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拾香紀

By 陳慧

(343)

| Paperback | 9789628529223

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6 Reviews

2 people find this helpful

When I first read this book, I thought it was baffling. I always mixed up the characters and was confused by the historical events. With some patience, I read through it. This award-winning novel is now my all-time-favorite.
This book narrates the life story of a girl, who was brought to an u ... (continue)

When I first read this book, I thought it was baffling. I always mixed up the characters and was confused by the historical events. With some patience, I read through it. This award-winning novel is now my all-time-favorite.
This book narrates the life story of a girl, who was brought to an untimely death by a fever in 1997. The author deliberately blends Hong Kong history into the plot. There is no coincidence – she wrote the novel on the verge of 1997 handover. This might be her way to search for an identity and for the bygone days.
I have no intention to delve into the political connotation of the book. I just want to applaud her writing skills – the characters are so vividly depicted. I remember the heroine’s mentally-retarded brother who loves to turn somersault in the house; her dutiful and quiet elder sister who literally sneaks in a specimen bottle, without living her life; the demented mother who only recollects grudges…Although the characters are not true-to-life, the narration is quite impressive.
The theme of reminiscence runs through the book. The author attempts to tell us that no one person or one place exists in void – our memory is thus our cherished possession. Perhaps only when we have the courage to examine the past with compassion, can we have the strength to move forward. This is true for a “borrowed place with borrowed time”. This is also true for every one of us.

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Michelle said on Jul 25, 2006 | Add your feedback

1 person find this helpful

a story about a large family with 10 children, everyone has their own destiny, how the members left the family one by one, easy follow, helps you have a clearer picture of those past events occured in hk

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*quincess~ said on May 28, 2006 | Add your feedback

1 person find this helpful

didn't like it at all. Sold the book for $10 afterwards

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Carrie said on Apr 13, 2006 | Add your feedback

An interesting way to review the history of HK.

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supercat said on Dec 18, 2007 | Add your feedback

I can't put it down once I've read the first two chapters. In the very beginning, i did mix up the names of all characters and doubt the historical events, but my thought has been swiftly changed when i put myself into her situation. Something i had encountered before 1997 either. The story of "7 He ... (continue)

I can't put it down once I've read the first two chapters. In the very beginning, i did mix up the names of all characters and doubt the historical events, but my thought has been swiftly changed when i put myself into her situation. Something i had encountered before 1997 either. The story of "7 Hei" which made me think of my inborn personality and i totally understood her dignity of knowledge.
Reminiscence runs through the book with terrific writing skills. The plot was vividly depicted with lyrics of songs, conversations, historical events and surroundings...
Today i also took out all the cards i gave to my mum when i was in the primary school.
memories always make people stay stong, but i don't know why i feel sad after reading this book..
By the way, i was truly inspired by the comment of Michelle.

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Gobs Chan said on Dec 7, 2007 | Add your feedback