Andre’s Reviews > Legends from Serene Lands: Classical Vietnamese Stories > Status Update

This book has some significant translation issues, not only did the editor say beforehand that the author had left details out, but we constantly here the word "genie" when referring to deities I guess, then again in other cases the word god was used... so why not use the original term, as they did in other cases, and explain them? Also it speaks of beavers laying eggs... there are not even beavers in Vietnam.

I the collection of stories, considered that they are not collected from mere Memory, is not so good in my eyes. It is sort of a hodge podge, with well known legends regarding history and astronomy (one reminds me of a Korean tale I once read) and stories explaining the origins of figures of speech... At least the order should be different in my mind.

Looks like my first suspicion regarding story number 1 was correct. The last part was commentary. Number 11 started with a story of the author himself and then goes to a legend (no idea why) without any hint except context. Not a very good editorial decision in my eyes to have both texts look the same.

With the first story I wondered whether the third part was a comment by the author or not. Number 2 was kind off odd, but pretty forgettable. Number 3 was good. Number 4... seriously that tragedy could have easily been avoided, the story itself suggests this and Number 5 was a good tragic tale again.