∎ Read Don't Cry Tai Lake An Inspector Chen Novel Inspector Chen Cao Qiu Xiaolong 9780312550646 Books

Don't Cry Tai Lake An Inspector Chen Novel Inspector Chen Cao Qiu Xiaolong 9780312550646 Books

Download As PDF : Don't Cry Tai Lake An Inspector Chen Novel Inspector Chen Cao Qiu Xiaolong 9780312550646 Books

Don't Cry Tai Lake An Inspector Chen Novel Inspector Chen Cao Qiu Xiaolong 9780312550646 Books

Qiu Xialong impressed upon me how living in 1990s China was. It can be summarized in two words, the Party. It guides the economy, influences people’s aspirations, and is either the direct, or indirect, source of disparity between varying individuals' lifestyles. If it is not explicitly affecting everyday life and the economy, it is not far from them. The Party creates and solves major problems in current Chinese society. Throughout the story there are examples of how Party connections influence the economy, aspirations, and disparity while playing a role in everyday life.
It is an old tale of a just person doing their best to live under unjust circumstances. The novel is a “who-done-it” story with cost, human and environment, as the major theme. The sub-plots are events where minor characters (Huang, Yu, Peiqin) aid the protagonist, Detective Chen, in his quest for the truth—solving a murder mystery (Mr. Liu’s death). Along the way, social and political commentary are further provided via other people (Shanshan, Zhao, Qiao, and Tian). As well as supplementary individuals (Mi, Fu, Mrs. Liu, Bai) who offer additional structure. From the opening scene to the final act, the Party’s everyday role in life is presented. In the end, the case exposed the real culprits. Detective Chen had done his job, but in doing so, he revealed how the connections the Party system engendered were a cause and cure for China.
In reading the story, I learned something humorous not mentioned in the book, though implicit throughout: There are more people outside a communist country who believe in communism than those who actually live in a communist country and believe in communism. In other words, an outsider may think communism is a utopia; whereas the one living in "utopia" may (quietly) think different. As I conclude, I thought it interesting to learn how a world of "obligations" vs. "rights" operated. If this seems interesting, then I would recommend "Don't Cry, Tai Lake" for you.


Tags : Don't Cry, Tai Lake: An Inspector Chen Novel (Inspector Chen Cao) [Qiu Xiaolong] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Dark, gorgeous…feels authentically Chinese and it works like a charm. --</i>Washington Post Book World on</i> A Case of Two Cities<BR> <BR> Chief Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Department is offered a bit of luxury by friends and supporters within the Party - a week's vacation at a luxurious resort near Lake Tai,Qiu Xiaolong,Don't Cry, Tai Lake: An Inspector Chen Novel (Inspector Chen Cao),Minotaur Books,0312550642,Chen, Inspector (Fictitious character);Fiction.,Police;China;Shanghai;Fiction.,Shanghai (China);Fiction.,American Mystery & Suspense Fiction,Asian American Novel And Short Story,Chen, Inspector (Fictitious character),China,Fiction,Fiction - Mystery Detective,Fiction Mystery & Detective Police Procedural,Mystery & Detective - International Mystery & Crime,Mystery & Detective - Police Procedural,Mystery & Detective International Mystery & Crime,MysterySuspense,Police,Shanghai,Shanghai (China)

Don't Cry Tai Lake An Inspector Chen Novel Inspector Chen Cao Qiu Xiaolong 9780312550646 Books Reviews

In a Law and Order episode, the cops rapidly jump to conclusions, often arresting the wrong person, once or twice before they arrest the actual culprit. In an Inspector Chen mystery, Chief Inspector Chen is maddeningly unwilling to draw any conclusions despite the abundance of clues. Perhaps it is because in a highly political environment decontrolled by conflicting ideologies, facts are easily ignored unless they support the desired outcome. In every case he must do his job despite the counter efforts of the Internal Security police, a sort of FBI/CIA organization that is also shadowing Chen. In the end, of course, he figures everything out in his careful way.

In this story Chen's case is about a murder, but also about the pollution of lakes in China. Chemical companies are dumping waste. In the US we had the same problem but have instituted regulations. In the 1990's when this story is set there is no Chinese EPA. Chen has been loveless for a while. His devotion to his job makes it impossible for him to have a relationship. He does have a fling in this episode but alas it doesn't work out to be lasting. His old girlfriend Ling doesn't appear in this book. Yu and his wife appear briefly in the story and are turning into a pair of Mr. And Mrs. Smith characters.
Another great book by Qiu Xiaolong, this time tackling a notorious aspect of the ascent of China among the world's great economic powers water pollution. Which is not to say that the culinary aspect is being neglected once again, the author demonstrates his fascination with food of all kings and his delight at describing dishes at length; and it goes without saying that we are regaled, as always, with appropriate passages from classical Chinese poetry. The story line is, for once, rather straightforward, but the devil is in the details, and the story ends up more suspenseful than most of his six previous Inspector Chen novels. Great writing, attention to cultural details of all kinds, a real gift for descriptions, for personal details and minute observations, and for the uneasy coexistence of modern China and the farming culture that was part of almost very Chinese until very recently are hallmarks of Mr. Xiaolong's work and are very much in evidence here. The moral evolution of the main character is now becoming a focus point, as he rises steadily through the police department and party apparatus, leading this reader to await the next Inspector Chen novel with some trepidation.
Qiu Xialong impressed upon me how living in 1990s China was. It can be summarized in two words, the Party. It guides the economy, influences people’s aspirations, and is either the direct, or indirect, source of disparity between varying individuals' lifestyles. If it is not explicitly affecting everyday life and the economy, it is not far from them. The Party creates and solves major problems in current Chinese society. Throughout the story there are examples of how Party connections influence the economy, aspirations, and disparity while playing a role in everyday life.
It is an old tale of a just person doing their best to live under unjust circumstances. The novel is a “who-done-it” story with cost, human and environment, as the major theme. The sub-plots are events where minor characters (Huang, Yu, Peiqin) aid the protagonist, Detective Chen, in his quest for the truth—solving a murder mystery (Mr. Liu’s death). Along the way, social and political commentary are further provided via other people (Shanshan, Zhao, Qiao, and Tian). As well as supplementary individuals (Mi, Fu, Mrs. Liu, Bai) who offer additional structure. From the opening scene to the final act, the Party’s everyday role in life is presented. In the end, the case exposed the real culprits. Detective Chen had done his job, but in doing so, he revealed how the connections the Party system engendered were a cause and cure for China.
In reading the story, I learned something humorous not mentioned in the book, though implicit throughout There are more people outside a communist country who believe in communism than those who actually live in a communist country and believe in communism. In other words, an outsider may think communism is a utopia; whereas the one living in "utopia" may (quietly) think different. As I conclude, I thought it interesting to learn how a world of "obligations" vs. "rights" operated. If this seems interesting, then I would recommend "Don't Cry, Tai Lake" for you.