Steve's Reviews > Bridge of Birds

Writing a review of Bridge of Birds is a challenge that I admit to not being up to. I do not know of words that are powerful enough to do even a half-rate job of conveying just how fantastic I think this book is. Nevertheless, I shall attempt it, as the most important thing in the entire world right now is that I convince everyone to read this book*.

Number Ten Ox (who isn't actually an Ox, but was his parents' 10th child, and is rather large) is a peasant farmer in the titular China That Never Was. During the annual harvesting of silk, many children in his village fall sick with a plague. He departs to go to Peking to find a wise man to help cure the children, but the only wise man he can afford is Li Kao, who proudly proclaims to have a "slight flaw in his character". It should be noted that he proclaims this (for this first time) as Number Ten Ox finds Li Kao coming to from a drunken stupor and demanding more wine.

Thus begins one of the greatest adventure stories I have ever read. Comparable to some of Neil Gaiman's best, or to The Princess Bride, Bridge of Birds starts with a simple medical mystery, and escalates rapidly. This escalation is particularly joyous for the reader to experience, as it occurs through the wide eyed point of view of Number Ten Ox, who has essentially never left his tiny village before he finds himself in large cities, the estates of nobility, isolated monasteries, and witnessing (and participating in!) unimaginable events all in the hopes of curing the children of his village. That last bit is kind of a lie, but I won't clarify for fear of spoiling things.

Delightful (and dastardly) characters pop in and out, providing aid (willingly or unwilling) or hindrance (usually this part is willing) to the--let's say--"heroic duo"'s quest. Henpecked Ho. Miser Shen. The Ancestress. Lotus Cloud. The Key Rabbit. Pawnbroker Fang and Ma the Grub. Bright Star. Fainting Maid. The names of the characters are already so full of the special charm that pervades this book, that I don't even want to tell you any more about them.

Really, the charm is a large part of what makes this book so special. So rather than trying to come up with words powerful enough to make you read this book, I'll just leave you with words that I've lifted straight out of it:

His hands shot out, a blade glinted, blood spurted and he calmly dropped the thug's earring into his pocket, along with the ear that was attached to it. "My surname is Li and my personal name is Kao, and there is a slight flaw in my character," he said with a polite bow. "This is my esteemed client, Number Ten Ox, who is about to strike you over the head with a blunt object."

I wasn't quite sure what a blunt object was, but I was spared the embarrassment of asking when the thug sat down at a table and began to cry.

"I'd do it myself if I were ninety, but it appears that Lotus Cloud will be your department. You may console youself with the thought the most expensive woman in the world is likely to be the most beautiful"

"Master Li, I shall do my duty," I said bravely.

"Any last words?" asked the sergeant at arms.

I was only Number Ten Ox, so I lifted my head to [redacted]. "I hope I splatted blood all over you, you son of a sow!" I yelled. Oddly enough I felt much better, and I stopped gagging at the thick sweet smell of blood.

We... gazed down a hundred feet of sheer cliff... at an angry sea where waves smashed against jagged rocks that lifted through the foam like teeth. There was one small calm pool almost directly beneath us, but for all I knew it was six inches deep...

"My life has been rather hectic, and I could use a long rest," [Master Li] sighed. "When I get to Hell to be judged, I intend to ask the Yama Kings to let me be reborn as a three-toed sloth. Do you have any preference?"

I thought about it. "A cloud," I said shyly.

...I perched on the edge and took aim.

"Farewell, sloth."
"Farewell, cloud."

I held my nose and jumped.

*things going on right now, for future reference: 2012 Olympic Games, Economic Woes, Kim Jong Un just got married, Twilight chick cheated on Twilight dude, Ongoing campaigning for 2012 American presidential election, Scientists tentatively believe they have a cure for AIDS, Chick-Fil-A hates gay people, I have some food stuck in my teeth, and the Seattle Sounders just signed a new midfielder.