Book Review: The Man From Beijing, Henning Mankell


The Man from Beijing, Henning Mankell (Translated by Laurie Thompson)
The Man from Beijing is a well written and intriguing story that follows characters over a 200 year timeline and traces their lineage (and their egos) over several continents, but the story continually falls flat. 
Mankell has the opportunity to create insight into the Swedish legal system from two viewpoints - a small town police chief, and a Swedish judge, but he uses the women to set up blockades for one another, essentially stifling that story line. He has the opportunity to flesh out varying viewpoints of Mao's Cultural revolution, but gives it only the perspective of a ditzy, impressionable girl. He could show more depth with regard to slave and forced labor of the early U.S., he could show the greater machinations of China's politics and the struggles therein, but chooses to kill off characters before they can become interesting or challenging. 
Most of the characters, in this book, come across as somewhat one dimensional. I get the sense that he doesn't really know how to write women unless they are victims. The main character, a Swedish judge, has little respect for (or knowledge of) the legal system and is completely oblivious, giving little stock to anything other than her own very personal issues. She's almost, dare I say, ditzy. 
His most interesting and potentially complex character, with whom he could've gone on to write a series of books that I would've gladly read, he kills off in a very transparent and abrupt manner. He does the same thing with her brother in order to quickly resolve the entire story. What little intrigue there is loses its steam the more we find out how selfish and superficial the characters and their motivations actually are. The historical and geo political slant seems superficial as well, and didn't do much to advance any of the stories. 
In the end the story is pointlessly propelled by someone who uses revenge as a means to give direction to their life, without giving the reader any substance to gnash their teeth on. 


Amazon readers give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Goodreads readers give it 3.34 out of 5 stars
I give it 2 out of 5 stars

Labels: , ,