Author : 楊雅筑
What is it about : This is a workbook to help readers of all levels to understand and appreciate the great novel - 紅樓夢. The stories of the rise and fall, from riches to rags of four elite families in the Qing Dynasty (清朝). The authentic author 曹雪芹 reputedly only wrote the first 40 chapters and the remaining 40 chapters was written by a less talented 高鶚, although still very impressively reviewed by later scholars. The very interesting set pieces have been illustrated with flow charts and family trees detailed in diagrams to aid readers and students alike to analyse and breakdown the intricate plots and mysteries. Amongst the many characters, the love stories and tragedy between 賈寶玉, 林黛玉 和 薛寶釵 ring the most true in their 木石前盟 and 金玉良緣.
Some thoughts after having read the book : The immidiate and the final lastng impression of this well known novel has to be the word IMMENSE. Immense in historical depth, family structures and ties, intricate interplays between the colorful characters, imagination from the start to finish and of course the philosophical significance of love, hate, jealousy, comedies, tragedies, fortunes, all lost and found in these bygone era and beyond. Well known set scenes such as 元妃省親，黛玉葬花，寶玉受笞，劉姥姥造訪大觀園 were all all so dramatic and rewarding in their messages and interplays. This book, well workbook if you like, has helped me gain a good understanding and appreciation of this otherwise too-immense-to-wrap-my-head-around-novel. The last chapter analysing 紅樓夢 achievement and influence to the general public and future would-be writers made a rewarding round up of this workbook. Especially interesting is the study of 紅樓夢 is termed 紅學 and can be divided broadly by three directions and groups - 評點派, 索隱派 and 考證派.
Would I recommend this book to you : A great and straight forward way to understand 紅樓夢. Ultimately, the author 曹雪芹 aimed to convey to readers the concept and philosophy of 世事空幻, 人間大夢, 無須執著. Try reading 紅樓夢 using this workbook as an aid, see if you get what is 世事空幻.
