#ReadingTheStone had our first Saturday chat of the new year, on January 14, 2023.
Last we left off, we had read up to Chapter 80 - and in this first session of the new year, we discussed the textual history of Story of the Stone, how readers and scholars have differentiated between the first 80 chapters (understood to be definitively penned by Cao Xueqin) and the remaining 40 that make up the entire text. Waiyee, Ann, and Eileen are joined by our stalwart reading group members in a wide-ranging conversation on authorial vision, definitions of fanfiction and fan sequels, consistency of tone between the two sections, canonical authority, and English-language translation choices for the book's title - as well as our own personal encounters with Story of the Stone over the past year of reading together.
Thanks for listening! Find us at readingthestone.com or @ReadingTheStone on Twitter.