I’ve
been missing from this blog for almost two months. The reason was: Coiling
Dragon. I was obsessed and couldn’t stop reading this story until the very last
page and even then I still can’t bring myself to believe that it really ends
for good.
Coiling
Dragon has 21 books and ± 800 chapters. No. I kid you not. It tells a massive epic
journey of the male lead Linley Baruch towards the peak of power that will make
your heart beat with excitement.
There
are many similar stories out there but I hate most of them because somehow they
always manage to incorporate a harem into it. In a genre where women are never
an important part of the story putting them into a more degrading insignificant
position is simply too much for me to stomach. A harem story is a big no no.
Coiling
Dragon is the first story by I Eat Tomatoes (我吃西红柿) that I read. And I LOVE it. I love how it begins,
progresses and ends. Well, not really how it ends because besides thinking that
the ending is too abrupt, part of me doesn’t want to partway with Linley’s
journey to greatness.
Judging
from Coiling Dragon, I think I’ll love other works by I Eat Tomatoes as long as
there is no harem in it.
I
admire how I Eat Tomatoes could write such a gigantic story and still manage to
make it so tight and coherent. I love how through his writing he gives us a
chance to really know Linley and grow with him. I love how he shows us Linley’s
struggles and challenges in details. I love how he makes us wholeheartedly
cheer for Linley all the way to the very top.
Another
thing that I love about Coiling Dragon is the friendship between Linley and his
buddies. But I particularly love how beautifully written the relationship
between Linley and Bebe is. Their love is even bigger and deeper than the love
between Linley and Delia or even that stupid Alice girl.
And
although Doehring Cowart can’t be with Linley till the end, I think that that
part of the story (their ending) is the most beautiful and memorable scene in
Coiling Dragon.
I
love how regretful Linley is when he finally realizes how much Grandpa Doehring
loves him but he didn’t even pay much attention to this Grandpa of his.
I
love how despite his ambition Linley never lost sight of what’s really
important. He knows with absolute certainty that family is the most important
thing in the whole world. He knows that people is what really matters.
If
I need to say about the downside of Coiling Dragon then I have to say it’s the
ending. I’m not going to mention romance because in this genre it’s obvious
that romance is not part of the story and that’s why I hate harem’s arch even
more.
If
the writer can’t give their female lead a depth and character why don’t they
just go without it. No woman is much better than lots of women who are nothing
but a plaything. If a man can go to such greatness surely a woman could soar to
such height too and not confined to bedroom matters or designated to being just
a pretty ornament.
Thanks
God Coiling Dragon doesn’t fall into that infuriating pattern despite its lacklustre
female lead. I’m not complaining. What I find rather hard to accept is how
abrupt the story ends. I want to see the reactions of everyone when they meet
Linley again.
Yes,
Linley does return to his family but that’s it. The returned Linley is not the
same Linley. He is beyond powerful. The word powerful couldn’t even describe
him now. He is the God Almighty. How will that fact affect his relationship
with others?
Truth
to tell, I don’t want this story to end. It’s as simple as that.
ps.
http://www.wuxiaworld.com provides the
complete English translation of Coiling Dragon if you want to read this
wonderful epic journey of Linley Baruch. I personally think that Coiling Dragon
is the best of its genre.
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