Customer Reviews

Crystal Boys: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book because it was in my husband's collection when we married. Hsien-Yung Pai was his professor at UCSB, for whom he had much admiration. I was impressed with the fact that Professor Pai did not feel a need to resort to describing the physical intimacies between the characters to get an audience, but relied on descriptions of their emotional connections. I was deeply touched by A-Qing's relationship with his brother. Not being a writer, I can't come up with the right words to say why it should be read. Just that when I finished it, I will always be grateful the I had the opportunity.

I've read the Crystal Boys in Chinese and English. It is a psychological tale about A-Qing and his journey through which he grows and breaks out of his mold. Professor Pai touches on the family dynamics that is quite unfamiliar to the Western society. For Asians, to be cut off from our family is probably the worst thing that could happen to you, especially if you are a guy.

It is interesting to note that all the characters in the story hold contradicting characteristics. It also breaks the stereotypes about homosexuals. We see in the book that these boys are really no different than us. They face the problems that we face; poverty, rebellion, and trying to acheive a balance between family expectations and one's own dreams.

Sadly, the beauty of Chinese language is lost through translation, but the translators did their best. It is always difficult to express things in another language.I would definitely recommand the English version to those who can't read Chinese. But those who can read Chinese should read the Chinese version. It sets such a melancholy atmospere and takes you into the mind and heart of A-Qing. You can't help but feel as if you are him, experiencing his feelings and his struggles as he fights for his place in the world.

P.S. My high school was near New Park, and I can tell you that there are a very intriguing gay culture there. The lotuses are all gone, but the spirit of these Crystal Boys live on.

Maybe I am a slow reader, but I actually took more than a year to complete reading this book! I have read the Chinese version some years ago, but that was for a book review for Chinese lessons. Now, almost five years down the road, I read the English version and found that some aspects of the original version was lost, namely the Taiwan-ness of the language (you need to have a knowledge of the Taiwanese dialect to appreciate Pai's work), the validity of this work to today's gay community in Taiwan and the whole meaning of New Park (after being renamed 228 Peace Park).

I suppose you must read it while remebering that such things don't exist that way in Taiwan anymore. Pai's work shows us the early stages of the gay community in Taiwan, and also the sad parts, especially the deaths, the heartaches and the loss of minds. Thank god, things are getting better now in Taiwan, and even in several big modern cities in Asia. So a word of caution to the Western reader in the US or Canada, or even Australia and England, Pai's work is about old Taiwan, a Taiwan that is relevant up to the mid 1980s. The Taiwan of today (2001) is a very, very different place as Pai describes, as regards the gay community.

Feel touched, feel sad but also feel happy that such sad stories are fewer now, thanks to more openness in Taiwan today.

The narrator of this vivid and compelling book about the lives of a group Taiwanese teenage hustlers is an intelligent 18 year-old boy named A-Qing, whose father kicked him out of the house when it was discovered at his school that he had been caught "in an immoral act" with the chemistry lab supervisor. His mother had abandoned her family to run away with a member of some performing troupe, only to waste away and die ignobly during the novel. His younger brother Buddy, who he loves fondly and always remembers affectionately, died from pneumonia. Like A-Qing, his friends also share similar dysfunctional family backgrounds. Little Jade, whose stepfather had also kicked him out of the house after catching him in an "immoral act" in the kitchen with a noodle man, constantly harbors "cherry blossom dreams" of going to Japan to find his true father, a Shiseido salesman who had abandoned Little Jade and his mother. Wu Min, a quiet, obedient boy who tried to commit suicide when his sugar daddy kicked him out, has to worry about his gambling father who has been in and out of jail. Mousey, known as "sticky fingers" for his petty stealing habits, lives with Raven, his violent brother, in a brothel that also serves as a gambling den to society's lowlifes. Mousey's only joy in life is his small metal treasure box containing his stolen goods of pens and other odds and ends. Though forced by circumstance to hustle their bodies to old, lewd men, they all retain youthful innocence and possess a vast capacity to love and care for each other, their families, and for unfortunates like themselves. Though forced to leave their families, they never forget their filial duties. Their world, though cruel, does not seem as vicious, dangerous, and dirty as in the Western world with its murders and drugs. It still seems benevolent with its host of generous sugar daddies. The author, a graduate of the M.F.A. program at the U. of Iowa, writes with such a firm grasp of compositional technique, descriptive ability, and characterization that the novel was a breeze to read. The book has the "legend" tone of popular Chinese sword novels, owing to the narrator's love of these stories as well the legends that are perpetuated about certain glass boys of New Park, which the narrator calls "our kingdom." Nieh-Tzu is a moving book because it vividly reveals a sordid side of Asian society rarely written about, but which is all too real.

this book is the top one gay novel (it takes you time to read) from the Chinese world. it vividly presents the gay subcultures in Taipei, Taiwan in 1970s (or 1980s?). to understand the gay subcultures in Taiwan or in Chinese world in general, you cannot ignore this significant work. despite the sensuous cover of the english translation, the book itself is more serious than sexual--though there are many humorous and campy scenes in the book. the author of the book, Prof Pai, who teaches in UCSB, is one of the most well-know person of Belles Lettres from the Chinese world.

Being a gay male living in Taiwan I happened upon this book from a friend of mine. It was a lovely read--one too real at times. Of course being gay in Taiwan isn't much like what appears inside the book but it's nice to be able to read something like this and see how the society has come along. I don't know if I cared that much for the "tragic" love story that was mentioned...but I think it comes close to expressing the intensity of gay male love. I think a lot is lost in the translation and maybe a little more explanatory text in the beginning would have helped in the matters... But all in all the story kept me at the book till the end...wanting to know what happened with the rest of the characters afterwards.

I first found this novel in the mid 80's. And one my first read I knew it was a book that would describe parts of my life. Without graphic sex scenes a world of prositution is unfolded for you that not only tells of love and loss but of the unique mindset needed. It also hits hard on the subject of family wich hammered this reader into incoprehension from similarities.

I write this review to inform others that a film called " outcasts" based on this book was released form Tiawan in the mid 90's. Being the first film of this subject matter ever to come from Tiawan. The VHS tape is the ONLY movie from book that I believe outdid the original book. And has the added benifit of having a happy ending.

Unfortunately I have not found a dvd release.Though I have found VHS here at amazon from time to time.

Two decades later I still read Crystal Boys at least once a year. I take it to heart, and for the I am a better person for it.

Metta

Crystal Boys has been written for a series of TV play recently in Taiwan. The TV series is now playing on Taiwan Public Television Station. Some of the scenes are different from original story written and I would say that it's quite a success. However, the story told by author Mr. Pai still touches me deeply after all these years since I first read the novel.

First i have to say i am a taiwanese,so my english is not well.

This book is not only a novel about gay but also one of the best novel in taiwan.The writter,Hsien-Yung Pai,is one of the best writter in taiwan new literature.(I am a little sad about most of american read it just because they thought it is a gay novel.)

Most of his novel write about the relation of china and taiwan. There are many benevolence in his article,also in Crystal Boys. Now,New Park had change its name,but Crystal Boys will always be the best novel to everyone.

I read this book in a gay lit class in college and LOVED it. That was before I knew what litchis were. I was engrossed by this book, and hungry for litchis which were so beautifully described, and I'd never tasted. Luckily, I came to California just after finishing the book, in litchi season. It is a beautifully told story, with vivid descriptions. I see other reviewers comment on how accurately it portrays real life, and how the translation affects things. Despite any issues, know that this book is a cultural window--of poverty, culture, gay life. If you like reading books about other cultures, this is a good choice.