Customer Reviews

Raise the Red Lantern

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

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed "Raise the Red Lantern", more so than the other two novellas. As an occidental 30-something I realize I am not qualified to judge the accuracy of the story, but I found it highly entertaining. I also liked the film version. The novella differs in creating a degree of emotion, suspense, and creepiness that the film lacks. The film is worth seeing for the setting and costumes alone.

Set in China of the 1920's or 30's the protagonist is a young woman who, due to her father's death, can no longer afford to study at the unversity. With few options available she becomes the 4th wife/concubine of a wealthy man who is plenty old enough to be her father. The "wives"/mistresses each have their own small apartment in his traditional Chinese compound. What she finds a life of boredom interrupted by plots among the other mistresses, and the slighted maid who wanted to be the 4th mistress, to eliminate each other and win favor with their benefactor. They all want to spend intimate time with the old geezer in order to conceive a son, the only way to ascend this surreal hierarchy. The protagonist manages to thwart numerous plots against her and sets out to discover the mystery of the previous 4th mistress. In the process she descends to a level of cruel that she previously disdained in the other mistresses. As with most Chinese stories, don't expect a happy ending.

The first of the three novellas is more accessible and conventional than the other two, but it may not be the best. All three are rich and textured with layers of meaning of those willing to spend the time with them. As with all translations, I wonder what there was in the original that I am missing by reading the story second hand. I get the sense that this is a careful translation. (Someone will probably tell me I am way off on that judgment.) If you are willing to venture into a different culture, I think you will be rewarded by reading these three novellas.

I enjoyed all three stories in here. It was a new experience to read Su Tong's work because his writing style and narration was different from most other authors that I have read. I also saw the movie with the same name, and it was interesting to note the differences between the story and the film. All in all, a good read.

I am collecting books and their movies. I love the movie Raise the Red Lantern and was egar to read the book that inspired it. Of course, they are not the same but I can appreciate the movie more with the background information from the book and reading the book with the sights and sounds of the movie made both more enjoyable.

I wanted the WHOLE book to be the story Raise the Red Lantern. Too short!!