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Тлумач тіл
На написання історичного роману «Тлумач тіл» іспанського письменника Антоніо Ґаррідо надихнула реальна постать: прототипом головного героя став китайський учений Сун Ци � перший у світі фахівець із судової медицини.
Після смерті дідуся завзятий криміналіст-початківець Сун Ци змушений залишити навчання в столиці та повернутись до рідного села, аби підтримати родину. Він погоджується працювати могильником, що дає змогу вдосконалити навички в судмедекспертизі. Незабаром Ци виявляє в собі здатність визначати причину смерті людини. Його слава швидко поширюється, і він отримує наказ розкрити винуватця жахливої серії каліцтв та смертей при імператорському дворі. Розслідування ускладнюється через старі зв'язки та появу загадкової й спокусливої жінки. Проте Ци не відступає і керується прагненням до істини, адже на кону � життя самого імператора.
Після смерті дідуся завзятий криміналіст-початківець Сун Ци змушений залишити навчання в столиці та повернутись до рідного села, аби підтримати родину. Він погоджується працювати могильником, що дає змогу вдосконалити навички в судмедекспертизі. Незабаром Ци виявляє в собі здатність визначати причину смерті людини. Його слава швидко поширюється, і він отримує наказ розкрити винуватця жахливої серії каліцтв та смертей при імператорському дворі. Розслідування ускладнюється через старі зв'язки та появу загадкової й спокусливої жінки. Проте Ци не відступає і керується прагненням до істини, адже на кону � життя самого імператора.
528 pages, Hardcover
First published October 5, 2011
671 people are currently reading
3,350 people want to read
About the author
Antonio Garrido
20books92followersEs Ingeniero Industrial y reside en Valencia, en donde trabaja como profesor del Master de Diseño de Transporte en el Centro de Formación de Postgrado de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia y profesor de la Escuela Superior de Diseño Industrial en la Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU. Es director de una empresa de consultoría de diseño de automóviles, y escribe artículos en prensa especializada. Es también profesor invitado del taller literario de novela ó del Instituto Valenciano de Estudios Clásicos y Orientales.
De momento se ha orientado a la novela ó.
De momento se ha orientado a la novela ó.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 528 reviews
January 15, 2023
Novela que nos cuenta la historia de Song Cí, personaje real que vivió en la China Imperial del S. XIII y que fue el precursor de los actuales métodos de investigación forense al implantar técnicas novedosas en un campo que hasta entonces utilizaba medios muy rudimentarios.
Con una trama de crímenes y complots criminales que no da un minuto de respiro y con un protagonista con muy mala suerte pero bastante decidido, que arrostra todo tipo de penalidades para perseguir sus ambiciones en una sociedad muy rígida y jerarquizada donde la obediencia ciega a los mayores, la brutalidad de los castigos y el poco valor otorgado a la vida humana me han llamado mucho la atención.
Ágil, original y entretenida, y con un protagonista muy capaz pero al que a veces me han dado ganas de matar por lelo y confiado.
Con una trama de crímenes y complots criminales que no da un minuto de respiro y con un protagonista con muy mala suerte pero bastante decidido, que arrostra todo tipo de penalidades para perseguir sus ambiciones en una sociedad muy rígida y jerarquizada donde la obediencia ciega a los mayores, la brutalidad de los castigos y el poco valor otorgado a la vida humana me han llamado mucho la atención.
Ágil, original y entretenida, y con un protagonista muy capaz pero al que a veces me han dado ganas de matar por lelo y confiado.
November 18, 2020
En 2012 esta fue la review:
Como suelo valorar, en mi cabeza, los libros sobre 10, un 8 me parecía poco y un 9 mucho, así que ahí queda el 8,5.
Podéis encontrar en la red sinopsis más extensas del libro, pero os lo resumo en que va de el tatarabuelo de los CSI, Ci Song, que vivió realmente en China en los siglos XII-XIII y fue el precursor de las técnicas forenses que Se utilizan hoy en día.
El libro refleja muy bien las costumbres en la china rural e imperial de la época, los tabúes sociales, las relaciones entre poderosos y pueblo llano ... y todo ello aderezado con descubrir unos asesinatos utilizando técnicas forenses –casi de CSI o Bones, vamos- que el propio Ci Song debe desarrollar.
La historia te atrapa, la curiosidad por esa época en China te obliga a leer, las vicisitudes del protagonista te envuelven. Avances “técnicos�, costumbres sorprendentes, otra cultura, misterio, un pelin de juicio, un pelín de romance ...
De lo mejor que he leído hace bastante. Igual hasta me he quedado corto en la valoración. No se si lo será ya, pero tiene pinta de best-seller por la facilidad con que lo podemos leer el gran público.
Como suelo valorar, en mi cabeza, los libros sobre 10, un 8 me parecía poco y un 9 mucho, así que ahí queda el 8,5.
Podéis encontrar en la red sinopsis más extensas del libro, pero os lo resumo en que va de el tatarabuelo de los CSI, Ci Song, que vivió realmente en China en los siglos XII-XIII y fue el precursor de las técnicas forenses que Se utilizan hoy en día.
El libro refleja muy bien las costumbres en la china rural e imperial de la época, los tabúes sociales, las relaciones entre poderosos y pueblo llano ... y todo ello aderezado con descubrir unos asesinatos utilizando técnicas forenses –casi de CSI o Bones, vamos- que el propio Ci Song debe desarrollar.
La historia te atrapa, la curiosidad por esa época en China te obliga a leer, las vicisitudes del protagonista te envuelven. Avances “técnicos�, costumbres sorprendentes, otra cultura, misterio, un pelin de juicio, un pelín de romance ...
De lo mejor que he leído hace bastante. Igual hasta me he quedado corto en la valoración. No se si lo será ya, pero tiene pinta de best-seller por la facilidad con que lo podemos leer el gran público.
April 19, 2019
3.5 stars
China im 13. Jahrhundert. Der junge Cí ist ein begabter Beamtenkandidat, dessen Talente vor allem im Erschließen der Todesursache von Menschen liegen. Heute würde man ihn einen Forensiker nennen. Doch als der Großvater stirbt und die Familie zur Wahrung der Trauerzeit in ihr Heimatdorf zurückkehrt, ereignen sich Vorfälle, die Cís Karriere ein Ende zu bereiten scheinen.
Mit China unter der Song-Dynastie hat Antonio Garrido einen ungewöhnlichen Schauplatz für seinen historischen Roman gewählt. Die Hauptfigur ist eine historische Persönlichkeit: Cí Song bzw. Song Cí gilt als Begründer der Forensik. Garrido webt um ihn, über den wenig bekannt ist, eine komplizierte Geschichte, die über einen reinen Krimi hinausgeht. Tatsächlich legt Garrido die Grundlagen für die eigentlichen Mordfälle bereits zu Beginn des Buches, richtig zum Tragen kommen diese jedoch erst in der zweiten Hälfte des Buches. In der ersten Hälfte geht es vornehmlich um das Schicksal von Cí und seiner Familie. Die erste Hälfte ist meiner Meinung nach weniger gelungen als die zweite, da finden sich doch einige Logiklücken und die Leserin, die eigentlich einen Krimi erwartet hatte, fragt sich, wo der bleibt, und wird möglicherweise etwas ungeduldig. Denn Cí widerfährt ein Unglück nach dem anderen.
Schließlich jedoch gibt es mehrere Tote und einen Fall, den Cí aufklären soll � und dieser Fall ist die Stärke des Buches. Ich habe die Auflösung zwar kurz vorher erahnt, sie ist jedoch gut gemacht, und am Ende setzt Garrido noch einmal einen Twist darauf.
Insgesamt ein lesenswerter historischer Krimi mit ein paar Schwächen.
China im 13. Jahrhundert. Der junge Cí ist ein begabter Beamtenkandidat, dessen Talente vor allem im Erschließen der Todesursache von Menschen liegen. Heute würde man ihn einen Forensiker nennen. Doch als der Großvater stirbt und die Familie zur Wahrung der Trauerzeit in ihr Heimatdorf zurückkehrt, ereignen sich Vorfälle, die Cís Karriere ein Ende zu bereiten scheinen.
Mit China unter der Song-Dynastie hat Antonio Garrido einen ungewöhnlichen Schauplatz für seinen historischen Roman gewählt. Die Hauptfigur ist eine historische Persönlichkeit: Cí Song bzw. Song Cí gilt als Begründer der Forensik. Garrido webt um ihn, über den wenig bekannt ist, eine komplizierte Geschichte, die über einen reinen Krimi hinausgeht. Tatsächlich legt Garrido die Grundlagen für die eigentlichen Mordfälle bereits zu Beginn des Buches, richtig zum Tragen kommen diese jedoch erst in der zweiten Hälfte des Buches. In der ersten Hälfte geht es vornehmlich um das Schicksal von Cí und seiner Familie. Die erste Hälfte ist meiner Meinung nach weniger gelungen als die zweite, da finden sich doch einige Logiklücken und die Leserin, die eigentlich einen Krimi erwartet hatte, fragt sich, wo der bleibt, und wird möglicherweise etwas ungeduldig. Denn Cí widerfährt ein Unglück nach dem anderen.
Schließlich jedoch gibt es mehrere Tote und einen Fall, den Cí aufklären soll � und dieser Fall ist die Stärke des Buches. Ich habe die Auflösung zwar kurz vorher erahnt, sie ist jedoch gut gemacht, und am Ende setzt Garrido noch einmal einen Twist darauf.
Insgesamt ein lesenswerter historischer Krimi mit ein paar Schwächen.
September 4, 2013
Simultaneously ingenious, compelling, and frustrating. Garrido's historical fiction paints real-life Chinese scientist Ci Song as a Quixotic adventurer, whose problems are caused by equal parts bad luck and bad decisions. The first half documents a trouble-prone journey and you start to get angry at Ci's insistence on trusting the wrong people and making the wrong choice. The second half is much more interesting, opening up a complex murder mystery in the courts of ancient China. Ci may be a savant at forensic science, but his decisions continue to make me doubt his intelligence. A strong three stars.
October 3, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It was so refreshingly new. It is set in the thirteenth-century Tsong Dynasty. It is based on the work of a real person, Cí Song, who is considered to be the founding father of forensic science.
The book starts out with Ci Song as a scholar who is supported by his grandfather who is a noted scholar. Unfortunately, the grandfather dies and Song is forced to return home and become subject to his crass and dissipated older brother. When a crime is committed, he is forced to flee and he returns to the city where his talent for "reading corpses" eventually leads him to the Emperor himself.
Even though one misfortune after another dogs his footsteps, his talent is recognized by his mentor at the school he once attended and he is able to continue to study. There is a serial killer who is killing and mutilating within the circle of even the Emperor himself and Song finds himself in a race to find the killer or be executed.
The author is Spanish and I look forward to more of his books.
The book starts out with Ci Song as a scholar who is supported by his grandfather who is a noted scholar. Unfortunately, the grandfather dies and Song is forced to return home and become subject to his crass and dissipated older brother. When a crime is committed, he is forced to flee and he returns to the city where his talent for "reading corpses" eventually leads him to the Emperor himself.
Even though one misfortune after another dogs his footsteps, his talent is recognized by his mentor at the school he once attended and he is able to continue to study. There is a serial killer who is killing and mutilating within the circle of even the Emperor himself and Song finds himself in a race to find the killer or be executed.
The author is Spanish and I look forward to more of his books.
July 30, 2020
The Corpse Reader
By: Antonio Garrido, Thomas Bunstead (translator)
This book is based on China in the middle ages. It was pretty good at giving the reader the culture and society's life during that time. We follow a young man through one horrible situation in life to another. He continues to thrive despite all life throws at him. He is bright and works hard which lands him in a place to prove himself and save others. Very nicely done!
By: Antonio Garrido, Thomas Bunstead (translator)
This book is based on China in the middle ages. It was pretty good at giving the reader the culture and society's life during that time. We follow a young man through one horrible situation in life to another. He continues to thrive despite all life throws at him. He is bright and works hard which lands him in a place to prove himself and save others. Very nicely done!
March 10, 2020
La novela El lector de cadáveres de Antonio Garrido me ha sorprendido muy gratamente, tanto por lo buena novela que es como por tener más historia de lo esperado, está obra combina la sencillez en el relato con la precisión a la hora de transmitir las costumbres de una época bastante alejada en el tiempo, como es la China medieval, más concretamente el año 1206.
La historia que nos cuenta Antonio Garrido atrapa desde las primeras páginas. La vida de Cí está muy bien relatada, con mucha fluidez y toda la historia perfectamente enlazada. El autor consigue que la historia y los personajes sean creíbles (a pesar estar basada en un personaje real hay poca información sobre la vida de Cí Song) y además la ambientación es estupenda.
La historia que nos cuenta Antonio Garrido atrapa desde las primeras páginas. La vida de Cí está muy bien relatada, con mucha fluidez y toda la historia perfectamente enlazada. El autor consigue que la historia y los personajes sean creíbles (a pesar estar basada en un personaje real hay poca información sobre la vida de Cí Song) y además la ambientación es estupenda.
March 10, 2022
Un roman de aventuri adeseori palpitante. Autorul declară că a pornit de la un caz istoric. Acțiunea se petrece în China medievală. Protagonistul învață tainele medicinei legale. Nimerește într-un complot și e nevoit să-și folosească abilitățile de detectiv pentru a ieși din încurcătură. Totuși, intriga mi s-a părut în unele locuri mult prea complicată.
February 21, 2022
El lector de cadáveres es un thriller histórico ambientado en la china del siglo XIII, sobre uno de los principales fundadores de la medicina forense, por lo que tratándose de esta temática es una historia bastante GORE no apta para personas sensibles. Sin embargo para los que disfrutamos de este género es una historia bastante encantadora y adictiva.
April 9, 2022
Un libro que no da tregua al lector (ni a su protagonista) en ningún momento.
De hecho, tal vez esa sería la única pega porque� es un sin vivir y� sin parar.
Muy interesante la mezcla de ficción y de los orígenes de la medicina forense, la ambientación� en fin, todo.
Me ha sorprendido mucho y me extraña no sea un libro más conocido.
De hecho, tal vez esa sería la única pega porque� es un sin vivir y� sin parar.
Muy interesante la mezcla de ficción y de los orígenes de la medicina forense, la ambientación� en fin, todo.
Me ha sorprendido mucho y me extraña no sea un libro más conocido.
August 18, 2012
Una novela que aunque parezca ó es en realidad un thriller policiaco ambientado en la China medieval. La novela podría dividirse en dos partes, la primera en que el protagonista, Ci Song, emprende una arriesgada huída junto a su hermana pequeña para buscar un futuro que ya no es posible en su aldea, y la segunda, trepidante, inquietante, en que ejercerá ese oficio de lector de cadáveres que da título a la novela a petición del emperador. Toda la novela tiene un buen ritmo y se hace amena de leer, pero de la página 350 hasta el final yo no fui capaz de soltarla. Muy recomendable en línea con best sellers de fama reconocida.
June 26, 2022
La magia de una China imperial se desdibuja de fondo como paisaje natural, la valentía, perseverancia y astucia de un aspirante a lector de cadáveres se relata tras un si fin de avatares hasta lograr su ilusión, no sin antes de deleitarse con cada escena muy bien descrita del oficio de forense, que algunas veces se pasa de nauseabundo.
Esto y mucho más es lo que vamos a encontrar en este libro que me pareció una exquisitez cada una de sus líneas. Sin duda, otro de mis favoritos.
Si quieres una historia distinta a los formatos establecidos, te puede interesar esta lectura. Recomendado
Esto y mucho más es lo que vamos a encontrar en este libro que me pareció una exquisitez cada una de sus líneas. Sin duda, otro de mis favoritos.
Si quieres una historia distinta a los formatos establecidos, te puede interesar esta lectura. Recomendado
September 25, 2013
Another book I expected to really enjoy, but ended up disliking.
Set in ancient China around a boy with a knack for forensics. So CSI - hundreds of years ago.
But I had several problems...
First, the hero was supposed to really, really smart. But he wasn't. Most of his giant leaps of inspiration were stupid. And what's worse, most happened because the person he was talking (working against) was an absolute idiot. (The interaction over the sale of his brother's land is a good example of this.)
There is no real cleverness here. It's all too obvious.
Second, the writing was did nothing for me. It was plane and at times confusing (opened with a mean brother then jumped to living in a city and the brother was in the country??? Took me a moment to figure out we'd gone from present time to a long backstory. Right off the bat in the opening too.). More than anything I wanted a deeper POV and more grounding in setting. This could have been medieval europe for all the depth of Chinese culture I received.
Very disappointing.
Set in ancient China around a boy with a knack for forensics. So CSI - hundreds of years ago.
But I had several problems...
First, the hero was supposed to really, really smart. But he wasn't. Most of his giant leaps of inspiration were stupid. And what's worse, most happened because the person he was talking (working against) was an absolute idiot. (The interaction over the sale of his brother's land is a good example of this.)
There is no real cleverness here. It's all too obvious.
Second, the writing was did nothing for me. It was plane and at times confusing (opened with a mean brother then jumped to living in a city and the brother was in the country??? Took me a moment to figure out we'd gone from present time to a long backstory. Right off the bat in the opening too.). More than anything I wanted a deeper POV and more grounding in setting. This could have been medieval europe for all the depth of Chinese culture I received.
Very disappointing.
January 22, 2015
I had high hopes for The Corpse Reader, which was described as a tale of rudimentary forensic science being employed by a bright young peasant in imperial China, but I think I'm gonna quit it. A decapitation is revealed in the foreword, the protag's brother looks guilty but there's something fishy afoot, and from there on in it's just been one crisis after another for the protag as he sets his mind to clearing the brother's name. I usually LOVE historical fiction and I'm fascinated by the history of science and medicine as well, but this one's not really living up to the description. [SPOILERS]
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The brother is tortured and killed in custody; the protagonist's parents' house is burned down with them in it; the family savings are stolen; the local bigwig wants the family's land so the protag must flee with his sickly little sister with only some some rice, ham and a few coins to his name; the protag convinces a boat captain to grant them passage and when he's left to guard the boat he's drugged by a prostitute and the boat is stolen---with his sister still on it; and the last bit I read saw the prostitute threatening to throw the sickly little sister into the disease-ridden river unless everyone else on the boat gives her all their money and belongings. Cripes, I didn't sign up for a tragedy!
I'm just not willing to keep on being bummed out by these overlong and needless misadventures indefinitely in the hopes that when the author finally gets back to the forensic science plotline, it will have been worth the depressing (yet still kind of boring) wait.
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---
The brother is tortured and killed in custody; the protagonist's parents' house is burned down with them in it; the family savings are stolen; the local bigwig wants the family's land so the protag must flee with his sickly little sister with only some some rice, ham and a few coins to his name; the protag convinces a boat captain to grant them passage and when he's left to guard the boat he's drugged by a prostitute and the boat is stolen---with his sister still on it; and the last bit I read saw the prostitute threatening to throw the sickly little sister into the disease-ridden river unless everyone else on the boat gives her all their money and belongings. Cripes, I didn't sign up for a tragedy!
I'm just not willing to keep on being bummed out by these overlong and needless misadventures indefinitely in the hopes that when the author finally gets back to the forensic science plotline, it will have been worth the depressing (yet still kind of boring) wait.
June 1, 2013
3.5 A very interesting look back on the 13th century and the Tsong Dynasty and a character names Ci, named after the famous Song CI, who is considered the forefather of the modern day CSI style of forensics.
One of the most notable thing about this book, is that the translator has done such a marvelous job that the story just flows very naturally. This is not always the case with translated novels and so often the translations can ruin what is actually a good story. The story itself is very interesting, the way and the reason he learned to corpse read and the tragedy that came to his family which he used to propel himself forward. As the saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention."
Really enjoyed this book, the characters, the history , the mystery and reading about a time I have read little about. Definitely a good read.
One of the most notable thing about this book, is that the translator has done such a marvelous job that the story just flows very naturally. This is not always the case with translated novels and so often the translations can ruin what is actually a good story. The story itself is very interesting, the way and the reason he learned to corpse read and the tragedy that came to his family which he used to propel himself forward. As the saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention."
Really enjoyed this book, the characters, the history , the mystery and reading about a time I have read little about. Definitely a good read.
February 3, 2021
I found this book in a bargain bin and thought it sounded interesting. A crime novel set in historical China? Sign me up!
Now I'm just glad I found it in a bargain bin, because otherwise I'd probably be a lot more disappointed.
Cause you see, the back of the book promised me a thrilling story about murder in the emperor's palace. That's what I wanted to read about!
Instead what I got was the tale of How Ci Has The Worst Day Of His Life Everyday. Literally everything in this dude's life that could go wrong, went wrong. Every damn time.
People died on him, people betrayed him, people stole from him, people wanted to hunt him down, people wanted to execute him etc. etc.
I assume all of this was to show us that Ci wouldn't be one of those protagonists people would just love and protect cause he was the main character and that while he (apparently) was a genius from the beginning, he still needed training to aquire a skill set that would get him into the royal palace. I do appreciate the thought, but he was the unluckiest guy I've ever read about and it was just exhausting.
Yet I stuck with this book, because I wanted to get to that damn murder case he was supposed to solve.
Finally, around page 380 of roughly 600, the plot aka the gruesome murder arrived. Now, know that it took me several weeks to get to that point. Know also that I finished the rest of the book in less than a day. I won't say that the murder case was the best I've ever read, but it was honestly engaging and for once I wasn't able to guess who was responsible right away. There were some twists and turns and some honestly interesting characters around. If the whole book had been written like that, I would have given it at least one star more.
Now, there was also some weird love story in the mix that I didn't really like, because male crime solving characters tend to become stupid when they see a beautiful woman they want to boing (as was the case here, too), but at least it sort of had a purpose. Maybe. How it ended certainly helped, even if I still have questions.
Another reason why I couldn't give this a higher rating was because the characters were either bland or flat out hateable, with only maybe two exceptions. Sadly our main character fell into the "bland" category, despite all the attempts to make him interesting and special without making him too perfect to relate to.
Despite all the unlucky things that happened to him and the bad decisions he unwittingly made (again and again), I did not feel anything for him till maybe right before the end. He was supposed to have been a genius from the start, but in the beginning most other people were simply crude and dumb, so he looked good in comparison only. Then he was supposed to have a genetic disorder that didn't allow him to feel any pain, but I wouldn't even have known it, if the text hadn't reminded me every time it was plot relevant, because Ci didn't act like it at all. No bruises or cuts he didn't remember getting or wondering what pain actually feels like when he's surrounded by violence and death all the time. Would have made him more interesting.
In the end, the most interesting character to me was his later mentor aka the only person who seemed to have brains, a heart and some common sense in this story. I liked his sort of fatherly relationship with Ci a lot and while I feared it was coming, I did not like that (Non-murderer spoiler! It's mostly harmless, but just making sure.)
He's definitely the one character I will remember best.
All in all, this is a pretty looking book on my shelf that could have been so much more than it was. If there was a sequel that was simply about another murder case, I would read it, though.
Now I'm just glad I found it in a bargain bin, because otherwise I'd probably be a lot more disappointed.
Cause you see, the back of the book promised me a thrilling story about murder in the emperor's palace. That's what I wanted to read about!
Instead what I got was the tale of How Ci Has The Worst Day Of His Life Everyday. Literally everything in this dude's life that could go wrong, went wrong. Every damn time.
People died on him, people betrayed him, people stole from him, people wanted to hunt him down, people wanted to execute him etc. etc.
I assume all of this was to show us that Ci wouldn't be one of those protagonists people would just love and protect cause he was the main character and that while he (apparently) was a genius from the beginning, he still needed training to aquire a skill set that would get him into the royal palace. I do appreciate the thought, but he was the unluckiest guy I've ever read about and it was just exhausting.
Yet I stuck with this book, because I wanted to get to that damn murder case he was supposed to solve.
Finally, around page 380 of roughly 600, the plot aka the gruesome murder arrived. Now, know that it took me several weeks to get to that point. Know also that I finished the rest of the book in less than a day. I won't say that the murder case was the best I've ever read, but it was honestly engaging and for once I wasn't able to guess who was responsible right away. There were some twists and turns and some honestly interesting characters around. If the whole book had been written like that, I would have given it at least one star more.
Now, there was also some weird love story in the mix that I didn't really like, because male crime solving characters tend to become stupid when they see a beautiful woman they want to boing (as was the case here, too), but at least it sort of had a purpose. Maybe. How it ended certainly helped, even if I still have questions.
Another reason why I couldn't give this a higher rating was because the characters were either bland or flat out hateable, with only maybe two exceptions. Sadly our main character fell into the "bland" category, despite all the attempts to make him interesting and special without making him too perfect to relate to.
Despite all the unlucky things that happened to him and the bad decisions he unwittingly made (again and again), I did not feel anything for him till maybe right before the end. He was supposed to have been a genius from the start, but in the beginning most other people were simply crude and dumb, so he looked good in comparison only. Then he was supposed to have a genetic disorder that didn't allow him to feel any pain, but I wouldn't even have known it, if the text hadn't reminded me every time it was plot relevant, because Ci didn't act like it at all. No bruises or cuts he didn't remember getting or wondering what pain actually feels like when he's surrounded by violence and death all the time. Would have made him more interesting.
In the end, the most interesting character to me was his later mentor aka the only person who seemed to have brains, a heart and some common sense in this story. I liked his sort of fatherly relationship with Ci a lot and while I feared it was coming, I did not like that (Non-murderer spoiler! It's mostly harmless, but just making sure.)
He's definitely the one character I will remember best.
All in all, this is a pretty looking book on my shelf that could have been so much more than it was. If there was a sequel that was simply about another murder case, I would read it, though.
July 7, 2015
tbh I wanted to give it a lower rating, but I liked the 50last pages.
My princepal grief with this book is that it is so damn long, and the writing is just meh. I couldn't like Ci, I couldn't find him intersting or smart, same with the others characters. It just felt flat.
I also didn't learn a lot about middle age China.
Two words : disappointing and laborious.
My princepal grief with this book is that it is so damn long, and the writing is just meh. I couldn't like Ci, I couldn't find him intersting or smart, same with the others characters. It just felt flat.
I also didn't learn a lot about middle age China.
Two words : disappointing and laborious.
February 21, 2025
DNF at page 313 / 494. You can't say I didn't give it the old college try. And it is probably more of a mismatch than anything else. But still, my opinion is valid so I'm counting it.
I thought this would be very interesting since it is inspired by Song Cí, considered to be the founding father of CSI-style forensic science. Having a main character whose logical thinking, knowledge of biology, and love of learning and justice making discoveries in ancient times sounds absolutely inspirational. Unfortunately, I overestimated my ability to get past ancient Chinese culture, a contemptible setting -- for me, anyway. Kudos to me for giving it a try, in case that was just some youthful impression lacking wisdom. But no, I just can't.
Ci is one-dimensional, and bounces from one bad decision to another. His luck is as bad as his decisions. He doesn't raise the concept of the book above the distaste of everything around him. The entire society is corrupt. What a turn-off.
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but if you like this sort of thing, maybe you'd be one of those 4 star people. And if so, be forewarned that it's almost 500 pages. Ugh.
I thought this would be very interesting since it is inspired by Song Cí, considered to be the founding father of CSI-style forensic science. Having a main character whose logical thinking, knowledge of biology, and love of learning and justice making discoveries in ancient times sounds absolutely inspirational. Unfortunately, I overestimated my ability to get past ancient Chinese culture, a contemptible setting -- for me, anyway. Kudos to me for giving it a try, in case that was just some youthful impression lacking wisdom. But no, I just can't.
Ci is one-dimensional, and bounces from one bad decision to another. His luck is as bad as his decisions. He doesn't raise the concept of the book above the distaste of everything around him. The entire society is corrupt. What a turn-off.
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but if you like this sort of thing, maybe you'd be one of those 4 star people. And if so, be forewarned that it's almost 500 pages. Ugh.
May 1, 2024
En realidad 4* y media. A veces se repite un poco, pero igualmente es muy entretenido.
May 30, 2013
This book was wonderful, so different to anything I've ever read before. Think of it more like a biography of Song Ci, rather than an outright mystery/crime book, although there are details of mysteries and crimes within.
It is set in medieval China, an era and place I am not too familiar with, but the book seemed to be researched very well as far as I could tell. There was nothing that jolted me out of the story for being too modern or not suited to the place. I loved finding out about all the different customs, such as why children's jackets had five buttons, and how many times you should refuse a gift before accepting it graciously. There were lots of little details like that which made the story come vividly to life.
In the first half of the book, poor Ci goes through as almost as many trials as Job, he suffers betrayals, humiliations, beatings, robbery and more as he tries desperately to re-enter the university and better his lot. He does finally get accepted at the university, but at great personal cost.
The second half of the book is when Ci attracts the attention of the emperor and is asked to help solve some gruesome murders The pace picks up quite a bit after that, but I wouldn't have said the first half was slow either, but just more sedate at times.
There are some violent moments in the book, as well as detailed descriptions of corpses and their injuries, not one for the squeamish, but you couldn't really have a book about a corpse reader without it.
It was a very interesting read with some fascinating facts on historical crime-solving and medieval China.
Review copy from amazon vine
It is set in medieval China, an era and place I am not too familiar with, but the book seemed to be researched very well as far as I could tell. There was nothing that jolted me out of the story for being too modern or not suited to the place. I loved finding out about all the different customs, such as why children's jackets had five buttons, and how many times you should refuse a gift before accepting it graciously. There were lots of little details like that which made the story come vividly to life.
In the first half of the book, poor Ci goes through as almost as many trials as Job, he suffers betrayals, humiliations, beatings, robbery and more as he tries desperately to re-enter the university and better his lot. He does finally get accepted at the university, but at great personal cost.
The second half of the book is when Ci attracts the attention of the emperor and is asked to help solve some gruesome murders The pace picks up quite a bit after that, but I wouldn't have said the first half was slow either, but just more sedate at times.
There are some violent moments in the book, as well as detailed descriptions of corpses and their injuries, not one for the squeamish, but you couldn't really have a book about a corpse reader without it.
It was a very interesting read with some fascinating facts on historical crime-solving and medieval China.
Review copy from amazon vine
January 19, 2018
Una novela basada en la vida de Song Cí, conocido como el padre de la medicina forense. Nacido en la China medieval en 1217 fue un reputado forense o "lector de cadáveres", quien elaboró tratados y estudios del tema que hoy en día son considerados los precursores de esta actividad y que además en muchas de sus formas siguen siendo vigentes hoy en día.
Novelada magistralmente por Garrido, conocemos la vida de Cí, un hombre pobre que logró destacar por su inteligencia, sin embargo, y lo aclaro tal como lo aclara el autor en sus notas finales, esta es solo una novela donde se destaca el trabajo de Cí, el primer lector de cadáveres y que nos cuenta un thriller absolutamente absorbente.
Destaco no solo la historia que ya en sí es suficiente para catalogar este libro como uno de los buenos, si no el gran trabajo de documentación por parte del autor.
Una historia trepidante, contada de tal manera que es imposible soltar el libro y que me ha parecido muy ilustrativa, puesto que yo no tenía ni idea de que las raíces de la medicina forense fueran tan antiguas y provinieran además de China.
El autor al final del libro nos hace una largo comentario sobre lo que para él y para muchos conocedores sería catalogado como una "novela ó" pero me quedo con esto "los libros solo pueden ser catalogados como buenos o malos" y éste lo dejo en la categoría de los muy buenos.
La parte novelada nos relata una trama de intrigas, asesinatos y juicios que realmente vale la pena leerse, eso sí toda la primera parte nos relata la vida de Cí y sus penurias para lograr llegar a la muy destacada academia donde podría poner en práctica su sueño de estudiar y convertirse en juez o alguacil.
Novelada magistralmente por Garrido, conocemos la vida de Cí, un hombre pobre que logró destacar por su inteligencia, sin embargo, y lo aclaro tal como lo aclara el autor en sus notas finales, esta es solo una novela donde se destaca el trabajo de Cí, el primer lector de cadáveres y que nos cuenta un thriller absolutamente absorbente.
Destaco no solo la historia que ya en sí es suficiente para catalogar este libro como uno de los buenos, si no el gran trabajo de documentación por parte del autor.
Una historia trepidante, contada de tal manera que es imposible soltar el libro y que me ha parecido muy ilustrativa, puesto que yo no tenía ni idea de que las raíces de la medicina forense fueran tan antiguas y provinieran además de China.
El autor al final del libro nos hace una largo comentario sobre lo que para él y para muchos conocedores sería catalogado como una "novela ó" pero me quedo con esto "los libros solo pueden ser catalogados como buenos o malos" y éste lo dejo en la categoría de los muy buenos.
La parte novelada nos relata una trama de intrigas, asesinatos y juicios que realmente vale la pena leerse, eso sí toda la primera parte nos relata la vida de Cí y sus penurias para lograr llegar a la muy destacada academia donde podría poner en práctica su sueño de estudiar y convertirse en juez o alguacil.
September 26, 2020
FANTASTICO, Muy buena recreacion de la China medieval, gran ambientacion, trama fluida y gran resolucion de la historia. Seguiremos al autor
April 28, 2024
Izuzetno mi se dopao ovaj mladi heroj, strastven i posvećen da proširi svoje znanje iz oblasti forenzičke medicine. On je ispred svog vremena, tako dirljiv u svojoj privrženosti za svoj san. Ali, i u nastojanjima da zaštiti svoju porodicu. Kroz jednostavnost glavnog lika Cia, koji izgleda kao da prosto juri lošu sreću, mi ustvari vidimo osobu od integriteta koji je veran svojim principima, koji ne odustaje, i bori se da napreduje. Na kraju svakog poglavlja sam imao utisak da će junak umreti. Hoću da kažem, sam zaplet je toliko fascinantan da mi je lično bilo izuzetno teško da poverujem da će Ci doživeti do kraja. Definitivno, jedan od najneobičnijih i najnezaboravnijih detektiva.
Sam početak romana je bio dosta spor, ali kako sam napredovao, uspeo sam da uronim u priču i saživim se sa likovima. Na nekim mestima je bilo pomalo dosadnjikavo, ali zanimljive istorijske činjenice su razvedrile tenziju. Roman zahteva agilnog i posvećenog čitaoca. Od 150. stranice roman sam doslovno proždrao.
Svidela mi se priča, zaista je sveža i drugačija. Garido je uradio odličan posao napisavši veličanstven istorijski triler koji nam daje uvid u veoma živopisne slike Kine tog vremena, da prosto možemo da zaronimo u njenu društvenu strukturu. Ovaj roman je koktel svega što volim. Priča sa velikim K iz nama daleke, ali bratske Kine, mnogo obrta, dobro sprovedena policijska istraga i ono što je za mene najvažnije- odlično portretisan karakter svakog lika.
Priznajem da me je roman navukao sa šokantnim završetkom iz kog nisam uspeo da se izvučem. Ako vam se u početku čini da je roman možda preopširan i radnja pomalo razvučena... Istrajte, vredi. 😉
Sam početak romana je bio dosta spor, ali kako sam napredovao, uspeo sam da uronim u priču i saživim se sa likovima. Na nekim mestima je bilo pomalo dosadnjikavo, ali zanimljive istorijske činjenice su razvedrile tenziju. Roman zahteva agilnog i posvećenog čitaoca. Od 150. stranice roman sam doslovno proždrao.
Svidela mi se priča, zaista je sveža i drugačija. Garido je uradio odličan posao napisavši veličanstven istorijski triler koji nam daje uvid u veoma živopisne slike Kine tog vremena, da prosto možemo da zaronimo u njenu društvenu strukturu. Ovaj roman je koktel svega što volim. Priča sa velikim K iz nama daleke, ali bratske Kine, mnogo obrta, dobro sprovedena policijska istraga i ono što je za mene najvažnije- odlično portretisan karakter svakog lika.
Priznajem da me je roman navukao sa šokantnim završetkom iz kog nisam uspeo da se izvučem. Ako vam se u početku čini da je roman možda preopširan i radnja pomalo razvučena... Istrajte, vredi. 😉
May 28, 2013
I have finished The Corpse Reader by Antonio Garrido and am excited about this novel. The Corpse Reader tells the story of Ci Song, a young scholar who's been dealt the worst hand possible. I really don't want to give too much away in regards to his family and why he must flee but the story is harrowing and only someone as bright and resourceful as Ci is able to overcome the odds set up against him.
While trying to stay incognito and escape the authorities, Ci finds work as a gravedigger where he tightens his skill at being able to read corspes in a way no one else can. He can tell when the death occured, how, and who the person could have been before being killed. Ci takes what he learned as a forensic investigator and expounds on it and eventually catching the attention of the emperor. A recent sleu of murders of high ranking officials makes it clear that someone is possibly gunning for the emperor himself.
Antonio Garrido does a great job with this novel. It's obvious a lot of research was put into this novel. I imagine it's quite difficult writing about medieval China but Garrido makes it seem so easy. The word flow is great and the characters are well developed. Ci is the type of character that we want to just given some sort of break. He's loving, kind, smart, and resourceful. What's not to like about that?
The only negative I have with this novel is that at times I felt like I was reading a biography. The cover jacket suggests that The Corpse Reader is paying homage to Song Ci, the founder of what we consider forensic science to be. I'm not sure how much of Ci and Song's stories were similar, but moments in this novel felt less organic than others with regards to storytelling. I read a lot of historical fiction so it's not a problem that's specific to Garrido, but to a lot of authors where they are giving us readers a lot of information (thankfully) and it reads as a text book instead of a novel unfolding.
Overall, The Corpse Reader was informational and interesting. There's enough mystery, intrigue, and suspense to keep readers guessing until the end. I recommend this novel to anyone who's a fan of crime television such as Law & Order or CSI. The amount of detail given to the reading of bodies will help satisfy that appetite. After reading this it leads me to wonder what my corpse will say...
While trying to stay incognito and escape the authorities, Ci finds work as a gravedigger where he tightens his skill at being able to read corspes in a way no one else can. He can tell when the death occured, how, and who the person could have been before being killed. Ci takes what he learned as a forensic investigator and expounds on it and eventually catching the attention of the emperor. A recent sleu of murders of high ranking officials makes it clear that someone is possibly gunning for the emperor himself.
Antonio Garrido does a great job with this novel. It's obvious a lot of research was put into this novel. I imagine it's quite difficult writing about medieval China but Garrido makes it seem so easy. The word flow is great and the characters are well developed. Ci is the type of character that we want to just given some sort of break. He's loving, kind, smart, and resourceful. What's not to like about that?
The only negative I have with this novel is that at times I felt like I was reading a biography. The cover jacket suggests that The Corpse Reader is paying homage to Song Ci, the founder of what we consider forensic science to be. I'm not sure how much of Ci and Song's stories were similar, but moments in this novel felt less organic than others with regards to storytelling. I read a lot of historical fiction so it's not a problem that's specific to Garrido, but to a lot of authors where they are giving us readers a lot of information (thankfully) and it reads as a text book instead of a novel unfolding.
Overall, The Corpse Reader was informational and interesting. There's enough mystery, intrigue, and suspense to keep readers guessing until the end. I recommend this novel to anyone who's a fan of crime television such as Law & Order or CSI. The amount of detail given to the reading of bodies will help satisfy that appetite. After reading this it leads me to wonder what my corpse will say...
September 5, 2017
Невероятно увлекательная, интересная и необычная история. Поначалу повествование идет не спеша, а потом ты втягиваешься и уже не можешь оторваться. Множество неожиданных поворотов сюжета, и ты до самого конца не знаешь, кто же на самом деле тот самый злодей и какова развязка. Ну, а главная изюминка всей книги: герой Сун Цы - реально существующий персонаж, первый патологоанатом, судмедэксперт Древнего Китая, труды и методы которого живы и по сей день. Его трактат о судебной медицине сегодня переведен на несколько разных языков и до сих пор используется в работе. Тема криминалистики, судмедэкспертизы и прочего всегда меня манила, а потому было очень интересно наблюдать за тем, как эти процедуры проводились в 12 веке в Китае. Своего рода китайский CSI. Очень рекомендую тем, кто интересуется этой темой, скучать не придется.
February 11, 2018
This is a historical mystery set in 13th-century China, with a hapless young hero whose fortunes start out poorly and just go down hill from there. Set within such a restrictive society, the young student has few opportunities and fewer lucky breaks.
I was disappointed that the author did not flesh out any of the characters, even the hero. Readers have no clue what most of the characters are thinking, so we have no idea why they take the actions they do. The poverty and injustice throughout the book were depressing, and unless you're familiar with the Chinese medieval mindset, you can barely relate to the story. Descriptions are acceptable, but given this unusual setting, they could have been a real highlight for today's western readers.
The book includes quite a few gory scenes (the hero works with corpses), some violence, but no foul language or sexual references.
I was disappointed that the author did not flesh out any of the characters, even the hero. Readers have no clue what most of the characters are thinking, so we have no idea why they take the actions they do. The poverty and injustice throughout the book were depressing, and unless you're familiar with the Chinese medieval mindset, you can barely relate to the story. Descriptions are acceptable, but given this unusual setting, they could have been a real highlight for today's western readers.
The book includes quite a few gory scenes (the hero works with corpses), some violence, but no foul language or sexual references.
June 22, 2016
4.5 Stars This was one of those books that you know very little about when you start it but quickly captivates you and has you hooked. This tells the incredible story of Ci Song and his early life. Ci Song is often known as one of the founding fathers of forensic science, having lived in late 13th century / early 14th century China.
If you are interested in historical fiction, Chinese history or the early days of forensic science I would certainly recommend this book to you. Ci Song has such early adventures it is a wonder he ever lived to b com the founding father of forensic science. Three words, read and enjoy!
If you are interested in historical fiction, Chinese history or the early days of forensic science I would certainly recommend this book to you. Ci Song has such early adventures it is a wonder he ever lived to b com the founding father of forensic science. Three words, read and enjoy!
November 21, 2020
Un libro muy fluido y entretenido. La época en la que está ambientado me ha gustado mucho, aunque hecho de menos algo más de chicha. Al principio creo que se enreda al contarnos cosas del prota que son importantes, pero que no necesitaba tantas páginas, sin embargo, cuando ha de meterse en faena, ya ha consumido la mitad del libro y me parece escaso. Para mi queda desequilibrado. Es obvio que podría habernos contado bastante más. Aún así es un libro entretenido e interesante. Me apunto a este autor.
June 6, 2013
Wow, wow, wow, WOW!
Awesome novel about a little known historical figure. The blend of fact and fiction is balanced perfect, is not over the top, and just whets the readers appetite for more about the father of modern CSI techniques.
This bio-faction novel about Song Ci is a wonderful example of how history and fiction (and mystery) can be fused together is a highly readable and incredibly palatable style.
Love!
Awesome novel about a little known historical figure. The blend of fact and fiction is balanced perfect, is not over the top, and just whets the readers appetite for more about the father of modern CSI techniques.
This bio-faction novel about Song Ci is a wonderful example of how history and fiction (and mystery) can be fused together is a highly readable and incredibly palatable style.
Love!
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