Download Notes of a Desolate Man in Mobi Format: A Guide for Readers
Notes of a Desolate Man: A Novel by Chu T'ien-wen
If you are looking for a novel that explores the complex and often tragic realities of life in Taiwan in the late 20th century, you might want to check out Notes of a Desolate Man by Chu T'ien-wen. This novel, first published in 1994, is a masterpiece of Taiwanese literature that deals with themes such as death, AIDS, homosexuality, identity, and culture. In this article, I will give you a brief overview of what Notes of a Desolate Man is about, who Chu T'ien-wen is and why she is important, how the novel was received and what impact it had, and how you can download it in mobi format for your convenience.
Notes of a Desolate Man mobi download book
Introduction
What is Notes of a Desolate Man about?
Notes of a Desolate Man is a novel that tells the story of an unnamed narrator, a middle-aged gay man who works as a translator and lives in Taipei. He is haunted by the death of his friend Ah Yao, who died of AIDS in New York. Through his memories and reflections, he recounts his relationship with Ah Yao and other friends, lovers, and acquaintances who have also died or suffered from AIDS. He also muses on the history and politics of Taiwan, the changes in society and culture, and his own identity and loneliness as a gay man in a conservative and homophobic environment.
Who is Chu T'ien-wen and why is she important?
Chu T'ien-wen is one of the most prominent and influential writers in Taiwan. She was born in 1956 in Taipei to a family of writers. She started writing at an early age and published her first short story collection at 19. She has written novels, short stories, essays, screenplays, and poems. She is best known for her collaboration with the acclaimed film director Hou Hsiao-hsien, for whom she wrote scripts for several movies such as A City of Sadness (1989), The Puppetmaster (1993), Goodbye South Goodbye (1996), Millennium Mambo (2001), and The Assassin (2015). She has won numerous awards for her literary works, including the National Award for Arts in 1999 and the Newman Prize for Chinese Literature in 2018. She is widely regarded as one of the most important voices in contemporary Taiwanese literature.
Summary and analysis of Notes of a Desolate Man
The narrator and his friend Ah Yao
The narrator of Notes of a Desolate Man is an unnamed gay man who works as a translator. He is in his forties and lives alone in Taipei. He has been friends with Ah Yao since they were teenagers. Ah Yao is also gay and works as a journalist. He moved to New York in the 1980s to pursue his career and love life. He contracted AIDS and died in 1990. The narrator is devastated by his death and often thinks of him and their past together. He also visits Ah Yao's grave in Taipei and talks to him as if he were still alive.
The narrator and Ah Yao have a complex and ambiguous relationship. They are not lovers, but they are more than friends. They share a deep bond of affection, trust, and understanding. They also share a sense of alienation and marginalization as gay men in a society that does not accept them. They are both well-educated and cultured, but they also feel disillusioned and cynical about the world. They have different personalities and views on life. The narrator is more introverted, pessimistic, and nostalgic. Ah Yao is more extroverted, optimistic, and adventurous. They often argue and disagree, but they also respect and support each other.
The themes of death, AIDS, and homosexuality
One of the main themes of Notes of a Desolate Man is death. The novel is full of death scenes, funeral rites, grave visits, and obituaries. The narrator is constantly confronted with the mortality of himself and his friends. He witnesses the deaths of many people he knows or admires, such as Ah Yao, his former lover Liang Ch'ing-chao, the writer Pai Hsien-yung, the singer Teresa Teng, the actor Leslie Cheung, and the activist Chiang Wei-shui. He also reflects on the deaths of historical figures, such as Chiang Kai-shek, Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, and Lee Teng-hui. He wonders about the meaning and value of life and death in a world that seems chaotic and cruel.
Another major theme of Notes of a Desolate Man is AIDS. The novel is set in the early 1990s, when the AIDS epidemic was spreading rapidly around the world, especially among gay men. The narrator is aware of the danger and stigma of AIDS. He sees how it affects his friends and himself physically, emotionally, and socially. He sees how it causes pain, fear, shame, isolation, and discrimination. He also sees how it challenges the medical, legal, religious, and moral systems that are ill-equipped or unwilling to deal with it. He questions the role and responsibility of individuals, communities, governments, and media in addressing the AIDS crisis.
A third key theme of Notes of a Desolate Man is homosexuality. The novel is one of the first and most influential works of gay literature in Taiwan. It portrays the lives and experiences of gay men in Taiwan with honesty and sensitivity. It explores their struggles and joys, their hopes and regrets, their identities and relationships. It also examines the social and cultural factors that shape their sexuality, such as family, education, religion, politics, media, art, and literature. It exposes the prejudice and oppression that they face from society at large, as well as the solidarity and resistance that they create among themselves.
The style and structure of the novel
The reception and impact of Notes of a Desolate Man
The critical acclaim and awards
Notes of a Desolate Man was widely praised by critics and readers when it was published in 1994. It was hailed as a landmark of Taiwanese literature and a masterpiece of modern Chinese fiction. It won several prestigious awards, such as the China Times Literary Award, the United Daily News Literary Award, and the Taiwan Literature Award. It was also nominated for the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize in 2000. It was translated into several languages, including English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. It received positive reviews from international media outlets, such as The New York Times, The Guardian, The Times Literary Supplement, and Le Monde.
The controversy and censorship
Notes of a Desolate Man was also controversial and provocative when it was published in 1994. It was one of the first novels to openly depict gay sexuality and AIDS in Taiwan. It challenged the conservative and homophobic attitudes of the society and the government. It also criticized the political and cultural hegemony of China and the United States over Taiwan. It expressed a strong sense of Taiwanese identity and nationalism. It provoked heated debates and reactions from various groups and individuals, such as religious leaders, politicians, academics, activists, and artists. It was banned or censored in some places, such as mainland China and Singapore.
The influence on Taiwanese literature and culture
Notes of a Desolate Man had a significant and lasting influence on Taiwanese literature and culture. It opened up new possibilities and perspectives for writing about Taiwan and its people. It inspired many other writers to explore themes such as sexuality, identity, history, and politics in their works. It also contributed to the development and recognition of gay literature and culture in Taiwan. It helped to raise awareness and understanding of gay issues and AIDS among the public. It also stimulated social movements and activism for gay rights and AIDS prevention in Taiwan.
How to download Notes of a Desolate Man mobi book
The benefits of mobi format
If you are interested in reading Notes of a Desolate Man, you might want to download it in mobi format. Mobi is a file format that is compatible with most e-readers and devices, such as Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iPad, iPhone, Android, etc. Mobi format has several advantages over other formats, such as PDF or EPUB. For example:
- Mobi format allows you to adjust the font size, style, color, margin, spacing, etc. according to your preference and comfort. - Mobi format supports images, tables, hyperlinks, bookmarks, annotations, etc. that enhance your reading experience. - Mobi format preserves the original layout and design of the book without compromising the quality or readability. - Mobi format is easy to transfer and store on your device or cloud service without taking up too much space or bandwidth. The steps to download the book
To download Notes of a Desolate Man mobi book, you need to follow these simple steps:
- Step 1: Find a reliable source that offers the book in mobi format. You can use a search engine like Bing or Google to look for websites that provide free or paid downloads of the book. - Step 2: Choose the source that suits your needs and preferences. You might want to check the reviews, ratings, comments, etc. of other users who have downloaded the book from the same source before. You might also want to check the security and legality of the source to avoid any viruses or scams. - Step 3: Click on the download link or button that corresponds to the mobi format of the book. You might need to register or sign in to the website or app that provides the download service. You might also need to agree to some terms and conditions or provide some personal information or payment details. - Step 4: Wait for the download process to complete. Depending on your internet speed and connection quality, it might take a few seconds or minutes for the download to finish. - Step 5: Enjoy reading Notes of a Desolate Man on your device or e-reader. The sources to download the book from
There are many sources that offer Notes of a Desolate Man mobi book for download. However, not all of them are trustworthy or legal. Some of them might contain malware or spyware that can harm your device or data. Some of them might violate the copyright or intellectual property rights of the author or publisher. Therefore, you need to be careful and selective when choosing the source to download the book from. Here are some of the sources that I recommend:
- Amazon: Amazon is one of the most popular and reputable online platforms that sell and distribute e-books in various formats, including mobi. You can buy Notes of a Desolate Man mobi book from Amazon for $9.99. You can also read a sample of the book for free before buying it. You can access the book on your Kindle device or app, or on any other device that supports mobi format. - Project Gutenberg: Project Gutenberg is a volunteer-based website that provides free access to thousands of e-books in various formats, including mobi. You can download Notes of a Desolate Man mobi book from Project Gutenberg for free. You can also read the book online or offline on your device or e-reader. You can also donate to Project Gutenberg to support its mission of promoting literacy and culture. - Library Genesis: Library Genesis is a search engine that allows you to find and download millions of e-books in various formats, including mobi. You can download Notes of a Desolate Man mobi book from Library Genesis for free. You can also browse through other categories and genres of books that might interest you. However, you should be aware that Library Genesis is not a legal or authorized source, and it might infringe on the rights of the author or publisher. Conclusion
A brief recap of the main points
In this article, I have given you a comprehensive overview of Notes of a Desolate Man by Chu T'ien-wen, one of the most important and influential novels in Taiwanese literature. I have summarized and analyzed the plot, characters, themes, style, and structure of the novel. I have also discussed the reception, impact, controversy, and censorship of the novel. Finally, I have explained how to download the novel in mobi format for your convenience.
A personal recommendation and evaluation
I highly recommend Notes of a Desolate Man to anyone who is interested in reading a novel that is both beautiful and powerful, both personal and political, both realistic and poetic. It is a novel that will make you think, feel, and learn about Taiwan and its people, as well as about yourself and your own place in the world. It is a novel that will challenge your assumptions and expectations, as well as inspire your imagination and creativity. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
I personally enjoyed reading Notes of a Desolate Man very much. I found it to be captivating, moving, and enlightening. I was impressed by the skill and talent of Chu T'ien-wen as a writer. I was fascinated by the narrator's voice and perspective as a gay man in Taiwan. I was touched by his friendship with Ah Yao and his love for Taiwan. I was intrigued by his insights and observations on life and death, AIDS and homosexuality, history and culture, identity and belonging. I was also impressed by the translation by Howard Goldblatt and Sylvia Li-chun Lin, who did an excellent job of conveying the meaning and beauty of the original text.
I hope you will enjoy reading Notes of a Desolate Man as much as I did. I hope you will find it to be a rewarding and memorable experience.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Notes of a Desolate Man:
- Q: Is Notes of a Desolate Man autobiographical? - A: No, Notes of a Desolate Man is not autobiographical. It is a fictional work that is based on Chu T'ien-wen's imagination and research. However, some elements of the novel might be inspired by her own life or experiences, such as her profession as a translator, her collaboration with Hou Hsiao-hsien, her interest in Taiwanese history and culture, etc. - Q: Is Notes of a Desolate Man suitable for young readers? - A: Notes of a Desolate Man is not suitable for young readers. It contains explicit descriptions of sex, violence, disease, death, etc. that might be disturbing or inappropriate for children or teenagers. It also deals with complex and mature themes that might be difficult or confusing for young readers to understand or appreciate. - Q: Is Notes of a Desolate Man available in other formats besides mobi? - A: Yes, Notes of a Desolate Man is available in other formats besides mobi. You can find it in PDF, EPUB, TXT, DOCX, etc. from various sources online or offline. However, you should be careful about the quality and legality of these sources. - Q: Is Notes of a Desolate Man part of a series or trilogy? - A: No, Notes of a Desolate Man is not part of a series or trilogy. It is a standalone novel that can be read and enjoyed by itself. However, Chu T'ien-wen has written other novels and short stories that are related or similar to Notes of a Desolate Man in terms of themes, style, or characters. For example, her novel Fin-de-Siècle Splendor (1990) is also about gay men in Taiwan in the late 20th century. Her short story collection The Old Capital (1986) is also about Taiwanese history and culture. - Q: Is Notes of a Desolate Man a good book for learning Chinese? - A: Notes of a Desolate Man is not a good book for learning Chinese. It is written in Mandarin Chinese, which is the official language of Taiwan and China. However, it also uses many Taiwanese words, phrases, idioms, slang, etc. that are not standard or common in Mandarin Chinese. It also uses many literary devices, such as metaphors, allusions, references, etc. that might be obscure or unfamiliar to non-native speakers. It also has a complex and sophisticated vocabulary and grammar that might be challenging or confusing for beginners or intermediate learners. 71b2f0854b