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The Story of the Stone: The Golden Days
The Story of the Stone: The Golden Days | Cao Xueqin
5 posts | 12 read | 13 to read
The Story of the Stone (c.1760) is one of the greatest novels of Chinese literature. The first part of the story, The Golden Days, begins the tale of Bao-yu, a gentle young boy who prefers girls to Confucian studies, and his two cousins: Bao-chai, his parents' choice of a wife for him, and the ethereal beauty Dai-yu. Through the changing fortunes of the Jia family, this rich, magical work sets worldly events - love affairs, sibling rivalries, political intrigues, even murder - within the context of the Buddhist understanding that earthly existence is an illusion and karma determines the shape of our lives.
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xicanti
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I said goodbye to Geo and Penny tonight. I‘ll miss them, but they‘re so glad to have their mom home!

I also finished vol 1 of THE STORY OF THE STONE. Now I‘ve backtracked to the introduction, which is just as interesting as the book itself. It‘s had such a storied history! I can‘t wait to get vol 2 and dive in.

dabbe 🖤🐾🐾🖤 3mo
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xicanti
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Oh, hey, I also started my 2024 project book this morning! THE STORY OF THE STONE caught my eye at the library a couple months back and I decided it‘d be the perfect long thing to tackle in the first half of the year. So far, this 5-volume 18th century novel looks set to play with a lot of tropes and preoccupations that still crop up in many popular Chinese novels and dramas today. I think I‘m gonna have fun with it.

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Smarkies
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Took the opportunity to read this for #china for #readingasia2021 as it is considered a Chinese classic.
Full of daily intrigue in a house that is very well off and connected with the Royal family. It was interesting reading about life during that time - the different classes, daily tasks, interactions etc. There is alot of Chinese poetry which I did not fully appreciate.😅
This is Volume 1 - looking to read the rest this year.
#readingasia21

MrBook Glad you liked! I‘ve been meaning to get to this one for forever. One of China‘s big 5. 3y
sisilia Wow! I have this and The Three Kingdoms in my TBR since forever 3y
Smarkies @sisilia @MrBook the only thing that made me pick it up was because a friend lent the whole set to me 2 years ago! Was thinking of returning it unread but decided to bite the bullet and read it instead this Chinese New year. 🤣🤣🤣 3y
rwmg I read this in the early 1990s and have been meaning to re-read it - completely absorbing in the family life 3y
Smarkies @rwmg the friend who lent this to me says she rereads it every few years. I can understand the rereads because there is so much going on in the story. 3y
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JenP
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My #readingequipment I make bookish candles for my Etsy shop so when I'm reading I'm often testing out a variety of scents to find a perfect match. The candle on the left is the finished one I matched to this book, the one in the middle is a sample candle I was testing out.

As a book blogger, I use field notes to jot down thoughts and quotes to use for my blog's book reviews. Other than that, bookmarks & books are my equipment. #readjanuary

RealLifeReading You make candles? Nice! 7y
JenP @RealLifeReading just a small thing I do on the side to raise some money for blog prizes -that way I don't have to spend my own money 😁 7y
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JenP
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Pickpick

This is volume 1 of one of the most famous works in Chinese literature. It's a wonderfully detailed depiction of 18th century aristocratic Chinese household centered around Bao-yu, a young man torn between love for two women. Philosophical, part allegory & filled with poetry, it's a worthwhile read.

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