Talking Head Review
INTRODUCTION
Imagine living in a society where you know nothing of the outside world and your life revolves around patriotism, communism, ideology and propaganda. This was Communist China. Hi I’m Kelly and this week’s book review is on Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress.
CONTEXT
This novel is set during Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution. Although you might be internally groaning already, I promise you it’s much more interesting than it sounds. Whereas the rest of the world was undergoing economic upheavals and progressive social values, oppression was widespread in China. Chairman Mao was scared of Western influence changing people’s loyalty and obedience to him and so forced his communist regime upon the country and banned foreign books. Mao declared the working peasant class to be the leaders of this new “democracy” and intellectuals were labelled as ‘class enemies’ whose children were to be re-educated. The two protagonists- the unnamed narrator and his best friend Luo- find themselves under these circumstances as they are sent to a small village to be taught the ways of labour. I guarantee, the book offers so much more than a simple historical recount.
PLOT
The novel follows the two boys as their lives are transformed during their re-education both physically and mentally. Their metamorphosis starts when they steal a suitcase of banned novels and decide to educate both themselves and the Little Chinese Seamstress.
CHARACTERISATION
The three main characters in this novel- the narrator, Luo and the Little Chinese Seamstress- all have very different personalities which I think makes the book much more interesting. First off, the narrator is introverted and pensive and so is unable to act upon his desire for the Seamstress. In contrast, Luo is the narrator’ best friend who is very outgoing and theatrical. He is in a relationship with the Seamstress who is often represented as a naïve, uneducated girl who is dependent on Luo. With the progression of the novel, all the characters undergo massive changes and emerge with very different personalities.
THEMES
Not only does the novel have an exciting plot but there are also major themes that the reader can embrace. The most important would probably be the power of literature. The boys develop a love for literature as it offers them a chance for escapism, education and opens their minds to new ideals away from the strict communist regime. As mentioned before, all the characters are transformed through Western novels and this is clearly shown throughout the book. I assure you that after reading this novel, your opinion on books will change forever.
CONCLUSION
Although I was somewhat hesitant to read this novel at first, my opinion quickly changed. Not only did it have an interesting plot with likeable characters and strong themes, but it also helped me to reflect upon my own life and realise how fortunate I am to be able to be educated, choose my own career path and be exposed to various cultures. For those wanting to immerse yourself in a world vastly different from your own, Dai Sijie’s novel, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, is a must read.
Hope you enjoyed this review and look forward to seeing you next week.
