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A review by kc6
泾渭情殇 [Jīng Wèi Qíng Shāng] by Qing Jun Mo Xiao
5.0
10.25.2024
This novel is like a bajillion words long. It truly deserves a bajillion-word-long review. But I'm not a writer, so that won't happen. It's a daunting task to review such a vast and immersive novel at all. I finished it on 10/13/24, and it took me until now to put some thoughts together. JWQS took up much of my time, emotional capacity, and brain space. Now that it's over, I'm left with a void. I believe other readers will feel this lasting impact as well.
I want to make sure I give props to the translation at the very start of this review because it was so well done. The translator, Melts, did a phenomenal job. Compared to a few other Chinese-to-English translators I've read works from, Melts is far superior. I can't sing enough praise. Every single translator note in JWQS was well thought out and informative. I am happy Melts is involved in the official English publications of this book. The excellent translation definitely added to my overall appreciation for the novel.
Scuttlebutt is JWQS will be made into seven print copies over the next few years. That's right, SEVEN! If I were to write seven individual reviews and give seven different ratings, there might be some variety. But since I must rate this entire novel in one go, I'm giving it a strong five!
I think Gu Rolan's reflection on Qi Yan and Nangong Jingnu's relationship summarized the entire story perfectly: "She truly could not imagine how two people who were barred by the grudge between kingdoms and hatred between families, and who were both women at that... Just how much courage and capacity they had to bring out, and how much misery and obstructions they had to fight against to walk to such a point today."
JWQS made me laugh, made me cry, made me happy, and made me angry. But most importantly, it made me addicted to reading! Sometimes, I didn't pick up the novel for days. JWQS is a perfect example of why I try to have two or three books that I'm reading at a time. I rushed through the first 50 chapters, took a break for a few weeks, ran through 50 or so more, and took another break. I followed a similar pattern until the breaks got shorter, and eventually, I couldn't even put the novel down to sleep at night. By the end, this story had almost taken over my life!
I didn't want to compare this novel to FGEP, but I can't help it. PDL describes the difference between the two novels in one of the author's notes. I visited that note often to keep myself immersed in JWQS and not reminiscing about FGEP. I read JWQS after FGEP because the internet consensus is that it is the best of PDL's novels. I don't know if I agree with that. They are both excellent novels but different in story, direction and even style. However, FGEP is still at the top for me. It took longer to connect with the characters in JWQS than in FGEP. Also, I never fell in love with the characters in JWQS. I was (and still am) in love with Lin Wanyue very early in FGEP. FGEP has much more action than JWQS, which has more political intrigue. FGEP was significantly shorter in length than JWQS. However, they are both brutally slow burns! The slow burn of the novels requires patience and dedication to the characters, but it is always worth it.
All that isn't to say I didn't connect with the characters of JWQS. I think anyone who reads this novel will! As PDL said in an author note, "A large batch of friends will be lost once the next story begins." The characters in JWQS grow on you throughout the novel, making you feel almost like they are your dear friends. This quote from the novel almost describes the feeling of connection with the characters you develop as a reader: "In this world, there was no one who understood her more than Qi Yan. And as for what Qi Yan thought, what Qi Yan wanted, and even the tragedy in her heart, there was no one who could sense it more personally than Nangong Jingnu." You will know almost every little thing about Qi Yan and Nangong Jingnu.
I have some final thoughts about PDL novels that I want to share now that I'm already started on my third one. To enjoy PDL novels, you have to: 1) LOVE ANGST! Angst is how I would describe PDL if only one word is allowed. Angst. Angst. Angst. 2) Spend a lot of time reading, and I mean a lot. 3) Understand that not a lot will happen, but you will eventually realize that a lot has indeed happened. 4) learn so much about the characters, sometimes too much. 5) Be willing to feel utterly empty at the novel's end.
10.13.2024
Someone bake me a flippin jujube cake!
This novel is like a bajillion words long. It truly deserves a bajillion-word-long review. But I'm not a writer, so that won't happen. It's a daunting task to review such a vast and immersive novel at all. I finished it on 10/13/24, and it took me until now to put some thoughts together. JWQS took up much of my time, emotional capacity, and brain space. Now that it's over, I'm left with a void. I believe other readers will feel this lasting impact as well.
I want to make sure I give props to the translation at the very start of this review because it was so well done. The translator, Melts, did a phenomenal job. Compared to a few other Chinese-to-English translators I've read works from, Melts is far superior. I can't sing enough praise. Every single translator note in JWQS was well thought out and informative. I am happy Melts is involved in the official English publications of this book. The excellent translation definitely added to my overall appreciation for the novel.
Scuttlebutt is JWQS will be made into seven print copies over the next few years. That's right, SEVEN! If I were to write seven individual reviews and give seven different ratings, there might be some variety. But since I must rate this entire novel in one go, I'm giving it a strong five!
I think Gu Rolan's reflection on Qi Yan and Nangong Jingnu's relationship summarized the entire story perfectly: "She truly could not imagine how two people who were barred by the grudge between kingdoms and hatred between families, and who were both women at that... Just how much courage and capacity they had to bring out, and how much misery and obstructions they had to fight against to walk to such a point today."
JWQS made me laugh, made me cry, made me happy, and made me angry. But most importantly, it made me addicted to reading! Sometimes, I didn't pick up the novel for days. JWQS is a perfect example of why I try to have two or three books that I'm reading at a time. I rushed through the first 50 chapters, took a break for a few weeks, ran through 50 or so more, and took another break. I followed a similar pattern until the breaks got shorter, and eventually, I couldn't even put the novel down to sleep at night. By the end, this story had almost taken over my life!
I didn't want to compare this novel to FGEP, but I can't help it. PDL describes the difference between the two novels in one of the author's notes. I visited that note often to keep myself immersed in JWQS and not reminiscing about FGEP. I read JWQS after FGEP because the internet consensus is that it is the best of PDL's novels. I don't know if I agree with that. They are both excellent novels but different in story, direction and even style. However, FGEP is still at the top for me. It took longer to connect with the characters in JWQS than in FGEP. Also, I never fell in love with the characters in JWQS. I was (and still am) in love with Lin Wanyue very early in FGEP. FGEP has much more action than JWQS, which has more political intrigue. FGEP was significantly shorter in length than JWQS. However, they are both brutally slow burns! The slow burn of the novels requires patience and dedication to the characters, but it is always worth it.
All that isn't to say I didn't connect with the characters of JWQS. I think anyone who reads this novel will! As PDL said in an author note, "A large batch of friends will be lost once the next story begins." The characters in JWQS grow on you throughout the novel, making you feel almost like they are your dear friends. This quote from the novel almost describes the feeling of connection with the characters you develop as a reader: "In this world, there was no one who understood her more than Qi Yan. And as for what Qi Yan thought, what Qi Yan wanted, and even the tragedy in her heart, there was no one who could sense it more personally than Nangong Jingnu." You will know almost every little thing about Qi Yan and Nangong Jingnu.
I have some final thoughts about PDL novels that I want to share now that I'm already started on my third one. To enjoy PDL novels, you have to: 1) LOVE ANGST! Angst is how I would describe PDL if only one word is allowed. Angst. Angst. Angst. 2) Spend a lot of time reading, and I mean a lot. 3) Understand that not a lot will happen, but you will eventually realize that a lot has indeed happened. 4) learn so much about the characters, sometimes too much. 5) Be willing to feel utterly empty at the novel's end.
10.13.2024
Someone bake me a flippin jujube cake!