- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; Export ed edition (5 May 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0141024046
- ISBN-13: 978-0141024042
- Product Dimensions: 18 x 10.6 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,426,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Author Ha Jin, born in the People's Republic where he lived until 1985, offers a unique perspective on that culture, different from that of most "Chinese" novels written for a western audience. Setting the novel in a POW camp in South Korea from 1951 - 53, Ha Jin focuses on the differing attitudes the Chinese, Koreans, and Americans have toward home, country, and each other. Through Yu Yuan, a young soldier from the Chinese Communist army, Ha Jin shows how differently one young man sees his life and his obligations but how similarly he values friendship, justice, honor, and love.
The only son of an elderly mother, Yu Yuan is a twenty-three-year-old member of the Chinese army when his unit enters Korea to aid the North Koreans in 1951, but the Chinese army, Yuan discovers, is not a well-oiled "machine." Their weapons are Russian, but no one can read the instruction manual. Lines of communication are so long that men can get orders to march in two different directions from two different officers on two different days, and no officer is allowed to make his own decisions. Supplies are so low that men survive for months on flour and water.
Wounded during a vividly described battle which inflicted atrocious casualties, Yuan becomes a POW, hiding his true identity because being captured is a crime in China. Abominable camp conditions, described in specific detail, are made worse when Nationalist Chinese officers, allies of the US, try to "convince" Communist POWs not to return to the mainland. Water tortures, unremitting beatings, murders, denial of food, the tattooing of anti-Communist statements on the bellies of Communists, and the (even worse) cutting out of the flesh containing these slogans if the men continue to refuse to go to Taiwan, are powerful "motivations" for refusing repatriation.
Buffeted by fate and at the mercy of a Communist government which places no value on individuals, Yuan is not yearning for freedom, which he has never known. He simply wants to return home to his mother and fiancee with some sense of honor. Ha Jin's writing is efficient and precise, his narrative giving attention to stories of horrific battles, constant privation, and abusive behavior by Nationalist Chinese, mainland Chinese officers, and Americans. A strong novel which depicts a culture, rather than individuals, War Trash lacks a love story which sometimes unites other war novels, but it remains fascinating and rewarding for those who are curious about this alien way of life. Mary Whipple
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ha Jin lied about his age when he was 14 years old so he could join the Chinese People's Liberation Army in the midst of the Cultural Revolution. He left his native China in 1985, and now writes about China, solely in English for the benefit of English-speakers. War Trash, his fourth novel was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
It's hard to believe that there is not an element of autobiography in this story. Our main character is Yu Yuan, who is drafted into the newly formed Communist army and is sent as part of a corps of 'volunteers' to fight against the Americans in the Korean War. The short-comings and lack of preparation on the part of the Communists soon become apparent to our protagonist, as he watches hundreds die around him. Eventually he is captured by the Americans and following surgery, he is sent to a POW camp.
Despite having faced hardship out on the battlefield, it is in the POW camp that Yu faces the toughest challenges of all. The POW camps are split between the majority Nationalists, who want to be released to Free China (Taiwan) and the Communists who want to return to China. Yu's English language skills means that both sides are interested in him, but all Yu wants is to return home to his elderly mother and fiancee.
The tale is very simply written, sometimes without grace or elegance of language. However, it is an interesting portrait of the inner-conflict that the Chinese people must have faced at the dawn of the Communist age. Yu faces the tough choice between returning to the mainland, possibly declaimed as a traitor for allowing himself to be captured, or moving to Taiwan. The Chinese mentality that is portrayed in the book is confusing to me as a Westerner, but it goes a long way to explain the enthusiasm that the Chinese have for idealogues.
Ultimately I found this to be a powerful, yet simple, tale that exposed vast tracts of Chinese attitude and mentality as well as providing insight into a far-away war.
It's hard to believe that there is not an element of autobiography in this story. Our main character is Yu Yuan, who is drafted into the newly formed Communist army and is sent as part of a corps of 'volunteers' to fight against the Americans in the Korean War. The short-comings and lack of preparation on the part of the Communists soon become apparent to our protagonist, as he watches hundreds die around him. Eventually he is captured by the Americans and following surgery, he is sent to a POW camp.
Despite having faced hardship out on the battlefield, it is in the POW camp that Yu faces the toughest challenges of all. The POW camps are split between the majority Nationalists, who want to be released to Free China (Taiwan) and the Communists who want to return to China. Yu's English language skills means that both sides are interested in him, but all Yu wants is to return home to his elderly mother and fiancee.
The tale is very simply written, sometimes without grace or elegance of language. However, it is an interesting portrait of the inner-conflict that the Chinese people must have faced at the dawn of the Communist age. Yu faces the tough choice between returning to the mainland, possibly declaimed as a traitor for allowing himself to be captured, or moving to Taiwan. The Chinese mentality that is portrayed in the book is confusing to me as a Westerner, but it goes a long way to explain the enthusiasm that the Chinese have for idealogues.
Ultimately I found this to be a powerful, yet simple, tale that exposed vast tracts of Chinese attitude and mentality as well as providing insight into a far-away war.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A rare insight of both corporeal pain and mental struggle of Chinese POWs in Korea War, especially the conflict between prisons of Communist and Nationalist. High praise for the Chinese author with perfect command of English and profound observation of human nature in a war.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
dr
I was disappointed with the book; it went on endlessly about life in prison and by the end of it I thought I too was in a prison. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dr. jj Hodge
Almost...
I enjoyed `Waiting' (an earlier novel by Ha Jin) a great deal, and I almost enjoyed this one too.
The Korean War is a subject often obscured in comparison to the Vietnam... Read more
The Korean War is a subject often obscured in comparison to the Vietnam... Read more
Published 19 months ago by stevieby
Interesting and very well researched study of a double entrapment
This must be the first book I ever read on Korean War presenting things from the Chinese perspective - well, mostly Chinese perspective, considering that Ha Jin lived in USA always... Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2007 by Maciej
Not so good
I read this book expecting it to be similar to his other novels such as "Waiting" and "The Bridegroom" which I enjoyed very much. Read more
Published on 22 July 2007 by Tim M
Excellent
I submitted a review of this several months ago, but it doesn't seem to have appeared.
I did enjoy this book and found its descriptions of part of an almost forgotten... Read more
I did enjoy this book and found its descriptions of part of an almost forgotten... Read more
Published on 27 May 2007 by Book Tart
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