April/China Reading: Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather: Stories by Gao Xingjian

In April, we will be reading Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather: Stories
by Gao Xingjian:

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Gao Xingjian, winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for literature, is a sensitive, microscopically observant writer. Though few in number, the stories in this collection are richly diverse. One is a bittersweet reflection of a newlywed on his honeymoon; another a Pinteresque dialogue in a park; a third a traffic accident recounted in real-time with all its voyeuristic detail and authentic philosophical questioning, and still another, a strong memory-driven, first-person tale that follows the mental trail of a man who passes a fishing equipment shop and begins to remember his grandfather. For variety of content, stylistic experimentation, graceful language, and poignant insight, Xingjian is a writer who does it all beautifully.

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http://www.amazon.com/Buying-Fishing...7070145&sr=8-1

Please post your thoughts and questions on the book in this thread.

Book Club Procedures

I've read the first three stories and a page away from finishing the fourth.

I thought Temple was a nice story. The narrator is sharing their, Him and his wife, happiness with the reader, but I wonder if his wife has passed away or if she is sitting beside him while he tells the story.

In the Park read like a play and the transitions between dialogue and description are awkward.

The view of gender roles in China are spelled out in In the Park and The Accident. The commentary at the end of The Accident felt intrusive. The title story opened well but streamed into an uninteresting finish, but I did find a quote I liked: "I want to write a novel so profound that it would suffocate a fly."

I will finish the last story tonight, but Temple and Cramp are the best crafted stories and my favorite of a collection that I'm not exactly thrilled about.



Am I missing anything?

I can't find this book :-/

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Originally Posted by Scheherazade

I can't find this book :-/

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I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday to see what other books were available, but only Soul Mountain and One Man's Bible were on the shelf (both of which I have). I purchased my copy of Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather a few months ago from a used bookstore; it's an advance reading copy, so I don't know if I'm missing anything. But, I've had a hard time finding the book a second time; I hope others won't have the same problem.

This seems to be a one man show.:(

In an Instant feels like the description of a film script and storyboard. Like the opening of Bergman's Persona.

I enjoyed Temple and Cramp, but didn't care for the others.

Not a waste. Enjoying two out of six stories brings it below average. I got it!

I'm getting the book this weekend.

Care to comment B-mental?

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Originally Posted by NickAdams

This seems to be a one man show.:(

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It's only the fifth. :) I think I might get the book on Monday, so maybe more people will join you soon.

The only copy in the greater shreveport area is at the main library. I went there today and wouldn't you know it about a four block radius around the library was closed off apparently they were filming in that area. I'll try again tomorrow.

I got it from a storeroom in my local library today.
I don't think a lot of people asks for it. :p

I've read the first story, The Temple. I thought it was ok. I didn't really see the point, though.
I was little confused by the narration, sometimes he said "you" meaning the wife, and sometimes he said "you" referring to someone else. His friends at home, maybe?

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Originally Posted by Weisinheimer

I've read the first story, The Temple. I thought it was ok. I didn't really see the point, though.
I was little confused by the narration, sometimes he said "you" meaning the wife, and sometimes he said "you" referring to someone else. His friends at home, maybe?

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The nature and circumstance of the narration left me with more questions than the story.

A third-person subjective would have been my route. It seems the influence Beckett had on him was superficial. Xingjian wants to interact with the reader through first-person, with little reason as to why.

Doh!!! I drove all the way to the main library on my lunch hour - the book isn't there and was listed as "missing". I was wrong there are no copies in the greater shreveport area.

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Originally Posted by papayahed

Doh!!! I drove all the way to the main library on my lunch hour - the book isn't there and was listed as "missing". I was wrong there are no copies in the greater shreveport area.

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Try you did.;)

I broke down and ordered the book from Amazon. I don't think I've ever had this much trouble finding a book!

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

but I have Soul Mountain sitting on my bookshelf. LOL Wouldn't you know it!

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Me too. I should've voted for it.

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

You have Soul Mountain on your bookshelf, too? I haven't read my copy yet, but I've been meaning to for a few years now. It's one vote is mine. :) I think it just has one vote. The other book sounds interesting to me, but I always have such bad luck with third party sellers. I'm afraid by the time it'd get here, with the luck I have, we'd ready for the May selection, but I might go ahead and try anyway.

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It's only the 8th of April: would you like to read Soul Mountain together, and perhaps get others interested?

There is a thread for the reading of Soul Mountain, in the General Lit section, if anyone is interested.

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Originally Posted by NickAdams

The view of gender roles in China are spelled out in In the Park and The Accident. The commentary at the end of The Accident felt intrusive. The title story opened well but streamed into an uninteresting finish, but I did find a quote I liked: "I want to write a novel so profound that it would suffocate a fly."

I will finish the last story tonight, but Temple and Cramp are the best crafted stories and my favorite of a collection that I'm not exactly thrilled about.



Am I missing anything?

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The Accident is my favorite in this anthology. I think it's very well told. The remarks and dialogues are such a genuine reflection of what is said and thought of in real life. I like it when a great story can be taken out of seemingly ordinary events of everyday life.

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Originally Posted by NickAdams

This seems to be a one man show.:(

In an Instant feels like the description of a film script and storyboard. Like the opening of Bergman's Persona.

I enjoyed Temple and Cramp, but didn't care for the others.

Not a waste. Enjoying two out of six stories brings it below average. I got it!

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I liked Temple; I liked Cramp, and The Accident. I didn't care much for the others, especially In an Instant - too weird, too easy.

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Originally Posted by bouquin

The Accident is my favorite in this anthology. I think it's very well told. The remarks and dialogues are such a genuine reflection of what is said and thought of in real life. I like it when a great story can be taken out of seemingly ordinary events of everyday life.

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I might have enjoyed it more, if Xingjian would have kept to the scene. I know it's my Western mind, but the closing commentary turned me off.

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Originally Posted by bouquin

I liked Temple; I liked Cramp, and The Accident. I didn't care much for the others, especially In an Instant - too weird, too easy.

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Too easy indeed. Xingjian seems to be an earnest author, with no interest in puzzles. His images are on par with Taoist text.

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Originally Posted by Weisinheimer

I've read the first story, The Temple. I thought it was ok. I didn't really see the point, though.
I was little confused by the narration, sometimes he said "you" meaning the wife, and sometimes he said "you" referring to someone else. His friends at home, maybe?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by NickAdams

The nature and circumstance of the narration left me with more questions than the story.

A third-person subjective would have been my route. It seems the influence Beckett had on him was superficial. Xingjian wants to interact with the reader through first-person, with little reason as to why.

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It seemed to me he was telling the story with his wife next to him. I was waiting for the old man to give some sort of insight or something. Not much to the story but it did make me want to know about their previous hardships.

I read In the Park, and Cramp. I didn't really get Cramp at all. I liked In the Park, that's my favorite of the three I've read so far. But it seems to me that none of the stories go anywhere, I don't see the point. I'm beginning to think I don't like short stories in general.

In the park - I didn't like it so much, it's not much of a story more like a little sample of life. although I have to wonder why the guy was so taken with the crying woman.

I liked The Cramp and The Accident.

I just read Buying a fishing rod for my grandfather. I was following it until he started with the soccor game in the middle of the story. what's up with that?

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Originally Posted by papayahed

I just read Buying a fishing rod for my grandfather. I was following it until he started with the soccor game in the middle of the story. what's up with that?

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What is up with that?:lol:

I assume he was showing how background events influences a narrator as he tells a story. I guess Keyser Söze was telling the story.;) Soccer doesn't interest me, or the story. A radio broadcast might have worked better for me.

I was looking at the synopsis for this book, researching and whatnot, and it seems like a good purchase; Is this worth buying?

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Originally Posted by NickAdams

What is up with that?:lol:

I assume he was showing how background events influences a narrator as he tells a story. I guess Keyser Söze was telling the story.;) Soccer doesn't interest me, or the story. A radio broadcast might have worked better for me.

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I read the synopsis of the story, and that makes sense. How different and seemingly random memories pop up when telling stories.

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Originally Posted by Chesterfield

I was looking at the synopsis for this book, researching and whatnot, and it seems like a good purchase; Is this worth buying?

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All I can say is that I would rather have gotten the book from the library.