"Dream of the Red Chamber" by Cao Xueqin

Since this is one of the four classics of Chinese literature, it was inevitable that we would read this at some point, and I for one have been looking forward to it. Also known as Dream of the Red Mansions and The Story of the Stones, Hóng lóu Mèng, (its most used Chinese title), is easily 2,000 pages depending on which translation you get. So be forewarned, and also keep in mind that I'm posting this in February 2017 so if you're a current member you have plenty of time to dive in!

From one reviewer on Good Reads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/535739.The_Dream_of_the_Red_Chamber
One of the greatest masterpieces of literature, reading this was an incredible experience. Poignant, funny, metaphysical, tragic, allegorical, psychologically profound, and highly entertaining, it bridges the worlds of heaven and earth, dreams and "reality," and is a truly astonishing achievement. Reading does not get any better than this--it really is up there with Don Quixote, The Divine Comedy, War and Peace, Shakespeare, and anything else you might name. As one Western scholar on the work noted, to "appreciate its position in Chinese culture, we must imagine a work with the critical cachet of James Joyce's Ulysses with the popular appeal of Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind – and twice as long as the two combined"...There is an excellent review here (http://www.complete-review.com...) if you are interested (it's listed in an alternate translation as "Story of the Stone").

New to the Hungry Hundred Book Club? Here's what you need to know:

1. Read the book (If you don't manage to finish it by the meetup date, don't worry. As long as you're not going to be too disappointed by spoilers, you're still welcome to join.)

2. Come to the meeting, always on the last Sunday of every month. Due to the constant change in numbers, the venue will be announced the week of the meeting.

3. Be prepared to order food/drink at the venue (where ever that may be) to show our appreciation for letting us use their space. This is a requirement. A lot of time and effort is put into finding a place that will accommodate our group without an outrageous minimum charge or rental fee, and you'll never be asked to contribute to organiser fees, so the least you can do is purchase something at the venue.

4. Discuss! It's a casual conversation, so don't be afraid to ask questions and let us know what you think.