The interesting plot revolves around a divided China and a rapidly reunifying Mongolia. The book tells the story of a boy displaced by war in a foreign country, who is being guided about a fate that was determined from birth. The story is light and entertaining with about a third dedicated to martial arts in depth. The book is rich with period descriptions and good footnotes to explain things that foreign readers might be confused about.
Legends are Born in February, Funny Shirts for Men, Birthday Gift Shirt, Husband Shirt, February Birthday Gift
So why give only three out of five? The first is translation. Its literal meaning is quite accurate but most of the character is lost in the translation. Guo Jing's (main character) development is the biggest casualty. In the original, he appears as a strong but simple guy with poor intellect. His tutors and sifu are annoyed by his lack of progress but have a feeling of love and devotion. His archetype meant a "legitimate" patriot with outspoken motives. There are many points where the author uses puns to let the reader know that Guo Jing is not very smart if not revealed in the book. None of this happens in English. Guo Jing reads like a simple story that no one likes except their duty to him. It's a pity and drags his story down. This loss in translation extends to fight scenes and interpretations of moves that are less jarring than in the original text. I hope there is a better translation.
0 Comments