'Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress' by Dai Sijie is a novel set during the Cultural Revolution in China, focusing on two teenage boys who are sent to a remote village for re-education. They encounter the Little Chinese Seamstress, a tailor's daughter, and discover a stash of banned Western books that open their minds to new ideas and possibilities. The book explores themes of friendship, love, the power of literature, and the impact of forbidden knowledge in a repressive society.
The narrative of the book is described as engaging, with a focus on the transformative power of reading and storytelling. The story follows the protagonists as they navigate life in the village, their relationships with the Little Chinese Seamstress, and their discovery of Western literature that challenges their perspectives and leads to unexpected consequences. The writing style is praised for its simplicity, humor, and ability to evoke the setting of rural China during a tumultuous period in history.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains themes related to abortion, censorship, and the harsh realities of life during the Cultural Revolution.
Has Romance?
The novel contains significant romantic elements, particularly between Luo and the Little Seamstress.
From The Publisher:
New York Times Bestseller
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress is an enchanting tale that captures the magic of reading and the wonder of romantic awakening. An immediate international bestseller, it tells the story of two hapless city boys exiled to a remote mountain village for re-education during China's infamous Cultural Revolution. There the two friends meet the daughter of the local tailor and discover a hidden stash of Western classics in Chinese translation. As they flirt with the seamstress and secretly devour these banned works, the two friends find transit from their grim surroundings to worlds they never imagined.
Ratings (12)
Incredible (2) | |
Loved It (4) | |
Liked It (2) | |
It Was OK (1) | |
Did Not Like (1) | |
Hated It (2) |
Reader Stats (15):
Read It (12) | |
Want To Read (2) | |
Not Interested (1) |
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Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress?
About the Author:
Dai Sijie is a Chinese-born filmmaker and novelist who has lived and worked in France since 1984. His first novel, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, was an overnight sensation; it spent 23 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. He has also…
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