Waiting review by Paul

First i was doubtful and hesitant when this book was at hand. So after delaying it for up to three or four days i gave it shot. It was light, even easy read. the simplicity of language and i had before-hand impression that all Asian-American authors write in typically enjoyable and plain language. So it was just like that. I was like man, with this i could have taught myself or any other eager beavers English - the prose was that easy to read. Ok, enough with the babbling about the language.

The book begins Chinese medical officer wanting to divorce his well, not-so-pretty-sight wife after more than dozen years of loveless marriage. The husband was slim build and by universal standard bookworm with glasses(like me). Obviosly he was highly edcucated and moral also little bit shy person. The wife, on the other hand, country girl(old woman) with simple mind who is always occupied with farm work. However, one very big difference was that she loved her husband unconditionally; i truly felt sorry for her. For heaven's sake, Lin her arrogant cold husband refused to sleep together, not even in same room.

To begin with, the husband was introduced to her country wife by their parents who insisted they should marry. Lin, the husband was reluctant to that arranged marriage, but back then who could oppose their parents in Chinese culture. i could only imagine that how this scholarly person had to put up with a woman who looked like his mother and had bound feet(feet size of 5 year old's). It must had had been hell. Because of her appearance, he had destroyed every chance to to be seen in presence of her outside their village, and town is clearly no go area.

Considering these conditions, you must put yourself in his shoes and see it from his point of view when he fell in love with another woman outside the village. Why, because he was medical officer and his job was in town so that he was to stay 98% of year at work allowing only two weeks back at the village home. This half adulterous life of the man continued several years. In china, back in time married couple were forbidden to divorce unless there were a few exceptional cases. Divorce was only permissible if one was caught red-handed doing it or he or she dies.

After 18 years of waiting, the man finally divorced his faithful wife. Then, he married his mistress throwing mediocre wedding celebration. Life was fine at first happy relieving and content. But when his new wife got pregnant, all hell broke loose. He realized he did not truly love any woman, neither of the two wives. Not long after, he wanted escape from responsibility of being father and being caring husband. Quarrels became common thing between the newly weds. The husband stayed up late spending time with female students of his daughter's age while wife waiting until two or three doing housework and worried-sick about her husband.

The main character Lin, a father of three child, a husband of two wives, finally had epiphany that his former wife was far better, but decision was too late now that he is already married man. He learned he only waited for the sake of waiting. Two things common for the miserable wives were that they both loved their husband from bottom of their heart and sadly neither received nothing related to love.

Waiting - Ha Jin