Micro

★★★☆

[SPOILER ALERT]

This is a fun book to read for when travelling by train or for idling away a couple of days on the beach.  Come to think of it, I really should read Michael Crichton more often since I am partial to the bio/syfy genre.  I have read the Jurassic Park years ago so my memories of it are very fuzzy.  But I suspect Micro isn't quite on par with Crichton's best efforts.  It is a shame he passed away before completing this task because I truly think the central concept of this story is fascinating.  But the writing just falls short of my expectation.  Nevertheless, I read it with gusto.  Overall, I enjoyed it.

Shrinking people and anything material to the size of insects -- the idea isn't new.  I immediately thought of the movie "Honey I Shrunk the Kids".  I thought one hurdle the authors had to overcome is the comedy overtone of the idea of zapping people to toy soldiers and narrating their adventures of battling giant ants and spiders, and flying corkscrewing little airplanes.  It sounds like one of those safety-guaranteed-thrillers where the characters, oftentimes kids, find themselves dealing with what in reality are life-and-death situations, yet they manage to beat impossible odds while surviving till the end unscathed.  Micro has all the right setup.  A group of seven bright grad students, rising stars of tomorrow, are given a tempting job offer, an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to potential fame and fortune.  They arrive in Hawaii for their job interview and things start spiraling downward from there at a blinding speed.  Before they had a clue, they find themselves stranded in the middle of a jungle, surrounded by enormous trees, boulders, buildings, and people of murderous intent, as well as life-threatening and fascinating lifeforms of endless variety, any one of which could and would have them for juicy snacks without hesitation.  

The idea could be as ground shaking as Jurassic Park, if executed with finesse, care and a lot more details.  But unfortunately, the writing falls short in Micro.  Readers would be experiencing vicariously all the bewildering sensations and events through the grad students, but I just didn't experience the "initial impact" of getting shrunk.  The story feels rushed, the characters way too ready for this adventure.  The writing is almost like a synopsis of a more complete version. 

As a side note, Micro aroused my interest in doing some further readings on plants and insects.  I think I will enjoy the plant books more, unless I could overcome my inherent queasiness for bugs.  But hey, I actually thought the insect steak the grad students ate in the book could be really tasty.  When a bug is the size of a cow, you'd probably feel like you are eating a cow anyways. 

On The High Road to China

★★★★☆

On The High Road to China (Kate Teltscher)


George Bogle, the Panchen Lama, and the First British Expedition to Tibet

It’s difficult finding a point of breach when writing response to a book like The High Road to China. For the past few years or so, one of the focuses of my reading can be described loosely as “the backcountries of China”, the sweeping region around the Himalayans, and ancient roads as conduits of cultural, religious, and economic transport and exchanges. The root for my interest lay partly in my trip to Yunnan over ten years ago with my friend, and partly in my curiosity in Tibetan Buddhism and their austere and spiritual-centered way of life in general.

The High Road, written primarily from the British perspective, carries a pervasive tone of nostalgia and sympathy. Though quite upfront in laying bare the internal workings and power struggles within the East India Company, the author paints a rosy picture of one of the central characters of the book, George Bogle, and hails the genuine friendship built between Bogle and the Third Panchen Lama, narrating their story with a care and heartache almost as if cradling a beautiful but fragile thin-shelled egg.

It might very well be Fate that this tenuous friendship ended on a sad note with the untimely death of both the Panchen Lama and George Bogle. According to the author, their death may have delayed the presence of British representation and business activities in China, a point I find unlikely.

Among other things, what I found especially revealing and interesting is the chapters on the Qianlong Emperor. Seen from the British point of view, Imperial China and its monarch are cast in a manner that Chinese readers might find slightly at odds. The description of the Emperor, though none of which first hand, is especially fascinating to me who has grown up watching television adaptations and reading historical fictions and more serious writings on the Qing imperial anecdotes. I am aware some of the notions and impressions about Qing monarchs and monarchs of other dynasties I have grown up knowing are deeply entrenched and shaped by cultural contexts, and even more so, political ones. This makes reading English sources on such subjects a refreshing experience. I couldn’t help but wonder if it weren’t for the yawning gap in ideologies between Imperial China and Britain, maybe some common grounds could be found, connections established, and exchanges in multiple realms realized. The British, being far superior in technology, both civil and military, was an ideal player to provide China with much needed machineries and technologies to boost its civil and defense aspects, and China in return, could export tea, porcelain and other much coveted goods to British merchants. But imperial China looked upon traders and trading itself with contempt and saw no need whatsoever to learn from a remote island. Well, such false and blinding pride and pompousness would prove fatal in a hundred years or so.

One other thing the High Road leaves me with is a more clear understanding of the complexity of the pan-Himalayan region in the cultural and political contexts. The present day clashes and conflicts have their roots deeply embedded in the past. Going out on a limb and just speaking from a gut sense, I wonder if the argument on territorial dispute involving Tibet really just comes down to picking a side, because I have a deep distrust in justifications from any side. Certainly at some point in history, Tibet, along with several other kingdoms in the Himalayan region, felt to me like puns in a “Game” played by more powerful players (which I suspect still rings true today).

Finally, the profession of the “gosain” is interesting. This could be a source of inspiration for some bigger project. Wandering monk cum trader cum envoy – the life journeys of gosains echo with the “romantic jini” in me.

On White Fire and ...

White Fire - Preston and Child

Finished the latest Pendergast adventure with full steam, as usual. :)  It's a pity that this year, reading has proceeded at such a sluggish pace.  With lackadaisical effort, I managed to finish maybe half of the books I started, lugging through the rest with no vigor whatsoever. 

With the one exception being any new Pendergast books that P and C turn out.  I read it with visible savory and didn't want it to end. 

White Fire is a standalone story in the Pendergast saga.  It is Pendergast back in his elements and at his most confident, arrogant, and "douchebaggery-self"!  But in a way, I am so glad to see him back to his old self again.  I have grown so used to seeing A.P. roughing up the "average John Does" left and right, having his way one way or another.  And I had a visible smurk every time phrases like "icy cold blue eyes", "so blond as to be almost white", "black-suitted undertaker" show up.  I think I will call White Fire the second book in the "Death Descends on Small Town" series, the first one being, of course, A Still Life of Crows.  And the second "DDoST", even more than the first one, has Corrie Swanson smack in the middle of the scene. 

  White Fire is essentially a Corrie Swanson adventure.  Now in her junior year at John Jay, Corrie is well on her way to a promising law career, given that her own foolhardiness does not get in the way.  But of course, that's exactly what happens, and up to a point, one starts to realize just how similar Corrie is to A.P. himself: refusing to play by the book, having a formidable perseverence to get what she wants, and a strong sense of justice (though in A.P.'s case, maybe strong to the point of being morbid?).  But of course Corrie lacks the resourcefulness, experience and overall tactfulness of A.P., and very predictablly lands herself in deep waters and loads of trouble.  And, A.P. of course, follows close on the heels of her misfortune and saves the damsel in distress every time in a timely, and fashionable, cough, fashion. :)

That basically sums the story up.  The A.P. saga, maybe for the first time, centers on Pendergast being in the role of a father.  And it is really heartwarming seeing him turning ever slightly more "human", at a point in the story, showing emotions that would be next to impossible in previous books.  Now, having become a father himself, he's "softened up" quite a bit. :)  I eagerly await the next episode, though I'm sure it will be a lot more heart-wrenching than any standalones, because whenever his family is involved, we know in what shape/mood A.P. would get himself into. 

★ ★ ★ ☆
----------------------
I started keeping a journal again.  It has been so long since I have had a good "conversation" with my inner self.  And Blogs, and godforbid, Facebook, are no place for such things. 

I'm currently reading "Chinese History Revisited" (中國文明的反思-蕭建生).  A most revelational book.  A bit heavy-duty reading, but this is the second time I checked it out of the library.  It's a book I want to peruse instead of browse.  I am thinking of translating one of the chapters into English.  A most exerting exercise.

Nearing year-end, still reading, yes

Practicing pipa has taken up a sizable chunk of my time, but I think I'm actually getting somewhere with this.  I plunged into the art of pipa knowing next to nothing, only that I was picturing an image of myself that I would like to one day become, and pipa was in the picture.  I suppose I owe this in part to my adoration, fine, infatuation, with TTL, and somehow there's a tenuous link that only makes sense to me.  

My list of finished books is pathetically short this year, I was going through it the other night and found that I actually managed to finish four books on the Silk Roads, though one of which I recall almost nothing (Mental Note: re-read that book).  I'm still pursuing that thread in my future reading.  Now that there's the prospect of visiting one of the key places that often turns up in Silk Roads books, I'm more motivated to read about this subject.  

Right now I'm reading "Villette" by Charlotte Brontë.  This is the only book I have genuinely enjoyed for quite some time.  I'm only about one eighth of the way through, but already I expect this to be a book that's thoughtful, carefully written, and takes its time.  The narrator has sensibilities that echo to a certain degree with mine, dare I say it, and a quality I normally find only in British literature.  As I was reading the book, I realized that my limited proficiency in the language a few years ago would not have made it possible for me to enjoy the book, but now I'm more equipped to share in the author's thoughts and life journey.  A rewarding realization.  Many of the books I've purchased over a decade ago, I've purchased too early, only now am I truly prepared to appreciate them.  But better now than never.  

浮華如什麽？



this is the more commonly seen book cover



then I chanced upon this charming alternative cover, I might've rated the book 1/2 star higher, just for the cover design

                                                                      ★★★☆ (3.5/5)

Crazy Rich Asians (by Keven Kwan) is a beach book, so I'm rating it as one. The subject itself is a fascination to many, how many of us wouldn't want to peek into the lives of the rich and the mighty, especially those from Asia (or more precisely, of or can be traced to Chinese pedigree), since there is, yes I'll bet on it, guaranteed to be twice as much folly and vanity involved.  Overall, I think Kwan does a very good job of presenting a panoramic diorama, or should one say, pantheon that sits atop the Asian landscape.  As one reads, one feels that the author has met these ghastly characters and seen their obscene wealth up close and personal.  I bought almost every little detail described by Kwan of these people's way of life -- and by the way, descriptive writing is definitely one of Kwan's strengths -- except, maybe for that little bit with the Ru wares, or the completely nonchalant and taken-for-granted manners with which they treated these priceless and irreplaceable Song-era pots.  It felt just a tad bit over-the-top to me, amongst all the phantasmagoria of private this and that, exclusive this and couture that.  But then again, Kwan doesn't exactly convey the impression that these snobs are very cultured, despite top-notch boarding schools and salient British accents.  

I almost gave Crazy four stars if it weren't for one or two loose-ends, and the way-too-boilerplate lines exchanged between some of the main characters, Rachel, Nick, and Colin, in particular.  More than once I felt that these characters are in fact animated props acting out scenes for an audience.  It just felt too staged, and too many times have some of these lines and quips been heard.  I remember asking myself, "really? do couples in love really talk like that?"  

As for the ending, my first reaction was, it is immensely unsatisfying, but then I realized, it really is the only safe way out, if we want to see the story ending on a positive note.  Despite the claim that Crazy is a comedy, and it SURE IS, no doubt there, there's an underlying frustration and a bleak reality looming ahead.  And despite having all the appearance of a Cinderella-meets-Prince-Charming fairy tale, where the ingenue Rachel Chu wanders into the dazzling crystal palace-on-crack of her prince Nick Young, this story sits on too much dismal reality to churn out the other crystal slipper at the end.  So, better end it with a "bright prospect", because prospect is all that one could hope for out of this story (By the way, I thought that determined blue jay bird hitting against the glass pane thing was an instant-see-through as well).  No, I don't believe Nick has what it takes to stand against family, tradition, and deep-seated prejudices.  No, I don't believe Nick would or could risk losing all the comfort and wealth he's become so accustomed to.  Because No, I don't ultimately believe in the authenticity of the character Nicholas Young.  He is our wishful thinking.  

Hmm, now I risk ending my rambling on a depressing note!  But that's what happens when fairy tales have lost their appeals.  Just a couple of other things, I actually felt sorry for the characters Astrid and Michael.  Their's is a classic case of youthful foolishness meeting harsh reality -- EXCEPT, their fateful ending may be turned around by the author's generously inserted deus ex machina!!!  Of course it is completely insane, but who gives!  You know, this is one of the perks of writing -- just pick your favorite god or goddess incarnation and start turning the wheel-of-fate.

So much that glows, so little that matters. If I have to choose on one enduring impression from this book, the word "smallish" would suffice.  

浮華若朝露

Prometheus

rating ★★☆☆☆

I have been pining to see Prometheus ever since I learned it's the prequel to the Alien franchise.  I had had a certain degree of confidence in the film mostly because it is produced and directed by Ridley Scott, the director who, shall we say, started it all.  I missed the showing in the theaters, so I ended up buying the Amazon streaming version which has HD quality and is considerably cheaper and can be re-watched  to heart's content, =).  Overall, the film was good while it lasted. To be sure, the CG of the mysterious and majestic planet in the beginning, of the chiseled and porcelain physique of the Engineers, and of the futuristic technologies as shown by what's on-board the ship Prometheus, does not disappoint.  The acting, overall, and notably that of Fassbender's, does not disappoint either.  Fassbender delivers a very believable synthetic AI.  What does disappoint, big time, is the fateful, and oftentimes, comical way with which things spiral out of control.  Understandably, if everything in the film were to proceed smoothly like a script (no pun intended) and everyone were to behave by-the-book down to dotting the i's and crossing the t's, well, we wouldn't have much of a film.  So someone has to make a poor decision somewhere.  But the frequency of poor decisions, unprofessional ones made by supposedly professionals, is just too jarringly high.  The team of scientists who goes on this mission is, safe to say, the creme de la creme of their particular fields.  But their amateurism, freshman-level foolhardiness and even downright horse-play, makes one wonder if this sci-fi horror is really a satire/comic in disguise -- I mean, the only geologist of the team cannot find his way around a seemingly straightforward cave?  The biologist of the team behaving like a teenage boy showing off in front of his high-school crush upon encountering an obviously menacing looking alien life form (and predictably, met with a quick and painful death)?  The beau of the film's heroine (seriously, he does not look like a scientist whichever way you look) taking off his oxygen helmet and bravely starts breathing atmospheric air just because the reading tells him the air is breathable -- hello, do you really trust earth's technology to work 100% everywhere in the universe?!!  What is this, a team of high school kids on a field trip?!

On a different front, Prometheus raises more questions, perhaps, than answering the ones we have.  Why does the Engineer in the beginning of the film drink the black liquid which seems to break him down at an atomic level?  And for what purpose?  What is that black liquid?  What exactly is the connection between the Engineers and the Alien species?  In the holographic replay, what are the Engineers running away from?  So on and so forth.  These many questions definitely call for a sequal, one I hope, that will at least muster together a functional team of real professionals.