist approach. I really appreciated the glimpse into the psyche of the Chinese mind and how the propaganda of the Party was so prevalent in every act and deed.

Well,

there are two days of my life that I will never get back.

The characters in this story are SUCH unlikable individuals. The narrator is just horrible [I do not recommend the audiobook AT. ALL.]. It's such a weird and unlikable story. I found myself having no sympathy for anyone in this story except for Lin's wife. She didn't know any better and all she wanted was to have the best life she could have in the little village where she was stuck.

Ugh.

I am completely over award-winning books. I used to think that they were all going to be amazing, but this one has really turned me off. I don't know if I'll ever pick up another award-winning book again. Maybe I should just stick to reading books that are recommended by my friends. At least then I know that they'll be good.

Lin, a doctor in a military hospital, has colleagues who know he is married. However, no one knows who his wife is. Lin only sees his wife Shuyu ten days a year. What confuses his mind is Manna in the hospital. Lin is caught between the two women.

A long wait is ahead of him.

The countries are also part of this wait. The transformation is beginning.

Ha Jin not only tells a love story in "Waiting". He also presents the bans, rules, and order in China after the Cultural Revolution before our eyes. Between the lines, he also mentions the Korea-Japan relationship, American imperialism, and the transformation of China's perception of beauty (such as the example of lotus feet).

I read "Waiting" by trying to understand each character and thinking of alternative endings for them. I recommend that you read it too.

Translated by Sibel Türe, with the cover design by İlknur Muştu.

Lovely.

This simple word holds a world of charm and endearment. When we describe something or someone as lovely, it evokes a sense of warmth, beauty, and attractiveness.

A lovely day might be filled with sunshine, gentle breezes, and blooming flowers. It makes our hearts soar and fills us with a sense of joy and contentment.

A lovely person is one who has a kind heart, a sweet smile, and a gentle nature. They have the ability to make those around them feel special and loved.

Whether it's a lovely pet, a lovely piece of art, or a lovely moment shared with friends and family, these things have the power to brighten our lives and make us appreciate the beauty and wonder that surrounds us.

In conclusion, the word "lovely" is a powerful and evocative term that describes the things and people that bring us happiness, beauty, and love.

What "Waiting" reveals about Chinese culture and the effects of the Cultural Revolution on contemporary China is truly fascinating.

The book is filled with such rich information, from the astonishing ways politics infiltrates the most seemingly non-political aspects of daily life to the details of cuisine that westerners would never imagine could be eaten, like jellyfish!!!

Just for this, the book is definitely worth reading.

However, unfortunately, the protagonist is not only unlikable but also boring. He is so frustratingly passive that it makes the reader want to completely disconnect from the hardships of the character's life.

And although Lin Kong realizes in the final moments of the novel that his passiveness has bitten him in the butt, this revelation comes too late and in a completely different voice. Literally, Lin starts talking to himself with an internal dialogue where the lecturer sounds much like an author who is tired of his own character.

The writing is sparse, presenting plain facts with little elegance or musicality, although this may be due to the translation. The random details are often informative in the way I mentioned above, but almost always have no relation or significance to the narrative and thus seem unnecessary.

In conclusion, it is a big disappointment, albeit an educational one.

This man Lin is truly a lucky individual, yet he remains oblivious to his good fortune. He takes his wife and their home for granted, constantly yearning for something else in life. He desires a different woman, one who is more beautiful and sophisticated. The sad reality is that he is always striving to do the right thing and be a good man. I can recognize his personality type; he has an unwavering desire to be good at all times. However, he often messes things up horribly and is left feeling sad and tormented. At the core of it all, there is a selfishness within him that he is not even aware of.

His wife Shuyu is truly amazing. She is strong, flexible, and unchanging, the kind of person we all need as a mother or a mate. On the other hand, his wife Manna is storm-tossed, affected, and needy, with a vice-like grip. One of the aspects I appreciate about this book is that the characters remain true to their types.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book: "Yet one thing he was certain about now: between love and peace of mind he would choose the latter. He would prefer a peaceful home. What was better than a place where you could sit down comfortably, read a book, and have a good meal and an unbroken sleep?" and "Oh, I don't want to be a good man. I just want to be a normal man." This book has left me with a question for myself: how can I be more like Shuyu? And this thought lingers: Shuyu had bound feet. How could a country of men have found this terrible, deliberate deformity to be erotically attractive? What does this say about human beings?