The Ancient Ship

June 30, 2008
In his epic novel, originally published in 1987, Zhang explores China's upheaval in the decades after the creation of the People's Republic in 1949. At the heart of the story are the three major families in the small town of Wali. The Sui family was among the wealthiest until political change left them with little more than grief and anger. The Zhao clan, on the other hand, rose to power during the revolution's violence, some of which the clan helped direct at the Suis. The Li clan, known for eccentricities, pushed the town toward industrialization. As the nonlinear narrative spirals backwards and forwards through time, the disturbing details of Wali's history are unearthed, including graphic descriptions of the cruel punishments meted out in the name of reform (and revenge). In Zhang's capable hands, Wali becomes a microcosm of the turmoil China underwent during the pivotal political and cultural moments of the 20th century. Written two years before the Tiananmen Square protests, this multilayered historical tale of remembrance, accountability and the role stories play in people's lives is a powerful one.

July 15, 2008
Originally published in China in 1987 and a best seller in both China and Taiwan, this work is set in the fictional town of Wali, where members of the Sui, Zhao, and Li clans closely intermingle. The "ancient ship" in the title refers to patriarch Sui Buzhao's former seafaring days, yet the story focuses on the glass noodle industry and the lives of the Sui siblings, brothers Baopu and Jiansu and their sister, Hanzhang. As in other Chinese story of epic proportion (the story spans 40 years), the characters lead a hard life that here includes severe famine and instances of violence, rape, and suicide. As in Li Qiao's "Wintry Night" and Han Shaogong's "A Dictionary of Maqiao", Wei Zhang's numerous characters appearing throughout are difficult to track without taking notes, further complicating the reading. Because of the novel's previous success (and the obvious efforts made by the translator), it is both puzzling and disappointing to find the story line so disjointed. Though touted as part of HarperPerennial's "Modern Chinese Classics" series, this is not a work that typical readers of fiction or historical fiction will simply pick up and immediately appreciate. Not for public libraries, but academic libraries with large Chinese literature collections may consider with caution.Shirley N. Quan, Orange Cty. P.L.s, Santa Ana, CA

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