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Book reviews for "Ho_Xuan_Huong_c._c." sorted by average review score:

Spring Essence
Published in Paperback by Copper Canyon Press (01 October, 2000)
Authors: Ho Xuan Huong and John Balaban
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An effort half-baked
As a Vietnamese who has read Ho-Xuan-Huong before, I was rather excited to buy this book. Finally, the rest of world will be able to share with me in appreciating both Mrs. Ho's beautiful poetic descriptions of the Vietnamese landscape and people, and also her clever use of humor and words to create second meanings. Second meanings that bravely criticized the injustices of her society and, at the same time, made wise observations on the human condition that I've found so enriching. Unfortunately, John Balaban's efforts fell short of exposing the wonders of these poems to those who don't speak Vietnamese. The way Mr. Balaban put the book together I can see that he does understand and appreciate the poems. However, just like another reviewer observed, Mr. Balaban seemed to have translated the poems literally word-for-word. As a result, the essential second meanings that made these poems great are lost. At any rate, without prior exposure to the Vietnamese language, customs, traditions and idioms, the average Non-Vietnamese reader will not be able to fully enjoy the poetry in this book. In the end, the only redeeming quality of this book is that it actually includes the poems written in the original Vietnamese. Because of this, it is an invaluable reference for the student of Vietnamese studies.

Seductive Poetry, but something lost in translation
Ho Xuan Huong was an 18th Century concubine with a very feminist determination to write about the seductive elements of life and in a number of the poems here you'll see why she must have caused quite a stir. Her sexuality simmers just below the surface of these poems, or in some cases, slyly evokes the delights she knows well in analogy. What is at first reading a song about sowing is an admonition to young women to luxuriate in the langour of passion, a kind of Bonnie Raitt take on the joys of gettin' jiggy with it.
One of the interesting elements of the book's production is the presentation on the Viet Namese adaptation of Chinese caligraphy as well as the contemporary Viet Namese lettering, along with the English translation. The foreword is well documented and instructive. My only carp is that as with any translation from an expressive and lyrical language like Viet Namese, something gets lost. It hits you because you get an inkling why Ho Xuan Huong was so controversial, and you'd somehow like to get closer to her to really feel what made her senses reel. I don't speak Viet Namese, so more's the pity in my case.
However, this is well worth exploring, very seductive stuff to share with a lover.

Plunk and Patter
Bilingual and a writer myself, I know painfully well the treacheries of translation. Especially poetic translations. The thought alone sends shivers of horror and dread down my writerly spine. Perhaps it is great fortune that I have absolutely no knowledge of Nom, or the Vietnamese language, from which the poetry of Ho Xuan Huong is translated. I cannot say whether Balaban has or has not succeeded in his translation of this 18th century concubine's poetry. What I can say: I attended a reading by John Balaban. He read Xuan Huong's poetry in both English and in Nom. I almost felt, listening to the music of the language alone, without comprehension of the language itself, that I loved listening to its musical quality even more than I loved listening to the English translations I understood. The blind see and the deaf hear? Sometimes it is so. It was music to my ears. When he read about the rain falling on banana leaves... Thanh thot tau tieu may hat mua... I could hear the rain plunk and patter on the leaves. Balaban had clearly approached his work with passion and pleasure, and this is exactly what he brought out of Xuan Huong's poetry - passion and pleasure, spiced with humor. I had to purchase the book after the reading, simply had to. I won't argue the authenticity of the poetry I read in this volume, but I will state that it gives me pleasure to read it. "My backpack, breathing moonlight, sags with poems..."


All She Wants: Poetry
Published in Paperback by Tuba Press (1987)
Authors: Xuan Huong Ho and David Cevet
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Economic Reform, Poverty and Equity in Access to Health Care: Case Studies in Vietnam (IDS Research Report)
Published in Paperback by Institute of Development Studies (IDS) (1999)
Authors: Malcolm Segall, Gill Tipping, Vinhm Dao Xuan, and Dao Lan Huong
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Health Care Seeking by the Poor in Transitional Economies: The Case of Vietnam (IDS Research Report)
Published in Paperback by Institute of Development Studies (IDS) (2000)
Authors: Malcolm Segall, Gill Tipping, Henry Lucas, Truong Dung, Nguyen Thanh Tam, Dao Xuan Vinh, and Dao Lan Huong
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Ho Xuan Huong's "Spring-Watching Pavilion": A Study Guide from Gale's "Poetry for Students"
Published in Digital by The Gale Group (20 June, 2003)
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Mourning in the Ancient Near East & the Hebrew Bible
Published in Hardcover by Sheffield Academic Pr (June, 2001)
Author: Xuan Huong Thi Pham
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Sustainable Livelihoods in Southern Ethiopia (IDS Research Report)
Published in Paperback by Institute of Development Studies (IDS) (2000)
Authors: Grace Carswell, Arjan de Haan, Data Dea, Alemayehu Konde, Haileyesus Seba, Alex Shankland, Annettehanh Sinclair, Dao Xuan Vinh, and Dao Lan Huong
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