Soul Mountain by Gao XingJian was our read for August 2026. It’s the story of a man in China who receives a devastating diagnosis of terminal lung cancer, only to subsequently find out it was incorrect. The book is a work of fiction overlying an autobiographical aspect, as the author actually experienced the misdiagnosis himself. In relief that he is free of cancer, the author decides to leave Beijing, his home, and embark on a spiritual journey in the countryside, seeking inner peace. He heads to the remote interior of Sichuan and follows the course of the Yangtze River through wilderness, towns and cities on the way to its mouth at Shanghai. As he travels, he learns of Lingshan, an apparently mystical mountain where people seek spiritual enlightenment, and decides to find it.

The book is a record of his encounters and experiences during this trip. Day after day, as his journey progresses, he meets a plethora of people — monks, nuns, temple caretakers, elders, wise men, knowledgeable experts, hunters, craftsmen, farmers and traders — all of whom give him amazing insight into the richness of China’s past, which he treasures. Temples, fortifications, ruins, farms, small towns, shrines, wildlife preserves, dark forests and deep flowing waters are the settings he encounters daily. He learns of Daoist beliefs and traditions which resonate with his current emotional and mental state.

As a piece of literature, the book is a challenging read. The central character, the protagonist, is not named. He is the narrator who sometimes speaks to us using the pronoun I, sometimes you, and sometimes even she or he, using several alter-egos. The reader is left to decide if the narration actually is true or if it is imaginative ramblings. None of the characters with whom he interacts stay with him throughout the novel, so there is a lack of character development which is usually engaging in a traditionally structured novel. However, his descriptive writing is rich with many vivid, visual details.

It is worth noting that Gao won the 2000 Nobel Prize in Literature “for an oeuvre of universal validity, bitter insights and linguistic ingenuity, which has opened new paths for the Chinese novel and drama.” So, his writing has been appreciated in the highest places, although as a reading group we could hardly be called effusive in our attitude towards the piece. As an example of nontraditional narrative, it was not a book we could put down and then eagerly pick up again and happily continue reading. However, it was a learning experience and engendered lots of thinking.

Although it was a small group that met at Marianne’s to discuss the book, the conversation was vibrant, with lots of different perspectives and interpretations of the voice, narrative and themes. Thank you, Marianne, for the delicious lunch — a wonderful way to set the tone for our new reading season!

Review thanks to Leslie Muri