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Reviews:
A good read. A good think., June 21, 2001
This is Loh's first book and I hope not his last. I found it ripe and full of the conflicts of cultures, generations, and the sexes, with well-drawn characters that change and develop. The multi-layered depiction of ideologies and beliefs among the naïve and mature is exciting both intellectually and historically. The politics of everyday life are smoothly intertwined with the larger politics of our world.
The basic story of a Chinese "English" teacher studying in Australia is framed within Chinese lore and history in superb myth-telling. I especially liked the intercultural, inter-gender, and intergenerational conflicts among Asian-Australians as they were compared and contrasted to Euro-Australians. As the story shifts to China, we are not led to 1989's 4th of June Tiananmen Square massacre on our own terms-the book prods at our provinciality and challenges our beliefs. A good read. And a good think.
Tim Murphey
Sincere And Powerful, October 3, 2001
Sincere And Powerful, October 3, 2001
By Austin G Mackell (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
Frank Chan Loh's novel takes on many challenges, It takes on the challenge of relating, without the use of cliché's, the migrant experience, and dealing with the problems of culture shock. it delves into philosophy, modern and ancient, eastern and western, politics, family, loyalty, independence and the search for identity. All of which is set to a well crafted and powerful historical and social backdrop, which has significant and meaningful (as apposed to token and cheap) impact on the story and characters.
Some of the dialogue comes across as slightly forced, slightly formal, with uninterrupted monologues running sometimes unconvincingly long stretches, everything said however is justified and real, the story has a slow beginning, but this is neccecary and is a reflection of the amount of momentum it generates.
Loh's effective and powerful use of foreshadowing helps to create a sense of powerlessness and inevitability about the plot. The sub heading helps to underline this "Roads To Tianimen" makes it clear from the beginning where this story is heading.
This is the books greatest asset in my view, its sense of foreshadowing and inevitability pulling us irresitibly to a memorable and powerful ending.
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