Comments on: Jonathan Tel: The Beijing of Possibilities

By: Isabel

Isabel — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:10:00 +0000

I am interested in reading about the snapshot of life in China today.

The internet famous Gorrilla made me giggle.

I guess the creepy arms are supposed to be Yu? Hate the blank eyes on the cover.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:27:01 +0000

I hope I disappoint you now, Kerry! Have you read any of Calvino’s novels? I actually tend to like his short stories more than the novels I’ve read, but I have to say I’m not that well read up on Calvino. The novels I read were years ago, and since I started my blog I’ve read only a few of his short stories. However, I finally got a hold of an Everyman’s Library edition of If on a winter’s night a traveller, and though I’ve read the first chapter many times, this will be my first time going through the whole book.

By: Kerry

Kerry — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:46:15 +0000

Great review. The cover would have put me off too. Your descriptions of the stories makes this a mandatory TBR addition. I have only just recently begun reading a collection of Calvino stories (which I absolutely love), so any comparison to Calvino strikes me as high praise. Plus, you liked it and Calvino is one of your favorites, so…

Besides as a long-time reader, I know you are a trustworthy source. Thanks for bringing this book to my attention.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:41:16 +0000

I’m looking forward to your impression of this book, Nadia. As you can see from the review, it was great — much better than I was expecting when I got it. But I don’t think it was good just because it exceeded my expectations; it was genuinely well written and interesting and emotional.

Also, I think it’s worth noting that not only will you be getting a view of Beijing in a book of fiction but also in a book written by a westerner (though Tel has lived in Beijing off and on throughout the years, it seems). Best wishes in reading!

By: Nadia

Nadia — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:48:11 +0000

I can totally understand being turned off by the cover because just looking at it creeps me out. However, I loved your post on it because it made me want to go out and get the book (even though the cover is creepy). The story about little Yu sounds tragic and the first story you mention about the man who stops a thief and is scrutinized for his actions sounds really interesting to me and rather modern. Looking forward to reading these stories. I don’t know much about Beijing except what a friend of mine has told (she is from Beijing) and what a couple of my friends from Hong Kong have said, so it would nice to learn a bit more about mainland China, even if it is through a fiction book. Cheers Trevor!

By: Trevor

Trevor — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:41:15 +0000

I hate to say it, Lee, but the only Pamuk I've read is the first eighty pages of My Name Is Red. I was thoroughly enjoying that book, but left it on an airplane. When I rebought it, the time for it apparently had past. I remember that the first eighty pages were great but so dense I felt as if I'd already read 400 pages. I wouldn't say that anything here reminded me of Pamuk, but I'd be very interested about what others with more knowledge thought. By the way, here is another review of The Beijing of Possibilities giving it high praise. I only read it this morning, and it presents other successful aspects of the book.

By: Lee Monks

Lee Monks — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:45:25 +0000

Sounds very interesting. Any comparisons with Pamuk, Trevor?