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Title: worth the wait
Review: I can't quite give it five stars because the first two parts of this three part novel were a bit slow for my tastes. In fact, I almost stopped reading the book before I got to page 12, but the diaogue on that page hooked me for the rest of book. Ha Jin is a minimalist in the best sense of the word. He gives you just enough to keep you intrigued, but rarely knocks you over with powerful passages. As the story develops, it becomes increasingly more poetic, gripping and provocative. The last third of the book is truly remarkable, containing some of the best prose I have ever read. By the end, I was left pondering age-old questions about male-female relationships and family obligations with fresh new insights as developed by the main characters. My advice is to be patient with the book. There is a method to his slow development of characters and plot. It is worth the wait.
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