K: The Art of Love

Rating:
Summary: Libel
Review: Hong Ying's book is written from a surprisingly Orientalist, male-centered perspective--I say surprisignly, considering the author herself is a Chinese woman. Clearly she has lifted the viewpoint of her narrative from Julian Bell's personal correspondence and added a good dose of her own imagination, aware of what the fusion of "shock value" mixed with "based on a true story" can due for racking up sales. It is insulting to Ling Shuhua's family because of this very fusion: it is neither autobiography nor pure fiction, but a sensationalized account of an alleged affair between two famous literary personalities. It seems that Ling undoubtedly did have an affair with Julian Bell, but it is unlikely that Ling was teaching him "the art of Daoist lovemaking." Hong claims that her novel is purely a fictional work, but if that were the case, why the thinly disguised names? She doesn't even bother changing Julian's name, but as for Ling, she veils her as Lin, and her real-life husband Chen as Cheng. Clearly, she wants her potential audience to have the love affair between Ling and Bell lurking in their minds so that more people will buy and read her work.
I encourage readers to NOT buy this novel--if you must read it (and perhaps now you are curious), check it out from the library. Instead, buy something written by Ling Shuhua, who is definitely a much better author.

Rating:
Summary: Ringing Bell's Rainbow
Review: I am regretful this novel is banned in China. However, when that happens, it makes curiousity an intense ache. Hong Ying has done an excellent job in portraying Julian Bell (nephew of Virginia Woolf) and his Chinese mistress, Lin. The affair starts almost instanteously with a little talk, a look, then moves into a constant taunt of lovemaking and from that point into a love that will not cease. It is difficult not to fall in love with Lin and Julian, their affair. The novel has a way of making the reader forget that they are indeed characters based on real individuals. There are many "peaks" in the novel--one beautifully written scene in an opium den where the lovers show off their passion, their affection, their lust--their intertwined spirits. Ying also includes the most crisp details of Lin's apparel and various cloths, even these common items are sexually charged by the characters' exuberant behavior. Backdrops that work against the lovers include war, the free-style relationship Julian has with his own mother (a little on the oedipal side), pestering servants, an American female, a foul, ill-dressed European female, and Lin's husband Cheng (who does not make it difficult for Lin to have an affair). But I must state that it is love itself that serves as the most prominent antagonist for the two.

Lin teaches Julian Daoist theories to lovemaking. Julian teaches Lin . . . well maybe another reader can help me see exactly what he teaches her. What is clear, however, is that Julian and Lin bend posture in each other. They release pinned-up fever only to realize that lust and clandestine tapping can actually turn into serious affection. Yes, one can fall in love after lust has had its say. Initially, one might believe that Lin is merely a bored wife who is also a successful writer. But, the novel shows readers that Lin is a woman in need of something more than success and marital status. More importantly, she is in need of giving love. It is she who comes to Julian over and again. It is Julian who lays and waits in great fervor for the sound of her footsteps "those light steps struck his ears sweeter than birdsong"; he waits for her presence, for the sex and for all of herself she constantly delivers. The novel's language moves with effervescence and will keep the reader deeply involved and very interested in what happens. As far as flaws in the book, one may only wonder what the relationship between Cheng and Lin [was] really like, but then again the novel leaves us to our own accord. Ying has written a beautiful, fine piece of work and deserves all the respect good writing warrants. Cheers!

Rating:
Summary: Hot stuff
Review: The only people who don't like this book are caught up in a pleasure-denying PC mentality. This book is hot stuff guaranteed to arouse you in more ways than one.