The Crazed Audiobook

" A brilliant book. Set at the time of the crisis at Tianemen. It's rather simplistic compared to other texts - simplistic structure wise. But the themes he deals with are applicable to everyone. "

" I thought Ha Jin's Waiting was a work of genius. Again this time it's a book set in communist China where there's little action, and the main character has trouble taking charge of his life, but this character & the other main characters are less appealing & the dialog more stilted. The Tinanamen Massacre plays a role in the story, though a much more incidental one than in The Sons of Heaven. "

" Huh? I remember nothing about this book. "

" As of 1/26 reading on my (new) Nook! 1/27 Finished. I liked this. As I read I liked it more. I recalled Lu Xun's "Diary of a Madman." Who was crazed? It is set during the student movement in 89, though only a small part occurs in Beijing. Still, there is a madman calling a warning for the children - and "children" - the next generation - was being manipulated by party members and officials or being mowed down by tanks or gunned down by the army. The author goes so far as to have one of the characters say: China is eating her young. Interesting. One thing I did not like was to switch the names around. I get that there author is an American, writing in English - but I think it is entirely appropriate to use Chinese conventions when writing about China. "

" Ehh. The last two chapters are really good. There were some interesting insights into Chinese culture as well. But I was never really able to connect with the main (or any other) character. There were several unnecessary descriptions of female anatomy too. Nothing too blatant, but certainly not needed to advance plot or establish character and therefore disappointing to find it included. I'd give this one a pass if you're considering it unless you're locked in a room and your only other choices are the Hunger Games or Twilight. "

" Not one of his best efforts I'm afraid, but still interesting. A university student is attending the bedside of his professor who is very ill. The professor is lucid only at intervals. There is a peripheral love story that is interesting. "

" If you want to know how the government of China can control and manipulate people's lives, read this book. "

" Indictment of life in Communist CHina; describes the horrs of Tienamen Square. "

" i actually enjoyed this book more than his more famous "waiting." i think i have a soft spot for professors and grad students as characters.... "

" It took awhile to get into this...slow going, but not bad. "

" Rather depressing. Not my favorite by Ha Jin. "

" I love Ha Jin. I read this title in one sitting (um, I was up until 3 am) His works are very straightforward and simple, but filled with insight. This story is about a chinese professor who goes insane and the fallout for those around him. "

" I read this book while travelling through China. What a dissapointment! The book that is, not China. A painfully slow read. Needless to say the book did not make it home with me. I left it for some unlucky traveller to pick up. "

" Some troubled and interesting characters in this one. I think it was one of the first books I've read by a Chinese author, and I really enjoyed learning about some of the social turmoil of China in the late 20th century. "

" This was the first one I read by the author I gave it the high rating because he painted such a picture of the place and people that It was like I lived their lives for not just the duration of the read but also years after . "

" A strange little book. Not much "happens" until the end, and even then you think, "that's it?" I'm interested enough to read Ha Jin's most celebrated book, Waiting, though. "

" Fictional account of a participant in the Tianenman Square riot in Bejing. Interesting to get the POV of a person from the Chinese culture, and get a picture of the event from the inside. "

" This book only started getting good on the last page. "

" intriguing...not as good as Waiting... "

" Its good, if a little bland. Picks up toward the end. Plenty of existential brooding. "

" Well-written but not very interesting. "

" I could not get into this at all. "

" I enjoyed War Trash more, but I thought this was another excellent book. I love how he gets so close to the characters, that you can understand the society they live in. "

" A brilliant book. Set at the time of the crisis at Tianemen. It's rather simplistic compared to other texts - simplistic structure wise. But the themes he deals with are applicable to everyone. "

" This book only started getting good on the last page. "

" I love Ha Jin. I read this title in one sitting (um, I was up until 3 am) His works are very straightforward and simple, but filled with insight. This story is about a chinese professor who goes insane and the fallout for those around him. "

" The first book I read by Ha Jin. I will read more. "Seek not material gain, but something more significant to your being - something that can make you feel your life is properly used and fulfilled." "

" A particularly timely book since the Olympics are happening now and they are in Beijing. This book was pretty small but fascinating - and then took a political turn at the end "

" Not one of his best efforts I'm afraid, but still interesting. A university student is attending the bedside of his professor who is very ill. The professor is lucid only at intervals. There is a peripheral love story that is interesting. "