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Overview
Iron & Silk, Mark Salzman's bestselling account of his adventures as an English teacher and martial arts student in China, introduced a writer of enormous charm and keen insight into the cultural chasm between East and West. Now Salzman returns to China in his first novel, which follows the adventures of Hsun-ching, a naive but courageous orphan, and the formidable and mysterious Colonel Sun, who together travel from mainland China to San Francisco, risking everything to track down an elusive Buddhist scripture called The Laughing Sutra. Part Tom Sawyer, part Tom Jones, The Laughing Sutra draws us into an irresistible narrative of danger and comedy that speaks volumes about the nature of freedom and the meaning of loyalty.The author of Iron and Silk returns to China in this highly original novel which follows the adventures of a naive but courageous orphan and the formidable Colonel Sun, who risk everything to track down an elusive Buddhist scripture. "Lovingly drawn . . . very promising and often funny."--Time.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly -
Hsun-ching and his mentor, Colonel Sun, travel from China to San Francisco in their quest for the Laughing Sutra, a text that allegedly holds the key to immortality. PW called this ``a novel whose sincerity, good spirits and imaginative high jinks make up for some weaknesses in prose and narrative momentum.'' (Jan.)Library Journal
This first novel by the best-selling author of Iron and Silk (LJ 2/1/87) tells the story of Hsun-ching, a native of rural China raised by a Buddhist monk following his mother's death. After surviving the Cultural Revolution, Hsun-ching agrees to take up his mentor's lifelong search for the last remaining copy of the Laughing Sutra, ``a scroll so precious that whoever understood its message would instantly perceive his Buddha-nature and . . . achieve physical immortality.'' The sutra is in San Francisco, and most of the novel describes the improbable journey of this Chinese innocent to the United States in the company of Colonel Sun, a strange character who claims to be centuries old. This comic tale of a quest and culture clash is recommended for large fiction collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/90.-- A.J. Wright, Univ. of Alabama at BirminghamSchool Library Journal
YA-- Hsun-ching comes to the U. S. from China in the late 1970s, fulfilling the dream of the Buddhist monk who raised him. His companion on the trip is Colonel Sun, a 2500-year-old warrior. Both are naive and unprepared for the complexities of American life. Comic scenes--a first encounter with a television and a visit to a restaurant--are contrasted with situations concerning American values, as Hsun-ching's knowledge of Americans is drawn from stereotypes: he thinks they are always in a hurry, love money, and hate the elderly. His bewilderment is mixed with a tinge of mystery and romance, and the combination will keep readers curious until the end. Although the plot will hold them, this is really a character study: Hsun-ching's unswerving devotion determines all of his actions. The novel is not just for newly arrived immigrants who will identify with the experiences; it can be enjoyed by most high school students.-- Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VABook Details
Published
January 16, 1991
Publisher
Random House Publishing Group
Pages
272
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780394570099