A Free Life Audiobook

" I really enjoyed how this book focused on the everyday life of an immigrant coming to the states to make a life. Whereas a lot of Jin's books are pretty heady, it was interesting to watch him slow down an take the steps of building a life one by one. I think having a personal connection to the immigrant experience makes this book more interesting as well. "

" Fillial devotion, desire, and the minutae of life... "

" This novel was a fascinating look at the immigration/assimilation experience from the perspective of a Chinese family. While I enjoyed the glimpse into another life, the story was somewhat dreary. The fact that I was reading it on a damp, windy day at the beach probably didn't do anything to make it less dreary. "

" I love Ha Jin's books. Not only are they well written, with compelling, fully realized characters - I also learn a great deal about Chinese history, culture, and the immigrant experience. I listened to this book on CD. Overall the reader did an accomplished job of voicing a large number of disparate characters. "

" A thoroughly engaging read about Chinese immigrant Nan and his life as an American, aspiring to be a poet. "

" At first I could not get interested in this book, I simply didn't like Nan. But I wanted to see why it had gotten such good reviews. I'm glad I persevered! While I'm still not sure I like him, I did definitely care about him by the end. Heart-rending & life affirming. There's so much going on in this book: there's the immigrant struggle & then there's the poet's struggle -- Ha Jin tackles both of these themes articulately. "

" The immigrant struggle of Nan Wu a Chinese Boston U graduate student post Tiananmen Massacre. He drops out of school and eventually opens a restaurant, but his one desire is to write poetry. Eventually he finds out what a FREE Life really is. "

" Great immigrant story of a Chinese family who travel towards the American dream without leaving their heritage behind. "

" Another reviewer put it best: reading Ha Jin is like reading English as a Second Language. Beautiful prose. Rich ethnic, immigrant storytelling. The writing is spare, but powerful. "

" I liked "Waiting" much more than this one by Ha Jin, whom I really like a lot, but I enjoyed this book very much. I felt a bit like it was one of those books, however, that just ends. "

" i thought that this book was very disappointing compared to Ha Jin's others, which I have loved so much. "

" The most...quiet...book I have ever read. It unassumingly catches your attention and you don't realize just how good of a story it is until its over. "

" I loved this book. Ha Jin gives a clear veiw into the complexity of Chinese American life and the immigrant experience. "

" he is a genius...I really enjoyed this novel... "

" Again, adjusting to life in America. "

" A wonderful read. Anyone who has immigrated or is a first generation American can find themselves in these pages. A very thoughtful and true-to-life rendering. "

" Listened to this on audio book and the reader was AMAZING! I enjoyed reading Waiting a long time ago and this one didn't disappoint either. "

" Worst Ha Jin's book I've ever read. Too bad, because the plot is not bad, and every now and then there are hints of what could have been a very good novel. I wonder if it's been edited at all. The language can be really bad, and the story needs to be cut down by at least a third... "

" Ha Jin captures the essense of life in America. Seeing things through the screen of another culture is enlightening. I like Ha Jin's style and his ability to get the message across. "

" I usually love Ha Jin's books but, for some reason, I found the protagonist of this one annoying at points. "

" I liked the story and the language (and some of the poems) :). However, I found that the text was too long and at times not contributing much to the story. The ending was long awaited and rewarding. I wish there was more about Nan's relationship with Taotao. "

" Ha Jin makes brave attempt to write in his non-native language. His characters are quite real and the protagonist is sympathetic, but ultimately predictable in giving in to his newly adopted culture. "

" he is a genius...I really enjoyed this novel... "

" Passionate clear writing about immigration, freedom, politics, poetry and Chinese food. Set in Boston and Atlanta. Fellow Atlantans-- you'll find yourself out on Buford Hwy trying to find the Golden Buddha and settling for Little Szechuan. "

" This book dealt with a Chinese immigrant family trying to make his way in a new land while simultaneously trying to deal with the baggage he left behind. Nan struggles to find his identity; vacillating between the country he was born in and the country he lives in now. <br/> "

" Author writes beautifully of the struggles of Chinese immigrants in this country. The lives of the characters are bittersweet, so well developed you feel as though you were personally sitting with them over tea listening to them reminisce as a friend might who has finally earned their trust "

" Not my favorite of Jin's books, but very interesting, particularly all the details that seem at first to bog down the novel--the search for cheap housing, for example. A compelling look at what it takes (for some) and what it means to be a writer. "