The Story of the Stone Volume II by Cao Xueqin (4/5)

The Story of the Stone Volume II is an excellent continuation of Volume I with the supernatural elements being removed in exchange for more drama and emphasis on the characters. The effort placed into accurately recounting the life of an ancient Chinese family blessed with wealth shines even brighter than it did previously, with captivating detail put into describing daily events, how servants act, and how characters dress. The characters remain the same with some new additions later in the story, but the general focus remains on Bao-Yu the main protagonist, Dai-Yu the Deuteragonist, and Bao-Chai the other Deuteragonist. The plot this time circles around them and some other family members as they open up a Poetry Club along with other drama that happens within the massive family. These other dramas can range from minor things like servant wages, characters gaining newfound understandings for each other, and affairs that harm everyone around them. In my opinion, this volume is slightly more entrancing than its predecessor due to the full focus on daily life and the drama that occurs within a family as opulent as theirs. I suggest reading this after a long day before bed so you can better imagine the scenes that transpire throughout the book’s lengthy course. The same advice for Volume I remains with viewer discretion advised since rich families often can up to less than savory things to fulfill their desires. The same thing goes for the ancient societal norms surrounding women at the time and how parents can treat their kids. Other than that there are no other major obstacles to you enjoying this book for what it is! I rated this a 4/5 since although thoroughly enjoyable from start to end, the best parts have yet to come in the later volumes that detail the opulent family’s decline at the hands of time. If not obvious enough in the title, I highly recommend reading Volume 1 beforehand so you can fully understand the setting, characters, and their motivations. That has been my review of The Story of the Stone Volume II. I hope that this review has encouraged you to give this book a try, you will not regret that decision!