Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2014 - (Page 38)

off the shelf Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out by Mo Yan Review by Rashika Verma Ximen Nao is a noble man. He is kind to his servants. He helps those who are unfortunate, and he strives to be a devoted son, caring father, and loving spouse. But a virtuous life does not spare Ximen Nao from being shot, point-blank, on a cold December day so his land can be redistributed during Mao Zedong's land reform movement in 1948 China. Ximen Nao's death leads his spirit to the afterlife, where Lord Yama of the Underworld tortures Nao in a vat of oil to get him to confess his crimes. Claiming he led a good and virtuous life, Ximen Nao argues that he does not deserve eternal punishment. Lord Yama finally relents and sends Ximen Nao back to his village ... as a donkey. The change is disorienting as Nao is forced to see his old life through the eyes of a donkey. He spends his days not with his family, but with his former servants and the animals on the farm. The narration is unique, but still tinged with the voice of Ximen Nao as he tries to make sense of his new life and the political and cultural changes sweeping across his village that he cannot control. Eventually, Nao is reincarnated again as an ox, a pig, a dog, a monkey, and finally, a big-headed baby named Lan Qiansui. Each time Ximen Nao reenters the world of the living, he not only witnesses the lives of his family members as they continue on with their lives, but also China's turbulent atmosphere during the second half of the 20th century. Each reincarnation's voice lends a new piece to Mo Yan's 50-year documentary of Chinese history, yet the narration always hints to the connection that each voice shares: the spirit of Ximen Nao. The cycle of birth and death is anchored by Lan Lian, Ximen Nao's surviving servant, who is always the owner or companion of each animal Ximen Nao becomes. And while Lan Lian has no knowledge of Ximen Nao's afterlife, he senses that somehow each of the five animals shares a connection with his murdered landlord. Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out is an intricately woven story of a man's journey through modern Chinese history. While esoteric references and the sheer number of characters sometimes threaten to overwhelm the plot, Mo Yan's writing 38 imagine style lends humor and humanity to the seemingly larger-thanlife story. With its honest and sometimes gritty retelling of Chinese history, Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out reveals Mo Yan's love for his country and the rocky journey that has been China's history. The book takes its readers on a ride, giving new perspectives on the Cultural Revolution, the introduction of the Communist Party, and several other developments that swept through China. The book itself may be a lesson in history, but the story holds a journey that takes the reader to the heart of a country that has many stories to tell. Rashika Verma is a senior at West WindsorPlainsboro High School North in New Jersey, where she is an editor on the yearbook staﬀ and president of the book club. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering as an EMT, discovering new worlds in books, and spending time with family and friends. Also recommended Every Day by Daniel Levithan Imagine waking up every morning in a different body. This is the premise of David Levithan's Every Day, an exploration of what it means to love-and what gender identity, and physical bodies, mean. Narrated by 15-year-old 'A,' whose ability frees him from the limits of a single perspective yet bars him from meaningful relationships, Levithan's love story is a heartbreaking and original portrayal of the universal human journey toward self-acceptance. -Ashley Chen, 15, CA The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence Alex Woods was 10 years old when he was hit in the head by a meteorite, a bizarre event that changes him forever. Yet when we meet him as a 17-year-old at the beginning of the book, he's a kid many of us will find familiar: smart, quirky, geeky about science. These qualities make him a target for bullies, who literally chase him into a friendship with a Vietnam veteran. It's hard to say much more without giving the story-a great story-away. You should read it. -Julian Cantrell, 15, IN Mar/Apr 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2014

In My Own Words
Chemistry Is…
Master of Reactions
Fascinated by Photochemistry
What About Labs?
Buckyballs and Nanocrystals
Small Is Big
Chemistry Among the Stars
Making Chemicals Safer, 21st Century Style
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Empowered to Change the World
The Buzz About History
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - March/April 2014