The Seventh Day: A Novel

I am a real fan of Yu Hua and read at least three of his novels. My favorite was Brothers. I'm not really sure what this novel is about. Obviously it's quite imaginative following those characters who died into the "other" land. There is a real bond between the main character and his "father". The description and development of their life together is very touching. So is the story of mouse girl and her life and commitment to her companion. Maybe that's enough to say you should read it and see for yourself.

Wonderful thought provoking read, finished this in one sitting. The cast of characters is diverse and I found myself drawn in to many of their stories and plights. Interesting concept of what an afterlife would entail in a culture that values tradition, even in death.

This book was just what I needed. I love subtle ghost stories and have a particular love for the Chinese culture after living in it for several years. The author gives you interesting characters and action that borders on magic realism. It's very readable, yet profound at the same time. I look forward to reading more by Yu Hua.

Brothers is more epic, and certainly funnier, but I think this might be my favorite Yu Hua. It's elegant, poignant, and heartbreaking - at the core is a simple tale of a father and son and the love they have for one another, even after death. It's a lovely book - one of the best I've read in some time.

This wonderful offering from Yu Hua is a combination of Kafkian absurdity and social realist satire. It contrasts the fast disappering (indeed dying) world of "old" China with the contemporary (often brutal) "new" China. Mr. Hua skillfully employs two lterary styles to bring the two worlds into sharp focus; the poetic, at times almost romantic vision of the neather world and the prosaic, matter of fact description of the daily struggles in modern China. Higly recommended.

Well written allegorical novel of a recently deceased man and the people he meets in the afterlife. The characters and the way in which they died chronical all the inequities of modern chinese society. It can be a bit didactic and predictable at times, but worth your effort.

This is the story of ordinary people and the life they eke out in China. The story is told in an unassuming fashion- no glitz or glamour, just raw life with its joys and sadness. Having lived in China, I find this story very meaningful and realistic. It is a commentary on social issues.

Rarely while I am reading a book do I pause and marvel at the quality of what is in front of me. I did that quite a few times with "The Seventh Day." I read "Brothers" and didn't care for it much; I read "China in Ten Words" and was very impressed. "The Seventh Day" is one of the best novels I've read in ages. His style reminds me of a mix of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's surreal imagination and Larry Brown's stripped down prose. This is a brilliant book that looks at alienation in contemporary China in a new way. Read, enjoy, and marvel.

Wasn't sure I'd like the surreal nature of this book, but I really enjoyed it. It's a fast read that's a succession of vignettes of the protagonists life - his weird birth, his childhood, finding his birth family, his ambitious wife, and so on. But it was his relationship with his adopted father that makes the book shine. A worthwhile, if peculiar, read.

Excellent

This is a rather sad novel describing the harsh lives of poor people, but it is full of tenderness between father and son or between partners. It is also very poetic in describing nature or the other world.

Traduzione inglese arrugginita.The English Translation misses beauty and harmony of the Chinese writing.

A brilliant novel, so tender and insightful, such a pleasure to read.