Did you celebrate the full moon? It's been dark and rainy in my city all day, so I didn't get a chance to see the moon. China is 12 hours ahead of me, so I enjoyed my mooncake after the majority of people who actually celebrate this festival enjoyed theirs. The greatest difference between me and those people is, however, the fact that they were together but I am alone. I am saying this, because I feel that the characters you portray are lonely, too -- probably more so than the "ordinary" citizens of the empire. Loneliness has long been a pandemic among the human species. Don't you agree?
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Like many young people, I read novels for moral guidance, a fascinating story or just for a good laugh-off. Yours obviously doesn't fall into any one of the catagories. I was initially captivated by your astonishing ability to manipuate the Chinese language and your remarkable knowledge of China's culture and history. (I sometimes feel shameful and guilty for my own ignorance, especially for the fact that I used to claim myself an ardent lover of these areas.) Furthermore, you presented your knowledge in a very scholarly fashion. In reading your novel, I believe I undergo what seems like an education -- an education which I have yet found words to describe.
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Characters. I love your characters because they are sophisticated, well-developed and real. I am amazed by how you touch their innermost subtle feelings by words and/or actions. Of course, your novel does not lack detailed descriptions of human minds. Honestly speaking, they are the part of your writings that I do NOT like the most. Why? There are two reasons:
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1) They reveal too much information. Teachers of writing courses usually warn their students "to show not to tell". Your characters already speak volumes by their words and actions. Besides, some keen readers might want an opportunity to complete the whole puzzle by themselves.
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2) My brain is sometimes confused with time scale. Even though it is highly possible for myriads of thoughts to pass through a human mind in a split second, this process seems much slower when one attempts to put it down in black and white. The more vivid and alive the description, the longer it seems to me -- it takes time to digest the author's descriptions and to picturize the character's thought process. I know it is totally mistaken to equate the time I take to understand the thoughts to the time the character used to generate them, but I can't help. Consequently, my brain distorts your scene into a ill-filmed movie. If you watch enough Japanese anime, I probably don't need to go further. If you don't and you are interested, please find a typical fight scene in "sailor moon". Audience frequently review how the protagonist transforms in exact detail in front of a supposedly formidable enemy. The whole process takes what seems like eternity. How do I feel about it? The fight scene loses heat.
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The comparison with Japanese anime was a really bad one. It was just meant to show you the idea. I have already embarrassed myself enough with it, so please don't be mad at me. Plus, the feeling is completely personal, so please don't take it seriously.
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Again, best wishes for the festival. Take care.

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