Talking Head Review (Transcript)

Hi everyone! Welcome to my blog. My name is Jina Hong and today I will be reviewing the Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie. As you can assume from the author’s name and the title, this book is set in China. In fact its background is the 1970s after Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution. You may or may not know about this time period of Chinese history but basically, it was a time of fear and intellectual oppression led by the communist government. All educated members of society were accused of being bourgeious instigators of wealth disparity. They were labeled 'reactionaries' and were persecuted to rural countrysides to be re-educated. As a result of this setting, the book is quite heavily focused on this historical aspect. But it’s too early for disappointments – the history part is not what this novel is all about.

The story unfolds through the perspective of a seventeen-year-old boy who has been sent to a rural town for re-education along with his friend, Luo. Their job in the town is to endlessly transport buckets of excrement to agricultural fields. Interestingly, the narrator’s name is never revealed in the novel. However, many other things about him can be inferred from the text. He is musically gifted and enjoys learning but is humble. His conservative attitude towards the Seamstress, who is the female protagonist, also shows that he is reserved. This attribute of the narrator contrasts with his companion, Luo, who is more confident and extroverted. However, both are mature and acutely aware of how society is transforming. Because of this, they are able to accept and adapt to the need to conform to the monotonous life forced upon them.

In the midst of their tedious life, the narrator and Luo meets the Little Chinese Seamstress, an innocent mountain girl. They also acquire a suitcase full of western novels and this is where the real plot of the story begins. As the three pore over the books, they open their eyes to an entirely different world of passion, detestation, lust and independence. Through this interaction with western literature, their lives are remarkably transformed, especially for the Little Seamstress, who has never explored beyond her town before.

Sijie has a couple of important messages for us. The metamorphosis of the Little Seamstress highlights the power of literature to promote individualism. Initially, the Little Seamstress is a naive teenage girl. But through her exposure to western literature, her efforts to become independent begin. She abandons her simple demeanor and starts to dress and speak like a city girl. At the same time, she retracts her connection with others around her including the narrator and Luo, thus becoming more self-determining. Her transformation not only highlights the power of literature but as well as the significance of independence in pursuing personal philosophy.

I won't spoil the ending for you. But it is needless to say that this novel is a good one. Although my initial reason for reading the Balzac was because of my English assignment, the book impacted me profoundly. I'm quite certain that it will change your perspective. The novel is only 170 pages so if you’re looking for a quick read, this is definitely the one. Anyways I hope you gained something from my review and I hope to see you again soon!

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