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Title: Nanjing Requiem
Author: Ha Jin
Narrator: Angela Lin
Format: Unabridged
Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins
Language: English
Release date: 11-03-11
Publisher: Recorded Books
Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 14 votes
Genres: Fiction, Historical
Publisher's Summary:
Author Ha Jins celebrated works have claimed several top literary awards, including three Pushcart Prizes. In Nanjing Requiem, the Japanese are poised to invade Nanjing. The dean of Jinling Womens College, Minnie Vautrin mistakenly believes her American citizenship will protect the school. But Vautrins life becomes a daily struggle as the school becomes a refugee camp - and the slaughter of refugees begins.
Critic Reviews:
Jin paints a convincing, harrowing portrait of heroism in the face of brutality. (Publishers Weekly)
Members Reviews:
Ha Jin is always powerful and eloquent, but this ...
Ha Jin is always powerful and eloquent, but this work, novelized from abundant historical materials, is a little stilted. The story, though, is overwhelming. Read with Iris Chang's The Nanjing Massacre.
Not Ha Jin's best work
I've read other books by Ha Jin and liked them, but this one seemed pointless. It describes the horrifying atrocities of the Japanese invasion of China in such a way that as a reader, I didn't really care about them. Intellectually, I knew I should care because what was happening was awful, but it was described in such a way that made caring difficult. It was more like a bland historical report of the incident than it was a novel to give meaning to the events it described. I really couldn't figure out what he was trying to say by describing this historical event. The character were even worse. They were flat and uninteresting. I could barely make myself finish.
A piece of forgotten history!
Nanjing Requiem takes place during the invasion of China by Japan, more specifically the rape of the then capital Nankin (Nanjing). The Japanese committed atrocities and killed hundreds of soldiers and civilians, which to this day they do not fully recognise. During the siege of Nankin, a number of foreigners, mainly Americans, who had decided to stay, created neutral zones to protect civilians, in particular children and women. Naning Requiem relates the story of such a foreigner, Minnie Vautrin, an American citizen who worked as the Principal of a college. The story is told by one of her colleagues, a Chinese woman, and provides an interesting view on Vautrin's actions. This book is actually more a detailed report than historical fiction and therefore lacks some of the power it could have had. Life and difficulties in times of war are well described, but the characterisation lacks strength. As a consequence, it is hard to emphasise with them, and even the atrocities committed by the Japanese lose impact. I however enjoyed reading this novel. It is well written, and is about a piece of history too often forgotten.
Heartbreaking but gripping true story
Heartbreaking but gripping true story of WW2. Relevant for scholars of American and Chinese history alike, as well as generally being a good read for anyone interested in the complex relationship between the two countries on a more person-to-person level, or generally interested in learning more about the tragedies of WW2. If you liked Schindler's List, you will like this novel.
No passion, no poetry
This was the first time I have read Ha Jin. I had heard him on an interview with Diane Rehm and was anticipating a good read. Unfortunately, Nanjing Requiem was a vast disappointment. I have been slogging through the book quite slowly, putting it down at any and every opportunity.
