射雕英雄传 (Legend of the Condor Heros)

Book Title: 射雕英雄传 (Legend of the Condor Heros)
Author: 金庸 (Louis Cha)
Series: 4 parts

For this book review, there's really nothing to fill in, not in terms of publisher, or any of that sorts... Frankly, I have to admit, I am at page 30 for the first book, where we are still waiting for Yang Kang and Guo Jing to appear, since it's the portion on their fathers.. and Qiu Chu Ji...

But what I really wanted to blog about was the reason and rationale on why I am suddenly picking up this series to read, when I have a ton of other fantasy novels which I have just purchased and a Wheel of Time Series that I am midway through. For that matter, I am also midway through the 20th Century Boys manga, as well as through the mini encyclopedia on History of the World (reading about the historical happenings of the world). Yes, I like to start on, and may just be in the midst of a book, and I will meander to start on another project. But I am the sort that will eventually come back to complete it, when the mood swings by again.

Anyway, back to Legend of the Condor Heros... it is a legendary program that has more remakes than the fingers I have on one hand.. and these are just the drama serial version. I am not even counting in the movie versions (which all suck, cuz they will find some funny truncated plot that doesn't hold water).

So, being Chinese and all, it was my decision that despite my sucky Chinese (in my defense, I read a lot of Manga translated into Chinese, but of course, these have pictures to aid understanding and generally the language is simple to understand), I have decided that to be a TRUE CHINESE, I have to at least have read one Jin Yong series.

After a whole lot of Q&A of colleagues and friends, seeing as this is a major battle for me, to read through 4 Chinese books, without Ang Kong(Pictures in Hokkien), it is a mighty huge endeavour, an odyssey to read and complete it. The general consensus was that 射雕英雄传 is by far, one of the most interesting sets. It is the first instalment that spawned off Romance of the Condor Heros. It is most popular as there was plenty of action and supposedly hugely entertaining, with Huang Rong, Guo Jing's spouse later on in this series, being one of the most popular female characters of all time. Intelligent, beautiful, witty and crafty at the same time.

In contrast, Guo Jing's dim wittedness is supposedly overplayed on TV, as apparently, it is not that he is dull, but that he is straightforward, honest and trusting. But this has not been successfully depicted on the small screen. Soo... to be able to really form my own opinion, I decided that 射雕英雄传 will be the book of the year.

So.. for 2010.. I will read and complete this series! Page 30 and counting... I will update again if in the midst of reading, there is really something I want to share on...

靖哥哥，蓉妹， 你们要等我。。。 我一定会继续读的！