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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/product_reviews/pr_id/113543-Li-Bais-Shadow
ASIN: B076CLWBKQ
ID #113543
Li Bai's Shadow   (Rated: 18+)
Product Type: Kindle Store
Reviewer: Joy
Review Rated: ASR
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available.
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Summary of this Book...
This is a highly imaginative story that combines reality with fantasy and some kind of time-travel.

In the story, the eighteen-year-old Caitlin, who suffers from OCD, decides to leave home suddenly and travel to her mother’s country, China. Caitlin’s father Steven is an Australian from Sydney and her mother has passed away when Caitlin was five years old. The events surrounding the mother’s death seems to have a strong imprint on both the father and the daughter, reminiscent of PTSD, but those events the reader doesn’t find out about until the end of the book. This is the realistic part of the setup.

When Caitlin was five years old, right after her mother’s death, the spirit of wine-loving Li Bai, perhaps the most famous of the seventh century, befriends the girl who loves poetry and can recite Li Bai’s poems from memory. Caitlin also talks to Li Bai regardless of who is around and who can hear her. Most people, including her father, think this is a part of Caitlin’s mental problems. Caitlin also has a teacher, Susan, specially assigned to her case.

When Caitlin manages to leave home for Shanghai without telling his father, the story begins. After Caitlin, Steven and Susan try to find her but they are always one step behind. Thus, the novel, in essence, is the account of Caitlin’s journey with Li Bai in China and the chase of her by her father and teacher.

The story is told from the viewpoints of Caitlin, Steven, Susan, and Li Bai. The descriptions, characterization, the plot-weaving, the twists and turns of the story not only make this novel enjoyable to read but also have to place it among the better literary writings. It is practically impossible for a reader not to feel for and with all the primary characters as they are drawn with insight and understanding. As to the story’s closing, the relationship between Steven and Susan was suddenly cut short; otherwise, the ending is satisfactory, too.

I think, however, the text could use a careful proofreader. Not that the author’s writing is lacking but those little editing mistakes can happen to even the grammarians and another eye would be welcome. After some serious copy-editing, this novel could easily deserve a literary award or two.
This type of Book is good for...
peeking into another culture, present day and the time of the Tang dynasty, and enjoying a good story, too.
I especially liked...
the sections from Li Bai's POV. Others were very good, too.
I didn't like...
that the novel of this caliber wasn't proofread properly.
When I finished n/a this Book I wanted to...
look into the other writings of this author.
This Book made me feel...
happy that I came across this e-book. I think it should be in hard or soft cover, too, after being copy edited.
The n/a of this Book...
Lee J. Mavin, the writer of The Students Sold Us Secrets volumes One and Two and The Intergalactic Custody Battle.
I recommend this Book because...
It has many sides to it. It shows how a person with OCD thinks and suffers in society. It shows another culture and place and a bit of mystery and high adventure. In addition, it introduces an old famous poet's poetry.
Further Comments...
I liked this story especially because of its humanity. Excluding the non-essential characters, not one character is a villain, although every one of them is flawed with quirks. Then, the story flows well with interesting and unexpected twists and turns, and present-day China is realistically shown while letting us take a peek at its landscape during Tang-dynasty through some time-travel for the main character.
Created Mar 04, 2018 at 7:26pm • Submit your own review...

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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/product_reviews/pr_id/113543-Li-Bais-Shadow