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Through The Strait Gates
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Web Novel (CN)
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Rating(4.5 / 5.0, 238 votes)
5    72% (172 votes)
4    16% (37 votes)
3    6% (15 votes)
2    1% (3 votes)
1    5% (11 votes)
Language
Support Book (#ad)
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One entry per line
Artist(s)
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N/A
Year
Example: 2012
2015
Status in COO
Status in Country of Origin. One entry per line
69 Chapters + 3 extras (Completed)
Licensed
No
Completely Translated
No
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One entry per line
English Publisher
One entry per line
N/A
Release Frequency
Every 145.6 Day(s)
Activity Stats
[Graph]
Weekly Rank: #2000
Monthly Rank: #11763
All Time Rank: #4455
Reading List
[Graph]
On 3320 Reading Lists
Monthly Rank: #6478
All Time Rank: #2860

Description

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“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” -Matthew 7:14

Guomen, 過門/过门, meaning marriage in Chinese. If explained literally, it means going past the gates/door-a reference to the Bible(see above).

“Through the Strait Gates”: to me, it’s the best way to explain it.

The gate’s narrow, the road small for them.

Their past and future interwoven into a tangled, messed up web.

Thirteen years of sour and bittersweet memories. And seven years in between that washed out everything they had like water, leaving only stark, plain, throbbing dullness.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Guomen
过门
過門
Related Series
Dage (Shared Universe)
Recommendations
A Certain Someone (5)
Give Me A Hug (4)
SAYE (3)
After Our Divorce, I Still Wore Your Jacket (2)
Mint-Stained Shirt (2)
Slow-Witted (2)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Realistic
  2. danmei reads 2021
  3. my fav
  4. future read - priority 1
  5. all the danmeis i've read

Latest Release

Date Group Release
03/04/20 bleachedfish c18
10/15/19 bleachedfish c17
08/26/19 bleachedfish c16
08/15/19 bleachedfish c15
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45 Reviews sorted by


Tonika_Ao
Tonika_Ao rated it
December 17, 2021
Status: Completed
When you start a story by Priest it's like opening a brand new puzzle with a thousand pieces that are masterfully connected as the story takes form to create in the end a complex and beautiful picture. From compelling social and political issues to space utopias and steampunk technology, there is no theme or genre that escapes her careful eye.

Her style is famous-or notorious, depending on your tastes-for the labyrinth-like formation of her plot that is many times developed at the expense of intimacy and romance between the protagonists. That,... more>> however, is irrelevant to Priest's capability of writing character-driven stories and that is most evident on "Guomen".

This slice-of-life story, so much shorter than the favourites "Mo Du" and "Sha po lang", is an emotional portrayal of the daily lives of two Chinese boys in the early 2000s and their tumultuous journey to adulthood. While watching Dou Xun and Xu Xilin gradually bond and experience life, we are able to explore themes such as h*mophobia, poverty, societal stereotypes and expectations, unconventional family-forms and early death. One of the most striking features of the novel, however, is it's painful honesty.

Priest holds her scalpel and with almost surgical precision presents us the anatomy of two souls in flowing and witty prose; the one being incredibly sensitive to others emotions is a natural extrovert with aspirations to make something of himself, but, at the same time, has difficulty coming to terms with his sexuality, as he is initially bounded by the absurd stigma. His partner, on the other hand, has his brilliance and cold logic as the only weapon against parents who are shallow and vain and a society he considers rotten, plain and, therefore, rejects.

Our two MCs evolve as the years pass, along with the people beside them, in order to reach a satisfying level of personal and interpersonal agility and honesty. The road to get there is th**ny, painful and presented in such a blunt and raw way that you can visualize Priest sneering in the face of your expectations and the norm of easy romance.

I read "Guomen" looking for a different taste after "Mo Du" and "Sha po lang" overworked the engines of my brain. If you decide to go for it you will be relieved by the fluidity of the prose, but you should prepare yourselves for emotional strain, which proves even more rewarding than the rosy interactions of smitten characters. After all, any choice by this author is bound to be passing through a narrow gate... <<less
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Cocole
Cocole rated it
January 11, 2021
Status: Completed
A coming of age story that is very well written. Each word and sentence carries with it meaning that can only be sensed through the lens and filter of the experience of the reader. I haven’t laughed so hard and cried so miserably reading a novel for such a long time. The CP and the side characters’ lives reminds me of my own growing up. Although our issues were different but our thought process were the same. Issues that I thought were so difficult to overcome, so important seems ‘eh’... more>> many years later. Thank you so much author and the wonderful translation work. Really appreciate all their hard work and dedication. Love ❤️ <<less
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Kaylee
Kaylee rated it
November 8, 2020
Status: Completed
This is superb! Emotionally invested like 100%.

A real life reality check that choosing a man man relationship is the same as f*cking your life, your family, your friends, and him too. It's a difficult, scary decision.

Reading this is like being showered with reality check. Sometimes it's suck, sometimes it's sweet, but everyday can get worse if we give up.

Go read it friends.
4 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
goobsjie
goobsjie rated it
October 17, 2022
Status: Completed
Brilliantly written bit of slice of life featuring teenage boys in the spring of their youth, grappling with growing pains, identity, and the transient nature of life. This is a novel I couldn't stop thinking about long after I finished. There's a quiet bleakness to it that crept up on me and wrenched my heart in the most painful of ways.

A lot of themes to unpack but ultimately it's about how sometimes, no matter how much you want something or how hard you try, the way forward is simply not... more>> straight. Sometimes you are bound by fate, other times you're limited by your own mind.

Through the trials of life, MC finds the courage to be free from society while ML learns to compromise and be a part of it, and they eventually find their way back to each other.

Some of the pop references (such as Jay Chou's old hit) brought about a nostalgia factor that really hit home for me.

For a novel that felt quite painful and quite real, the only bit of criticism I have is that Dou Xun's possessiveness and derision is over the top and takes away from that realism, but thankfully he becomes self-aware and much more normal by the end.

Lastly, kudos to the translator. The translation was a pleasure to read.

Some quotes that stuck with me:

Spoiler

You make me hurt but I still can't bear to shoot you dead the way I shot the other things that made me hurt, so I can only endure even if it kills me.

He wanted Dou Xun but he didn't want to be gay.

Cai Jing's crush was like the moss at the corner of the wall, quiet and hidden, meticulous and fretful. It would never flower and once the light shone on it, it would die.

When he was young, Xu Jin had joked that he rejected his bed and instead preferred to sleep in a coffin. After he had grown up, he rejected his bed and lay in the coffin with the boy he loved, both kissing and caressing the other.

Every day that we can be together is one more day I can spend loving him.

This time, let me be the one to give way to you, the one to say sorry, the one to knock on your door. This time, I would rather swallow my tongue than say the words break up or sever ties.

When you go, I won't see you off; when you come, no matter how strong the wind or heavy the rain, I will welcome you (this quote is from an essay and not actually written by Priest but I loved it so I'm including it)

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The_yiling_patriach
The_yiling_patriach rated it
May 25, 2021
Status: Completed
Spoiler

ahhhh I can't even count how many times I cried...... this story is not like cliche school life where everyone around CP are either gay or supporters and this story portrays the true color of life from family, friends, love, homophobic etc even though there is only 65+ chapters but it covers every emotions and struggles of ppl living in this society and I cried a lot when xu jin died like in one paragraph they are happily chatting and in next few paragraphs she died😭

Now our MC and ML I love how their character grown from childish brats to hardworking man overall this novel is beautiful bitter sweet story like a rainbow after the heavy rain

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Andcro
Andcro rated it
March 3, 2021
Status: Completed
A beautiful story of growing up, learning to embrace your true self and overcome obstacles. It’s such a bittersweet story, I feel like I grew up with them, that in a way I lived their lives and felt their pains. It en captured the pains of lost friendship through time, being young and having both the world at your feet and the pressure of finding a path and a purpose.

And the romance is to die for. It’s immature, the characters have misunderstandings that you can accept because life throws them... more>> so much and they’re so young they can’t manage it all. As always priest portrays the themes of her stories beautifully.

I try to avoid stories where the conflict is coming out and social pressure against queer people, due to personal experiences. But in this book, is not only realistic, it tacked in my opinion the issues very well. It gives hope that at the end of the day, you can find happiness even when the world is against you.

loved it, cried a lot and this story will stay with me forever. <<less
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Awu Wang
Awu Wang rated it
December 18, 2023
Status: Completed
Y'll if you are really taking seriously the reviews with 1 star because the novel would be racist, just please take a look and judge yourself because the alleged big deal is not as they are saying just to discredit the author.

Anyway the story tells a lot about heavy topics, with sensitive but raw style: internalized h*mophobia, h*mophobia, abusive parents/family, childhood trauma, failed school system, failment, depression, death, pet death, a lot of life issues, destructive romance... yeah it's not at all a sweetned slice of life. But racist? At... more>> best the character (who is immature, inexperienced and can't deal with his mom's death) babbles according to old and useless stereotypes to make his grandma happy in just one quote, with no intentional harm (blink and you won't notice) and it ends there. There is no consistent depiction about domestic workers, they are just there doing their work and it's enough, there is nothing dancing around there. They are not at all represented like they are s*aves or inferior or something disrespectful O_o the beloved protagonist's auntie is a maid and she is chinese. Maybe people are reading too much into the lines but that's on you to judge. Don't misinterpret please a good and realistic and well written novel just for out of context reviews <<less
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Sesgy
Sesgy rated it
February 6, 2023
Status: Completed
I love this novel so much.

I really adore the characters and their development towards the end.

It's the story of two teenagers finding solace in the other and even though they bicker a lot they're so lonely happy together that it breaks my heart. However something happens which leads them to separate but they reunite and try to make up for their past's mistakes. Their flaws are so humanly relatable that you can't hate them for that (especially Dou Xu he's so relatable). It's a beautiful coming of age novel, definitely... more>> recommending it. <<less
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Ponponponuts rated it
January 7, 2023
Status: Completed
An amazing tale of growth and learning the painful but completely realistic aspects of life, its ups and downs, and the unforgiving fate of everything coming to an end, with the things and memories being left behind as the people move on with time.

Guomen has flawed yet utterly lovable characters with experiences that will relate with you. The themes in this book are effectively conveyed and it's a story that stuck to me even after having read it a year ago. I never re-read novels but this was an unexpected... more>> exception. No one is really a villain and it doesn't impose the kind of simplistic and redundant black and white narrative like other novels. I dont mean to say that stories of that sort are bad but with Guomen's setting, the characters complexity make this narrative's absence more appreciated. No person is unreasonably horrible to the MC just to have a smidge of conflict. If you're looking for a story with impactful themes and bittersweet romance, this is for you.

Spoiler

Dou Xun and Xu Xilin are people that if they had met at any other time of their life, they probably wouldn't end up as what they are by the end of the book. Being together with the other person makes their flaws starkly obvious. Their growth at the end, especially Xu Xilin's, is always a good tearjerker.

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I love how the side characters actually mean something to the story and are written well. Angst is good. Characters are sensible. Plot is great. Made me cry. <<less
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Anissia
Anissia rated it
January 27, 2022
Status: Completed
I really loved this story. I got attached to the protagonists, as both of them each have their personnalities, each well described and shaped by the author. They are realistic as can be. It starts out in their youth, young love sprouts, they have their doubts, each their flaws and views, one hesistating still and the other going all in, you can see and understand each of their struggles and points of view, their youthful personnalities, still not mature, and the harsh impact of society, their family's expectations, and reality,... more>> on their decisions.
Spoiler

At the end, they mature, try to change for the best still, and mend things.

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Youarehappy
Youarehappy rated it
November 29, 2021
Status: --
[Edit]

Overall, enjoyed the novel but don't think I will reread it again. But it was a nice experience!
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Rimamr
Rimamr rated it
August 5, 2021
Status: Completed
Simply masterpiece it's one of the greatest novel I ever read and believe me I read soooo many the greatest thing about this novel that it's so realistic and from our daily life

The MC character so funny and beautiful and I don't blame him to be coward in some situation we all have our weak moment but I only blame him for one thing

... more>>
Spoiler

I really hated when he break up with Dou Xun he was so heartless and I hate him the most when I found that he called DX father to take him out of his life, first his mother who fight for the custody and take him from his father home and let him live in strangers house then his lover do the same and choose for him where to live they both was unfair with him

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The ML character so difficult and I don't blame him too because he lived so hard life in his past and don't know how to be social and act around people he tried his best to change but in the end he forced to get back to be lonely and have miserable life and that really break my heart

Spoiler

The angst in this novel unbearable First Xu Jin death was so sorrowful I cried my eyes out Second Cai jing every thing about him so sad and make me cry so hard Third and the most important the break up OMG I only remember cried so hard like this while reading 2HA and YUWU I even had headache from trying to hold my tears for most of the time, and when I finally felt happy for their happy ending come the airport accident really so so so much angst

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Elly2306
Elly2306
June 19, 2021
Status: Completed
Did they end up living in their old childhood house?

If you enjoyed this book do read, lovely allergen and the heart of a smith. Both lovely books. With the best of stories.

This book was all about the uncertainty of life. Something that terrifies me and reading through that fear was a bit of a cruel journey. It’s a beautiful story but I wish there could’ve been more vigor. And a brighter tone set out. But I’m sure that’s what the author wanted. That’s the essence in there. So yes, do... more>> give it a read. I’d give it a 3.5/5 <<less
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Elyurias
Elyurias rated it
February 12, 2021
Status: Completed
It's a great story, you won't regret read it. I could spent hours making a review of Guomen but I can describe it in just one world: magnificent.

It's totally worth your time.
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
xscape
xscape rated it
December 14, 2020
Status: Completed
The other reviewers have written how good and realistic this story is. I agree with them and won't elaborate on it myself. However, I want to emphasize the beauty of how the story is written and translated, it's almost, at the least, artistic. I sometimes repeat reading some paragraphs over and over again to savour the beauty in them. Also, I want to add that I'm happy with the fact that in book 3, the secret insecurities of the MC and ML are almost always mentioned sided to side because... more>> if only one of them is insecure, I'd feel insecure for his sake too, lol. <<less
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Amy1613
Amy1613 rated it
September 24, 2024
Status: Completed
A total emotional rollercoaster! The atmosphere of most of the novel was quite heavy and ... more>>
Spoiler

just when I thought the last 10 chapters would be full of happiness and love, I was proven wrong.

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There are a lot of thought provoking themes in this novel which I feel were quite well done but honestly I could have done without the constant stabbing of my heart. The hurt and happiness distribution was very unequal.

As for the Filipino line everyone is worried about, it's literally just one line and is never bought up again. It's quite s*upid to rate the whole novel 1 star without even finishing it, just because of such a minor thing. This was the mentality of people in those times and history can't be sugarcoated just to accommodate to some people. The writer is not imposing her own views on us but is just representing a piece of history. <<less
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forget_me_not
forget_me_not rated it
August 21, 2023
Status: Completed
4/5

A good read that displays the uncertainty and insecurity of youth—right person, wrong time kinda thing. The story was was interesting and the characters likable (though I found Dou Xun a bit exasperating at times).

However, I'm a bit confused about Cai Jing's character as it kinda felt like the author had something else planned for him and then scrapped it part way through. His plot twist was random and anticlimactic and his character was suddenly downplayed afterward. Also wish that they'd gone more in depth about their careers and success... more>> later in life as they were always talking about how much potential Dou Xun had but didn't really go into whether he fulfilled it or not.

march edit: I APPARENTLY READ THIS 6 MONTHS AGO AND SOMEHOW HAVE NO MEMORY; would've thought it was a mistake if I hadn't literally reviewed it <<less
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ifhecatchesme_i
ifhecatchesme_i rated it
April 1, 2023
Status: Completed
overall a really good and atmospheric novel, it was really well written and had a profound sense of gravity and maturity to it.

what I liked:

    • the writing style was beautifully descriptive, and was very good at creating a living breathing atmosphere, and immersing the reader into it. Even though I've never been to Beijing (or China in general for that matter) I could really grasp and vividly imagine the scenery, and even feel nostalgic for it like the story is.
    • The characters are the highlight of the story. They are very well rounded and feel and act real people, and are very realistically flawed. The character development is also fantastic, and is very delicately done and subtle. It's heartwarming to see stuff they struggle with so much as teens and young adults become nothing more than a nuisance when they get older, and learning to separate and then reconnect. The main romance is similarly heartwarming.
    • I have to say, there's a level of professionalism to this novel I haven't seen in other webnovels I've read (which is, admittedly not a lot), even those by the same author. I can't really put my finger on it, and it might just be because it's my first non-fantasy webnovel I've read, but it really feels like a published book.
what I didn't like:

    • with all the realism oozing out of the novel, some of the major plot twists felt really jarring and out of place, especially
      Spoiler

      Xu Jin's death and Xu Xilin's life threatening accident at the end of the novel.

      [collapse]
      compared to how subdued most of the novel was, those really felt like cliche plot twists from an entirely different story.
    • like with other priest novels I've read, there's a certain emotional distance between the reader and the characters. This seems intentional on her part, and isn't necessarily bad writing (nor does it make her stories/main couple less romantic in my opinion like I've seen other people claim). This is a "what I didn't like" section though, so I have to admit it did affect how emotionally invested I was in the novel and my general opinion of it.
overall this is a really really good novel, and definitely set my expectations for modern danmei novels really high. 8.5/10 from me when it comes to how much I loved it, definitely worth reading!
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Hellish
Hellish rated it
September 6, 2022
Status: Completed
This was my first Priest novel that I've read. I loved the characters, I loved the buildup. It was very realistic and I feel that a lot of us can relate to what Xu Xilin and Dou Xun go through. What I do not like is the racist remark targeted towards Filipinos. Having read Guomen, I can already tell that Priest is very talented at writing and doesn't fail to meet the exceptions; but instead proceeds to exceed them. Yet, the racist comment should not be allowed to slide past... more>> everyone. <<less
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
angelstar1000
angelstar1000 rated it
October 8, 2021
Status: Completed
I enjoyed it, but don't think I will reread it. 3, 5 stars!
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
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