I say kinda-review since I don't know what components go into a proper review. I just enjoyed the book and want to share it.

Some wikipedia-fueled background on this book: Ricksaw Boy is a classic piece of 20th-century Chinese literature that was originally published piecemeal into a magazine. The version I read is a translation by Evan King that added a couple characters and, apparently, changed the ending. I have not read the original version and, if someone has, would love to know how it ended.

If you do not know what a rickshaw boy is, it refers to the boys and men who worked pulling rickshaws (sometimes personally owned, sometimes rented from rickshaw sheds) for coin. They formed one of the lowest rungs of the Chinese economy, and threw such eyes we are treated to a particular struggle and view on life.

Rickshaw Boy is about a young Chinese man in a 1900s China (I don't know the exact time frame. Cars were present, but rare) who comes to Bejing from the country to become a rickshaw man. He is called Happy Boy, for his simple country boy manner and the joy with which he pulls a Rickshaw. Happy Boy's dream is to become an independent rickshaw boy, who owns his own rickshaw and is free to do as he pleases in a spartan comfort. he even dreams about owning multiple rickshaws, retiring into the life of a rickshaw shed owner. It almost seems as if we will be left with a short novel when Happy Boy's long hours pay off and he buys his own rickshaw, finally free to make his money however he wills. Then turmoil comes into Happy Boy's life and we are treated to a downward spiral that remains tinged with the shreds of hope. I don't want to give a great deal of the plot away, so you'll have to discover what happens to him yourself.

I found this book surprisingly pleasant and straightforward to read. Most novels with themes on economic hardship, the relationship of man and machine, and other such "dry" topics have always struck me as too internal without enough to keep the story moving. They're more dissertations with a plot than true stories. I did not find this to be the case with Rickshaw Boy. I developed a vested interest in Happy Boy's story and I feel this opened the messages in the story to the reader. And, dangit, it was just a plain good story to read. My purchase based on the pretty leather hardback was well worth the money!!


If you're one of the folk here who enjoy reading Russian literature, I also give you a particular recommendation. According to Wikipedia, Chinese literature of this time era was heavily influenced by Russian literature. I have only read one Russian novel so I can't confirm or deny that with great strength, but I do agree based on what I have read.

Anyway, I hope you don't mind my shoddy review, and that you go find yourself a copy of Rickshaw Boy!