Simply, yet beautifully written, this story had an irresistible charm. It was so easy to be drawn into its pages. The characters were all developed with great care and detail. Each one had a unique personality and backstory, which made them come alive on the page. I found myself completely engrossed in their lives and couldn't put the book down.

Reading about communist China was also very interesting. It gave me a new perspective on a time and place that I had not known much about before. The author did a great job of描绘 the social and political climate of the era, as well as the daily lives of the people.

But perhaps my favorite part of the book was the ending. It was unexpected and yet so perfect. It tied up all the loose ends and left me with a feeling of satisfaction. It really made the book complete and left a lasting impression on me.

Before starting to write the book, I felt the need to do some minor research starting from the back cover text. As someone unfamiliar with political and ideological concepts, I began with communism and ended up with the Chinese Revolution.

China, with its diverse cultures and traditions, has always been a nation that has intrigued me at every moment in history. Even though in the book we are reading about the marriage of Ling, a military doctor, that she cannot end no matter what, there is a delicately crafted Chinese culture around the story, and I still find myself stuck on the fact that women's feet were bound.

I should also note that my interest in Chinese culture goes beyond a superficial curiosity. In the near future -I hope it will be in 2017-, I have a plan to learn Chinese, God willing. First, I need to finish my other plans and then...

Overall, my exploration of China and its culture through this research and the book has been a fascinating journey. It has opened my eyes to the rich and complex history and traditions of this great nation. I look forward to delving deeper into its culture and language in the future.

This novel is truly a remarkable piece that manages to place the reader right into the shoes of others.

The author has masterfully crafted a narrative that delves deep into life in Communist China, vividly描绘ing how individuals are gradually subsumed into the state.

Here, every citizen is subordinate to the collective, and personal freedoms and individuality seem to take a backseat.

What's truly striking about this book is the scarcity of adjectives used. The central three characters are described in the most objective terms, making it quite difficult to get a firm sense of their personalities.

It's as if individual feelings are deemed irrelevant in this context.

However, it is precisely this very aspect that compels the reader into the austere story.

One finds oneself reading it quickly, empathizing with the universally human experiences while also being struck by the foreignness of an ideology that limits the expression of self.

Moreover, the constant waiting and self-repression that are so normalized for these characters begin to create a sense of claustrophobia within the reader.

Take Lin, for example. I found him to be pusillanimous and passive. His character can be summed up by the statement: "It dawned on him that he had never loved a woman wholeheartedly and that he had always been the loved one. This must have been the reason why he knew so little about love and women. In other words, emotionally he hadn't grown up."

Overall, this novel offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective on a particular time and place.

I have been waiting for this book for quite some time. I have seen it on numerous lists, including those of National Book Award winners, and even in airports recently. However, to my great disappointment, it was not really worth the wait.

I was excitedly anticipating a well-crafted and beautifully written love story. Instead, what I got was just a trite and overused commentary on the old adage, "be careful what you wish for".

I found the book to be very stiff and stilted in its writing. Maybe it's because I don't have much experience with Chinese culture, but I was truly amazed at how overt and simplistic some of the dialogue and plot elements actually were. It was simply not believable to me that the entire hospital compound considered Lin and Manna to be "engaged" or "boyfriend and girlfriend", yet also knew that they were not having sex. I really don't understand how one can have an intimate relationship that lasts for 18 years and not progress to the physical realm or change their definition to that of "just friends". I simply don't get how one can consider oneself a "girlfriend" without any sexual contact.

I think the most interesting parts of the book were the glimpses into communist China in the 1960s. Did they really make nurses undergo examinations to confirm they were virgins? Seriously? What on earth does one's sexual life have to do with one's ability to be a decent nurse?

I was also astonished by the chauvinistic point of view presented in the book. Lin is disappointed in his wife Shuygu not really because of anything else other than her less than attractive looks. And ultimately, he stops caring for Manna because she starts to lose her beauty. Despite the book presenting itself as a love story, it is really just an object lesson in the fickleness of men and their obsession with attractive women.

I was also amazed at the fact that despite never allowing Shuygu to come to the city while they were married and professing to be very ashamed of her, Lin brings her there for the divorce and then spends more time with her and Hua than he ever has before. Once she is there, apparently he doesn't find her all that embarrassing anymore. Although, at the same time, Manna has aged and is no longer as attractive herself.

I wasn't sure, in the end, if these people were all just innocent or simple-minded. Do they really care that much about inter-hospital gossip? Don't all people, from all times, have sex? Isn't this just a common and ordinary occurrence? Not only did it all seem ridiculous that the current hospital residents would care, but it also seemed crazy that Manna would be somehow tainted in the eyes of any men from other cities as well. Seriously? Just because she had a friendship with this guy?

I think the most believable part of the whole book, at least from a Western perspective, was the rape scene. It read true to life and her reaction seemed accurate. It's just unfortunate to say that this was the most realistic part of the novel.

Overall, the book is short and not a terrible read, but it is very disappointing for someone like me who had eagerly awaited its arrival.

Talented, brilliant, these words only begin to describe the truly incredible and amazing individuals who grace our world. Their abilities are show-stopping, their performances spectacular. They are never the same, always evolving and pushing the boundaries. They are totally unique, completely not ever been done before. Unafraid to reference or not reference, they take ideas and put them in a blender, mix them up, and create something entirely new. They are not afraid to get dirty, to shit on the old ways, to vomit on the status quo. They are willing to eat the challenges and give birth to something beautiful and revolutionary.

These are the people who change the world, who inspire us to be better, to dream bigger, and to reach for the impossible. They are the ones who make us believe that anything is possible, and that with talent, hard work, and a little bit of crazy, we can achieve greatness.

We should all strive to be like them, to embrace our own unique talents and abilities, and to use them to make a difference in the world. Whether it's through art, music, science, or any other field, we can all make a contribution and leave our mark on history.

So let's be brave, let's be bold, and let's show the world what we're made of. Because when we do, the possibilities are truly endless.

Heartbreaking, devastatingly beautiful. I'm speechless.

These words seem to encapsulate a moment of profound emotion. The heartbreak is palpable, as if a piece of the soul has been torn away. It is a pain that cuts deep, leaving an indelible mark.

And yet, within this heartbreak, there is a beauty that is both devastating and captivating. It is a beauty that emerges from the ashes of loss and sorrow, a beauty that is born of resilience and strength.

I find myself at a loss for words, unable to fully express the complexity of these emotions. It is as if the magnitude of it all has left me dumbfounded, my mind struggling to make sense of the chaos.

But perhaps, in this silence, lies the true essence of the experience. For sometimes, the most powerful emotions are those that cannot be put into words, but rather felt deep within the heart.

It truly surprises me to see how many outstanding books receive such poor ratings on Goodreads. Titles like "Moby Dick," "The Marriage Plot," "The Dinner," "Eileen," "The Little Friend," "The Scarlet Letter," and many more fall into this category. Now, I can add "Waiting" to that list as well.

I absolutely adored this book. It is easily the best one I have read this month, aside from "Eileen." In fact, I can technically say that it is my second favorite book of 2017 so far. I know this ranking might change in the future, but for now, I still have a deep love for this story.

The tale of a weak marriage and a marriage in request, both centered around army doctor Lin Kong, is beautifully written and captivating from the very first chapter. I literally devoured this book in just about two to two and a half hours. It reads so quickly due to the well-structured narrative and the excellent writing.

The writing in "Waiting" is both simple and complex. It addresses numerous issues in a mature yet straightforward tone. It is not overly simplistic like Hemingway's style, nor is it too complex. The best aspect of this book is perhaps the characters. Lin, Shuyu, and Manna are three truly remarkable characters. They may not be likable, but that is precisely how they are meant to be. They are more realistic and beautifully crafted than anything else. There are other wonderful characters as well, but these three stand out the most.

However, I do have a few minor issues with this book. There are missed opportunities, and I didn't initially think Shuyu was all that great. This book could have easily been a five-star read if it had more sections that delved into the psyche and mindset of the characters and if the prose had a more poetic form. I saw the potential in Jin to achieve this, and he does show that he can, especially in the second half of the book. Nevertheless, he unfortunately wasted that five-star opportunity. Additionally, Shuyu was rather annoying at first because she seemed so bland. However, Jin appears to be one of those authors who reveals the true nature of the characters later on. So, I both praise and disapprove of this aspect, as we don't get to see her true colors until the last 50 pages.

Despite these tiny flaws, which are more like nitpicks, "Waiting" was truly amazing. It lost the Pulitzer in 2000 to "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri. While I do like that collection, in my personal opinion, "Waiting" is the rightful winner of that Pulitzer prize. It is a complex, beautiful, disturbing, and overall excellent novel. I highly recommend it to everyone.

I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

China's cultural revolutionary years had a profound impact.

It not only affected the country's industrial and economic growth but also took a heavy toll on the lives of its people. Hunger and famine became widespread, and many families were torn apart as members were sent to rural farms to work.

Ha Jin's novel, set during this era, tells a touching story.

Lin, a doctor in the People's Liberation Army, lives by his sense of duty. He has an arranged marriage with a woman in a village whom he doesn't love and is even ashamed of because of her bound feet. His wife stays in the village to raise their daughter and care for his sick mother. The army has strict divorce regulations, and Lin can only obtain a divorce with his wife's consent or after waiting for 18 years. He visits his village once a year, asking for a divorce each time but always being refused.

Lin has a girlfriend, Manna, at the hospital where he works. However, their relationship remains unconsummated due to his marital status. Manna also enters a waiting game, hoping and waiting for Lin to be free to love her.

The prose in the novel is deliberate, allowing readers to sense Lin's frustration and resignation. When he finally gets a divorce, China's political situation also undergoes significant changes, and the story's pace quickens.

I found this novel to be a moving account of love and missed opportunities, highlighting a man's duty to his family and the army.

I just finished reading "Waiting" and I gave it a 4.

Often, I judge a book based on whether it occupies my thoughts during the day and makes me eager to pick it up again when I return home from work. Last night, I had trouble sleeping and ended up devouring over 30 pages between 2 am and 4:30 am.

I actually own this book. I picked up a copy several years ago when my wife and I were visiting our son at Michigan Tech. I noticed it for sale as a used book on a shelf in one of the university libraries. I initially thought the author was Korean American, but it was only after I brought it home that I realized he is Chinese.

As some of you may know, my focus for non-US literature usually leans towards Korea. So, no, I haven't read much literature set in China. In fact, I still haven't read "The Good Earth," a Pulitzer winner that I really should read. I found it interesting that the book begins during the mid-60s cultural revolution and extends into the early 80s. The communist regime imposed numerous personal and intellectual restrictions on its people. As I was reading, I was struck by how the Chinese form of communism seemed almost like a conservative religious sect, with all the rules and guidelines that people had to adhere to.

I also couldn't help but compare and contrast Chinese culture with Korean culture. Over the centuries, Korean culture has been significantly influenced by China in various aspects such as the arts, Buddhism, Confucianism, government, language, and so on. However, there are also some subtle differences. In Korea, there is a greater emphasis on hierarchy. It seems that more attention is paid to age differences as well as social rank compared to China. There was some of that in this book, but it appeared to be more of a hierarchy among government officials.

I also couldn't help but compare this book to Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure," which is the last book I read with a small group here on GR. I was struck by the similarities between Lin Kong and Jude Fawley. Both characters were manipulated and torn between two women, although that's a topic that's too extensive to explore here.

The book was quite poignant for me, especially the last 100 or so pages when Lin Kong was finally able to marry Manna Wu. Lin's struggle with his feelings for Manna, whether he truly loved her or not after waiting for 18 years, and his realizations about his life up to that point were very moving for me. The last page, in particular, brought a lump to my throat.

I liked Ha Jin's writing style, but there were times when I felt as if I was hovering over the characters in this book and that the story had a somewhat clinical feel to it. In hindsight, this may have been intentional, perhaps to convey the idea that the characters were unable to fully express their emotions for each other.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

At first, I wasn't overly impressed with this book. However, as I delved deeper into its pages, it gradually grew on me. By the end, I found myself completely engrossed in where Ha Jin was taking the story.

The plot may seem deceptively simple. Set during the Cultural Revolution in China, a young army doctor allows his parents to arrange a marriage for him. But when he finally meets his bride, he is appalled. She is an illiterate country woman who looks much older than her actual age and, to his great embarrassment, has bound feet. After the marriage, he returns to the medical complex where he is stationed and falls in love with a nurse. This sets off an 18-year-long attempt to divorce his peasant wife and marry the nurse. Eventually, he discovers that having is not the same as wanting, and all those years of waiting might have been a mistake.

The author, who was born and raised in China and spent time in the People's Army before emigrating to America in the 80s, offers a fascinating look into Chinese society and cultural mores. It is interesting to see how puritanical the society was, with illicit sexual behavior not only frowned upon but often punished. The book provides a thought-provoking exploration of love, marriage, and the consequences of our actions.

I can't believe that the book which enables me to meet my 2018 reading goal has to be such a waste of time.

It's truly astonishing. I had high hopes for finding a great literary work that would not only fulfill my quota but also enrich my mind and soul. However, this particular book has turned out to be a huge disappointment.

The plot is dull and uninteresting, lacking any real excitement or depth. The characters are one-dimensional and fail to engage my emotions. The writing style is mediocre at best, with no real flair or creativity.

I feel like I've wasted precious time reading this book when I could have been exploring other more worthwhile literary treasures. It's a real letdown and makes me question my choice of reading material.

I hope that in the future, I'll be more discerning and choose books that are truly worthy of my time and attention.

Overall, this book truly held my attention throughout the reading process.

It wasn't due to some overly inspirational prose that could move one to tears or even a tightly woven plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. Instead, it was because I was constantly in a state of uncertainty regarding my feelings towards Lin and Manna.

At various moments, I wholeheartedly rooted for each of them, both separately and when they were together, due to their deep devotion to one another. However, there were also times when I despised each of them for their blatant weaknesses and selfish behavior.

I was deeply intrigued and wanted to discover what fate had in store for them and their complex relationship. Does waiting for someone for such an extended period truly strengthen love? Or is it just a futile and rather ridiculous endeavor?

Did they perhaps lose sight of what each meant to the other because of this long wait? Was Lin truly capable of love or was he simply too immature to understand its true essence?

As a married woman, Lin's internal dialogue towards the end of the novel was rather disturbing to me. When he came to the realization that he had made a mistake, it made me question many aspects of love and decision-making.

Equally disturbing was the trap that Manna found herself in as an "old maid." She held onto the dream of marriage simply because she had been taught, raised, or perhaps even brainwashed to believe that successful women in society must inevitably be wives and mothers.

I think this book has the potential to prompt a frank and engaging discussion about various aspects such as love, marriage, loyalty, social pressures, and self-definition in a book talk setting. It could really open up a Pandora's box of thoughts and emotions, making it a truly thought-provoking read.