Soul Mountain

By: Gao Xingjian, Mabel Lee - Translator

Narrated by: Brian Keeler

Facing time on a prison farm for defying his country’s laws of cultural conformity, Nobel Prize-winning artist/writer Gao Xingjian embarked on an epic search for his roots and for freedom. His journey through Southern China’s ancient mountains and forests, inspired this immensely wise and beautiful novel.

©2000 Gao Xingjian, translation Mabel Lee (P)2002 Recorded Books, LLC

Lost in translation??

Would you try another book from Gao Xingjian and/or Brian Keeler?

May be.

Any additional comments?

There are parts that read like poetry, yet many other times the "story" skipped around haphazardly. I often felt lost and I suspect it is because of the translation.

Narrator ruins the book

The pronunciations of the Mandarin are excruciating. Can’t even stand to listen - although I love this book.

Modern Chinese version of "On the Road"

Where does Soul Mountain rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the better audiobooks

What was one of the most memorable moments of Soul Mountain?

The stories he is inventing as he is inspired by the surroundings.

Which character – as performed by Brian Keeler – was your favorite?

The main character

If you could take any character from Soul Mountain out to dinner, who would it be and why?

The writer himself, since he is the main character. I would expect interesting conversations about the humanity. Also, comparing the Chinese and Western cultures.

Any additional comments?

Not an easy book to go through, but worth it. Aside from describing the modern Chinese society and its challenges, there are stories describing parts of the rich history, detailed descriptions of the nature in various parts of southern China, as well as the customs, folk songs in the different regions.

A wonderful book

A fantastic book that I found to be developmental and maturative for a young man coming of age such as myself. I found great relation with the author and I further highly recommend this book.

Disappointing

Although this promised to be a good choice I found it difficult to follow at times and often tedious.
If you are looking for reasons to visit China, don't bother to read it. The history of China since WWII is depressing particularly because the horrors which occurred were self inflicted. It is a dystopian vision into what may occur under totalitarian rule even to a people with a rich cultural heritage.