Rice

Su Tong is a masterful writer. I was first drawn to his works after seeing the movie "Raise the Red Lantern." I read that book and soon after bought _Rice_, but for some reason I let _Rice_ sit on one of my bookshelves for over two years. I finally decided to picj it up, and boy am I glad I did.The book follows the life of Five Dragons. An Orphen from a rural locale called Maple Poplar village. He probably would have never left the village if it hadn't been completely flooded. We are first introduced to Five Dragons when he jumps from a train and into the Big City. He soon meets one of his many enemies Abao, and after waking up nearly frozen, Five Dragons makes his way to a rice seller, where he settles down to make the lives of everyone he touches miserable.When I first started reading the book, I thought that Five Dragons was a character to cheer for. I wanted this bumpkin to make good in the gig city. Su Tong's flipped my ideas. Five Dragons does well, but at the expense of others. He is cruel, abusive, and at the drop of the hat will have someone killed. He broke his own son's leg, but his son had just killed his sister. His son was ten at the time.This is a really good book, and should be read by all who want a glimpse at 20's-30's China.

Su Tong's novel Rice (translated effectively by Howard Goldblatt) is a riveting read with unforgettable scenes of cruelty. The author peoples the book with vivid characters caught in a struggle for survival within a family that is of the take-no-prisoners variety that in lesser hands would come off as simply melodramatic but Su Tong is an inventive and skilled storyteller who layers the narrative and events to create a small epic. Hunger pervades all the actions of the book, whether for rice or sex or revenge (and sometimes all three), as a symbol for this turning point in Chinese history before the Communist take over. This is a short exciting literary ride that will reward any reader brave and lucky enough to begin the journey.

I read _Rice_ after reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez's _One Hundred Years of Solitude_, and i was amazed by the similarities. Both describe the gradual destruction of a family over many generations, and both incude female characters saying that the family is doomed to isolation and solitude. However, while the Marquez is full of hope, Su's book is harsh and vicious, and leaves no room for escape. There is no love, no ambition other than the instinct to survive, no repentance. This is one of the most depressing books I've read, and I love it!

I think it is the most messed up book of all time. It is sick. But I couldn't put it down. I wanted to vomit after reading it. But the book changed me for life

Rice is a great book. The characters have such depth and the storyline is awesome. Su Tong never fails his readers. This is one of my favorite books.