The Book and the Sword (書劍恩仇錄) because of Huo Qing Tong. She is my fave female protagonist. She is courageous, tactical, intelligent, high EQ, and holds a lot of male traits that are deemed respectful. A true heroine.
The Smiling Proud Wanderer (笑傲江湖) because of Ling Hu Chong. He is my fave male protagonist. His free-natured personality, his own scale and understanding of what is right and wrong, which is often truer than what is accepted by Jiang Hu. He has a slack appearance, but is actually more righteous than any other so called ‘nobleman’.
My favourite is Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. Laughing Proudly at the World is a close second. I love how Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils is split into three perspectives and emphasises the brotherly love between the three protagonists. I like how Jin Yong portrayed how the world is not black and white in Laughing Proudly at the World. Evil exists within good organisations and good exist within evil cults.
Indeed. But not many gained a greater understanding of the jianghu. In fact, it can be applied in the modern world. How people lock themselves in conflicts simply because they do not see the bigger picture.
I’m still slowly working my way through the books. While I really enjoyed ‘The Book and the Sword’ the story I remember the best is ‘Ode to Gallantry’. It was just so funny and over-the-top! (Was it supposed to be?).
I suspect ‘Fox Volant’ was probably very clever in the original, but it lost a lot in the translation I read. I could still appreciate the artful plot structure, though.
I reserve the right to change my mind as I read more!
No prizes for guessing my fave. The Smiling Proud Wanderer. Love how the title is translated here. Beats the ones we’ve been getting in other translations or the TV dramas
Just that he doesn’t have any wives yet.
