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...often intersperses Han's dream sequences with the more direct prose of the remainder of the novel, presumably because these visions help to chronicle Han's transition, even within her lifetime, from a mortal to a goddess. This technique also results in a great deal of befuddlement for the reader; the line between a stylistic intent and a confused style becomes unclear. Events may occur rather believably in one chapter, before being contradicted when reality is revealed in the next...
...point, the birth of Han's child is recorded twice, in almost identical prose, with only the sex of the child different in each account. Only pages later is the reader able to separate Han's hallucinations from reality. But meanwhile, as Han rants to everyone who will listen, "I gave birth to a son. I saw him. I touched him," the reader does not know whether to believe her claims or dismiss her delirium as does everyone else. But Lim may just intend to make the reader empathize with Han's own confusion at the admittedly odd circumstances...
...reader, moreover, loses interest very quickly in Han's unabating devotion to Wu, especially when she overdramatizes every kind word he says to her and seems on the brink of death when he leaves to study abroad. Perhaps it is liberal feminist indoctrination, perhaps inadequate character development, that makes an American reader wonder, "Is he really worth all this?" Whatever its cause, weariness is perhaps the one feeling a reader should not have towards the protagonist of a novel of this caliber. But Lim's Han arouses not only weariness but also impatience--of the sort one feels towards...
Although at first glance, both books appear more shallow than a drop of testosterone, a closer reading of both proves that they are not without their charm. Both are written in a friendly, "buddy-buddy" style that instigates an "us-against-them" attitude in the reader's mind--not unlike the pro-female books that also saturate the market. An enlightened person may ask, "Can't we reinforce our strength without making the other party look weak?" People like this, however, obviously do not work for the mass media. They may also be from Pluto instead of either Mars...
...example, the reader is advised on January 2 to come on to a feminist, but if "she smacks you, tell her you were just kidding, you don't really like the way she fills out her sweater," yet the contemplation for September 29, regarding competitiveness in fatherhood, is "guys are at peace with simply being one face in the crowd of...fathers." The variety of sources quoted is impressive, ranging from Aristotle to Aristotle Onassis, Aesop to Abe Lincoln, Gloria Steinham to Gertrude Stein--even Woody Allen to a fortune cookie...