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Title: River Town : Two Years on the Yangtze by Peter Hessler ISBN: 0-06-095374-8 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 24 December, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.72 (99 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A Brilliant Effort--Hessler's River Town Lives On
Comment: A good friend of mine loaned me a copy of Hessler's River Town during the summer of 2001--just a couple of months before I hopped on a plane to move to China. It's hard to imagine how a book can so significantly affect one's experience in a new land, but this one certainly has.
I've read the book several times now in the two and a half years I've been living in China, though the experience is different with each reading as I come to know China better. Hessler's work serves as a perfect introduction to the "fishbowl" conditions of a Westerner living in or visiting China's interior. The beauty of his work lies in the fact that it is the result of three distinct gifts that Hessler possesses: his skills as a researcher, his ability to connect with people he meets in meaningful ways, and his skill as a writer.
I have been fortunate enough to visit Fuling and meet some of the people whose lives were touched by Hessler during his time there: the restaurant owners, the college officials, the priest. In every case, the mention of his name brings about genuine smiles and stories of the ways in which he connected with Fuling's residents during his time there several years ago.
After you enjoy the book, you will be glad to know that Hessler continues to live in and write about China, with articles appearing from time to time in National Geographic and the New Yorker. There are follow-up pieces about return trips to Fuling available online as well.
If you are planning a move to China, to visit, or you simply want to learn more about a small, complex corner of our world, Hessler's River Town will not disappoint.
Rating: 4
Summary: River Town
Comment: In "River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze" , author Peter Hessler composes a compelling story that takes place in the small city of Fuling, a town settled on the Yangtze River within the Sichuan province of China. As a Peace Corps volunteer, Peter works at the local college teaching English and American literature to Chinese students. In his narrative, Peter relates his experiences of living in a dramatically different society of communist China. As the first American to reside in the city in over fifty years, Peter describes his struggles with his limited grasp of the Chinese language and the people's stereotype of a typical "American". With the story's progression, Hessler depicts his ability to adapt to the Chinese dialect and culture, and the people's gradual acceptance of him and his fellow volunteer, Adam Meier. This acceptance illustrates a general understanding that grows between Peter and those he interacts with. Hessler's illustrations of social and cultural differences allow his readers to become acquainted with many of the customs and traditions found within contemporary China. Hessler addresses issues such as reform within the country, weaving together China's history with its present progression. Through his vivid depictions of the people he encounters and the experiences he undergoes, Hessler provides an insightful illustration of the culture found within China. I found this novel to be a wonderful story that reflects the Chinese society.
Rating: 5
Summary: An Amazing Experience!
Comment: I was so sad to finish reading this book! It is definitely one of the best books that I have read in a long time! I felt like I was along for the entire journey and was sad when it came to an end! It is very interesting because it gives you a rare opportunity to get to know a small city in China very well. I loved how Peter intertwined local history into an interesting story.
It is also a great book to read to better understand the Peace Corps experience. It presents a very honest portrayal of what volunteering with the Peace Corps is actually like. I really appreciated Peter's honesty of emotion as he experienced things in Fuling, they helped to make the experience all the more real.
Peter has a wonderful writing ability. The book flows as smoothly as the Yangtze and encompasses rich detail. After reading this book you feel like you were able to accompany an interesting person on his voyage to better understand China. This book is excellent!
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Title: Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by JUNG CHANG ISBN: 0385425473 Publisher: Anglophone Sa Pub. Date: 03 October, 1992 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: The River at the Center of the World : A Journey Up the Yangtze and Back in Chinese Time by Simon Winchester ISBN: 0805055088 Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, Inc. Pub. Date: 15 October, 1997 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: The Good Women of China : Hidden Voices by XINRAN XUE ISBN: 1400030803 Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 11 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Before the Deluge: The Vanishing World of the Yangtze's Three Gorges by Deirdre Chetham ISBN: 0312214170 Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Pub. Date: 18 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Wanting a Daughter, Needing a Son: Abandonment, Adoption, and Orphanage Care in China by Kay Ann Johnson, Amy Klatzkin ISBN: 0963847279 Publisher: Yeong & Yeong Pub. Date: February, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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