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Review of Secrets Hidden in Time by Tong Hua: A Sodden Makjang Mess of a Modern Novel — 41 Comments

  1. HAHA…. thanks Ms. Koala! I’ll stay away from the novel then!! BUT… I do love those pics from your post!! Like you, I am looking forward to the drama and they better change the ending!!

  2. Ironically, I just posted my rant on the spcnet forums. Here’s a shortened version:

    After hearing this, I am RELIEVED. I just finished the novel via audiobook and I am very upset, beyond upset, I’m furious!

    The ending was just terrible, not in a ‘wow, I just wasted four hours of my life’ way but rather a ‘I want to throttle the author’ kind of way. I think Tong Hua has a mean sadistic streak in her because all her incredible leading men have dreadful endings – Eighth Prince in BBJX, Meng Jiu in DMY, Liu Fu Ling and Meng Jue in YZG, and now even the delightful, caring Lu Li Cheng!

    After I finished the book, I was incredulous that Tong Hua would actually let Su Man go back to that two-timing jerk Song Yi, especially when Lu Li Cheng was obviously a much better choice. All her other heroines are very forward thinking and independent, but Su Man just rubs me the wrong way. She’s too desperate. Who in their right mind would throw away everything to pursue a man that she’s never even talked to before? Who in their right mind would even love someone they haven’t talk to for ten years? Also, she should have exposed Song Yi right away and save both her and Ma La Tang some unnecessary heartbreak. Even if Song Yi had told her about his previous relationship with Ma La Tang’s half-sister, Su Man should have know that no good would have come out of Song Yi just using Ma La Tang as a replacement and once a cheater/liar, always a cheater/liar. There are plenty more fish in the sea. Just trash him and find a better man, I say. I thought that maybe she finally grew a backbone when she left Song Yi and Lu Li Cheng to seek out her own life, but then what happens? She accepts him back and actually gets married to that undeserving Wang Ba!!!!

    My poor Lu Li Cheng…

    Okay, I’ll stop ranting. I will share some of my favorite scenes with you:

    Su Man asks Lu Li Cheng to pretend not to know her. He agrees but then tells her that if she works overtime she can get her travel fees reimbursed. She turns around to thank him but then realizes that they were supposed to act as strangers.

    Su Man is waiting for a taxi and Lu Li Cheng pulls up next to her and asks if she wants a ride. She says no, but he didn’t leave, ignoring the honking cars behind him. Embarrassed, she jumps into his car.

    Apparently Su Man and Lu Li Cheng got caught in a compromising situation so there are rumors flying around the office about them. Lu Li Cheng says that it isn’t a big deal, let them gossip. Su Man retorts that it’s okay because he is a guy, so he just gets one more conquest added to his list but she, a girl, gets shamed in front of everyone. She also says that it’s a good thing that her boyfriend didn’t hear about this. Lu Li Cheng says that if she had to explain such a thing to her boyfriend, he obviously doesn’t know her well enough and that she should dump him right away.

    Lu Li Cheng pretends to be Su Man’s boyfriend after she first finds out about Song Yi’s betrayal.

    When Su Man meets Lu Li Cheng’s nephew, who calls her auntie, even though she is only seven years older than him. She complains to Lu Li Cheng that she actually considers herself in the same generation as his nephew.

  3. When I got to the kidney failure, I stopped reading and just skimmed and jumped to the end. And then I found out that she ended up with SY, I was like WTH!!! but I decided to give up trying to understand SM. I agree with you that the only positive thing from this story is LLC. I didn’t like the novel but am excited about the drama after hearing news that it might have a different ending (and cute/hot Wallace Chung playing LLC XD)

  4. lol Why’d Tong Hua even come back to write an epilogue like that? I think it would have been better without it, can just think that she might finally end up with Lu Li Cheng.

    I think Tong Hua is best in historical too cause she’s a great weaver. The things she does with a historical backbone is amazing. lol Let’s just forget she wrote this. I wonder how her other modern story (The Time Never Back) fairs. That one seems to have alot of people like it.

    • The Time Never Back is quite good, and completely different to this one. I quite liked it, the best thing about Secrets is LLC. I’m thinking TH has a grudge against a guy with the same name or sth, that’s why she came back and wrote that nonsense epilogue.

  5. “I just have to point out how apropos that the acronym for the English title of this book is SHIT.” Bwahahaha. Oh Koala, you crack me up.

    What a messed up story – and what a pathetic heroine. What successful 30 year old woman is still hung up on her first love to the point of committing fraud in order to stalk him? How sad and creepy. Maybe all the makjang bizarro twists are because in modern times there is no war and royalty to provide the epic love stories complete with tragic separations and conflicts between love and duty that Tong Hua seems to love so much? Of course I haven’t read any of her stories, I’m going from your excellent summaries/recaps, but it seems like she loves that kind of stuff. But it really works better in a historical context.

    As far as the ending – WTF, is all I can say. They had better change the ending, to give this drama any chance of being decent.

  6. You got me with, “. . . acronym for the English title of this book . . .” HA! Thank you for another entertaining write up.

  7. Wow, I just have to say, dang, all of that–plotwise has been done already…same old story like some of the other dramas I’ve seen… it’s not so original at all. Why is the main character in here so weak? and her taking SY back? Really? some things are forgiveable but others aren’t—like a guy who says he likes you but so weak he can’t make up his mind and dated your bestfriend behind your back? Bullshiet. I don’t believe it. Thanks for summarizing this book. I’ll watch the ending of the adaptation of the book just to see what they did with the ending–who ended up with who. LOL 😛

  8. I think she is addicted to tragic endings…it would have been fine without the epilogue but instead we regress. No one regresses in her period works and all that tragedy works better in the past LOL

  9. Can’t believe that the person who wrote Bu Bu Jing Xin and Yun Zhong Ge could produce this. Thanks for the write-up Ms K!

  10. I kinda like all the cast, they are all gorgeous but just like that??? hopeless ending.. haiyah~~ what a waste..
    definitely stay away from this drama if the ending is like that..
    I’m not sure if they will change the ending.. I’d traumatized with BBJX n SWAK ending, which both drama is said to have a different ending and end up making me disappointed.

    I watch drama to have me entertained & to make me happy, not to make me depress like this..

    • just remember after re-read all the comment..

      I prefer Li Bing Bing character in “I Do” (movie)
      successful 30 year old woman who finding a husband and very realistic..
      when her ex-boyfriend, who betray her by leaving her 7 years ago, come back for her, she didn’t even want to come back with him, but she still become his best friend at the end.
      She surely know how to choose who is the best for her.
      this ending is much more better..

  11. Wow it really does sound like a terrible story.

    I haven’t finished DMY yet but I’m almost done and I really love it so it is surprising that she wrote this. I don’t know how the publishing market works in China but if it is anything like the American market Tong Hua was probably pressured into this novel. It’s likely her publishers “forced” her to write too much too fast and/or “encouraged” her to write a modern novel versus (I’m guessing her preference) another historical. At least that is the only excuse I could think of. Well, anyway I probably will skip out on this drama adaptation.

  12. After reading your review , I can say this novel is not my cup of tea ^^
    Thanks for this review, Koala san !
    I’m eagerly waiting for the vol. 2 of YZG 🙂

  13. At the risk of sounding dumb, I enjoyed the story. I dislike the initial writing style and thought it reads like a historical novel. Su Man’s character doesn’t help because she appears too naive/juvenile for a modern woman, with an even more unbelievable hangup on her first crush . But got through the story I did, and being so “shallow”, it helped me got through the depression that was Yun Zhong Ge.

    Actually, there is only one secret in the book which is LLC’s one-sided love. I can’t seriously root for a guy who didn’t even confess so although it is bad for the book, it is good for me because it helped me get over my Tong Hua depression. The version I read goes that Ma La Tang lead Song Yi to Su Man after the 2 years. LLC actually found out Su Man location all by himself but he is one step too late. To be frank, he tried to confessed many times, including around chapter 3 or so when he sort of kidnapped Su Man. He was about to confess his “secret” when the drunk Su Man perked up at the word “secret” and confessed that she loved Song Yi. Ahhh…. **bang head on desk**.

    But I love all the scenes with LLC and here are some to share:

    When Su Man fell sick, LLC treated her to a meal at a restuarant. She happily chose the venue (spicy food) and ordered alchohol but only realised at the end that LLC tricked her into eating bland food and drinking chrysanthemum tea. Better yet, he pretended to agree to bring her to a pub only to let her eat some drowsy cough-meds, which ended in her felling asleep in his car.

    Their hilltop date, even though there is another person with them.

    LLC being so happy when Su Man waited for him outside an open bath to pass him a winter jacket.

    Su Man trying to console LLC and asking him to smoke less. LLC said “I’m waiting for my girlfriend to say that”.

    • You’re right,a guy that never able to fully confess, is very hard to root for. Maybe had he been able to do that earlier on, she might eventually turn to him.

      The scenes are very cute. I think your last one about smoking would be full of feeling. ^^

      Man I really need a light dose after reading her CXN. Totally get why you’d b happy to read this after YZG. For me, the only light enough would be DMY and I’ve went through that already. I’m out of TH stories to read, so I’m turning to other authors now.

    • Thank you Koala for creating this thread. Sorry I ranted at some other thread prior to this. I was that pissed.

      I thought Koala made a mistake but I didn’t realize there were different versions…I read your version too…the one LLC found out she’s teaching near his hometown by coincidence but was a step too late. And I was positively fuming when I realize SuMan is accepting SongYi just like that. And it was Ma La Tang who revealed SuMan’s location to SongYi. WTH! How could she be so biased? And to the man who dated her even though he never loved her. And it annoyed me no end that both girls declare that “they never for one moment blame him…” I’m so speechless. It’s like SongYi is so bloody perfect – which is like the biggest BS I’ve read in years.

      SongYi has no passion for his work (he’s not even ambitious), hung up on a girl so messed up (and he wasn’t even aware! – so much for being smart!) and never got the courage to be forthright in his feelings for Su Man even as he was courting her. Date an ex-gf’s sister out of guilt…it’s not even noble idiocy…just plain mindboggling idiocy.

      The only fault I find with LLC is that he smokes way too much. But of course he claims he’s waiting for someone to stop him – so I cut him some slack. I’m not sure it would help if he confessed his feelings, with SuMan being such an utter blockhead with a heart seemingly only for SongYi. But I like their first meeting and their little vacation together – where he even got a kiss and they got pretty close. But the ending. I freaking HATE it. I wished I never read it….such a waste of my time…TongHua must really despise her second male leads. She gets crueler every book. Before the guys lose the girl through their own choice, so I have no complains, but here LLC was…NOTHING! In the end, HE embodies the bloody secret hidden in time. I suppose maybe it was meant to be cheeky twist or something, but I am so not impressed.

      And the story? It was really boring in the beginning with all the financial stuffs.. And all that makjang stuffs only emerged in the last 3 or 4 chapters…the ludicrousness of it all made my head spin.

  14. I was forever changed after I heard a 2 hr rant on SHiT from my former TH fangirl cousin. I was almost done with DMY back then…she also raved till I caved and read it. I tried this for a chapter to see how unbelievably horrible. Even though I didn’t read a page more, but it’s alarming how I’ve heard every word you said and know it’s so very true.

    So, I’m stalled with YZG for a month now because of the distaste SHiT is transferring and interfering even after I took quite a break fr TH, I come to terms the more TH I read, I’m moving more and more towards a non-fan. I can’t help it. I’ve made peace YZG is just not meant to be my read.

  15. Thanks for the review. Was comtemplating on reading this since I heard about Secrets being adapted into a drama, but now I’m glad I started. With an ending like that, I’m definitely staying far away from Secrets. Initially, I high high opinions of Tong Hua b/c of the raves and Bu Bu, but the more I find out about her books, the less of a fan I become.

  16. No, Tong Hua doesn’t hate her male leads. She might like to torment her readers, but she screws over first and second male leads alike with equal aplomb.

    Lu Li Cheng is the male lead of Secrets. He has more page time and TH has confirmed he’s the lead.

    Meng Jue is similarly the lead of Yun Zhong Ge, he has more than double the page time from Ling gege.

    • yeah…I figured as much by the end of the book. But I say it’s pretty amazing she made me hate almost all her characters in SHIT, whereas I could hate none of the main characters in BBJX and DMY or YG.

  17. Whilst I agree with you that this novel is Tong Hua’s worst, I have to beg to differ on your last statement- that TH’s forte is historic rather than modern stories. Her other modern novel- “Na Xie Hui Bu Qu De Nian Shao Shi Guang”- talks about the stories of youth and growing up, and is absolutely amazing, and is even better in terms of writing than BBJX (though BBJX has a more special place in my heart).

  18. WHAT does it matter to a girl
    WHO can fake a resume to get a job?
    WHAT probably ran through her mind
    WHEN it come to the excuses by Song Yi;
    WHITE lies like her resume,
    WHAT bond them together is this common traits: deserved each other!

  19. I bought the book because of the review I read from here. To be honest, I have mixed feeling on the book. I could understand why the girl chose to be with at the end of the story, but at the same time, am totally fall in love with LLC. Gosh, why on earth there is no girl will fall for him!!!
    I hope, and I believe all the fan out there will wish the ending of the drama will be totally different!!

  20. The TV version ended last night. After 47 episodes, the ending left me confuse. I don’t know who ended with who. It’s so disappointing

    For the 46 episodes, I was glued to its story and was rooting for the tandem of Lu Li Cheng and Su Man. If we will base with the book version that Su Man ended with Song Yi, it is very acceptable to me if they ended together. But with the TV version, the three of them saw each other after two years and they were just staring at each other. Then they just show garden of flowers. That’s all. The ending is so abrupt.

  21. Thank you for the review of Secrets. I never read the novel but I’m currently watching the drama. I watched 33 episodes that were translated in English and I can hardly wait to see the rest. Hope the final is not like you describe it.

  22. There are 2 endings with the drama and I think they are both plausible.
    From these posts it seems like some viewers prefer ending no.2 (heroine ends up with LLC) for the realism of such an end. This ending leads to a nice concluding event as someone who is nice/noble/caring/loving/ willing to sacrifice his time and energy for a woman he loves should be rewarded.
    However, I personally think ending no.1 (heroine ends up with SY) is more challenging and therefore displayed a more sophisticated writing style from the author. This ending manages to weave our hope/optimism of true love– we should always live and love without fear of the consequences– together with our sacrificial temperament– we can suffer setbacks of any magnitude and persevere. I think as a fictional writer the ending no.1 (heroine ends up with SY) beautifully incorporates both the human tendency to be self-destructive and our belief that such actions can lead us to a better/happier place because we do not loose faith in our love and in the love others have for us. Whether this is realistic or not realistic depends on each reader’s experience. But I think this ending shows how the author successfully merged different realities/themes to make a final statement.

  23. I got the impression that TH was trying to show that song yi and su man are fated to be together no matter how crappy they both are. Beside I think they both should be together as well. LLC is too good for Su man.

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