Waiting by Ha Jin

The person, who waits literally or figuratively, always puts himself at a disadvantaged position. At least that’s how I see it, well that’s what I feel. Never mind the grand reward at the end of the waiting game whether it’s an illusion or not something always gets sacrificed along the way. In some positive to miraculous cases, the waiting game would come into fruition. People would always pat themselves at the back and tell the world, “It was damn worth the wait!” But even so while waiting, time was still sacrificed, people still tend to worry and emotions were at a high because they know that at some point they took that risk. And in any form of risk, even if the investment was worth it, equally opens itself to failure. Time, psychological well being and resources almost always get sacrificed. In waiting, people anticipate, worry get frustrated and recalculate. Was the wait worth it? Excellent if it is. Horrible if it isn’t But whatever the outcome is, some things have already been lost and the person who shells these would be the same person who waits. It’s just the way it is.

This book puts into perspective the usual activity that we always seem to find ourselves doing in our everyday lives, voluntarily or involuntarily. We all wait for something we lose something along the way may it be time, youth, resources and sanity. This book was such a painful yet a wonderful treat because you get to read about beautifully developed characters that waited and ended up sacrificing a huge chunk of their lives to get things that they want The mistress waits for her lover to divorce his legal wife so they could start their lives together. The husband patiently waits for his wife to release him. The wife at the end of the story patiently waits for her husband to come back to her. In between, certain powerful desires meshed with their growing careers and societal freedom in communist China spins a more interesting and complicated waiting game. Reading this story is like delightfully waiting on how things would end. As a reader, it’s as if you’re waiting with them as they get old, more mature and sour. Sometimes you get frustrated and how irrational these characters can be, but it reminds you that once you’ve been in that position before. You opted to wait however hopeless and painful.

Despite the frustrations and irrationality, the reader could not really blame why these characters are waiting.  We’ve been there once. Ha Jin beautifully writes the story in a simple language and efficiently develops the character after the long wait. The author distinctly points out the plot challenges and character frustrations. If there’s a book that beautifully paints a noble perspective of waiting, it’s this. I was moved and enlightened. I became a fan overnight. Read this and you'll be transported and reflect on what you're waiting for in life. 

GStatic.com

Waiting is a sacrifice as it is a game. It’s painfully delicious no matter what the cost and waiting makes us human. But the beauty and essence of waiting is to fully know and desire what you’re waiting for. Otherwise, it would just be a total waste of time.