nacholas’s Reviews > The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 1: The Golden Days > Status Update

i had no idea chinese literature got so kinky :3

the fact that it made me read an additional chapter tells how well done this stuff is. however, i wasn't expecting to see the word fuck in a 17th century... but it's the best combo of good translation and contemporary language. i do wonder what was their equivalent of the word fuck, in 18th century mandarin 🤔

i am actually dreading the end of this bc of how well written Cao wrote them, Hawkes who did a terrific job in translating the humour or rather sarcasm or even shyness disguised as boastfulness... i may have to find some way to get the other volumes when i conclude this 😭 but yeah, Grandmama is cool

a breeze honestly; while there a bunch of added characters, i love how Xue/Hawkes are able to showcase just enough of certain characters to make us intrigued. and the first murder finally happens but somehow, i love that it treats the situation organically. and ofc the usage of nature as poems/metaphors is sublime to read.

i love how accessible this is, really. sure, names were flung around but thank god there's a couple pages dedicated to names. as for initial reactions, the story's told in such an elegant manner, taking its time while trusting the audiences. but it's also so funny, me being chinese myself, i can only imagine how the mandarin names would be for white people 😭