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Product Reviews:
River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze (P.S.) |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Peter Hessler chronicles growth and change in China (and himself)
Comments: China is indeed currently undergoing the largest, quickest modernization and transformation of a major country in human history. The scale of change in all areas (buildings, infrastructure, geography, economics, social, cultural) is vast. Yet the current transformation is however1in a series of major historical changes in the past century, as China has gone from empirical rule through civil war to the expulsion of foreign colonial influences, to the excesses of communism including the Cultural Revolution, to the current transformation, officially called "Reform and Opening".
What does this change look like on the "ground level" of average Chinese citizens, and how do they feel about it? What tensions and conflicts arise as the Chinese people are forced to (again) change their attitudes, behaviors and values? What beliefs and practices persist through the change? What might all this change lead to for these people? These are the questions that interest Peter Hessler, and that he focuses on in "River Town".
After completing graduate studies, Hessler signs up for a2year stint in the Peace Corps, and is assigned to teach English literature to Chinese teachers-in-training at a college in a relatively small, out of the way Yangtze River city. "River Town" chronicles these2years of Hessler's life, as he explores the city, learns Mandarin, and tries to get to know as many different people as possible. I found "River Town" to be a fascinating book, as Hessler does a superb job of describing people's thoughts and actions, and putting them into the greater context of China's politics, culture and the ongoing transformation of the country. The stories Hessler Comes with are engaging and entertaining, and sometimes funny. Hessler has a real love for the Chinese people (although not for many aspects of the political system), and it shows in his writing.
I read Hessler's second China book ("Oracle Bones") 1st, and thoroughly enjoyed each. Although it is preferable to read the 1st book 1st, I do not feel I missed out on much by reading them in reverse order. If you only have the time or inclination to read one, I endorse "River Town" as the slightly better of the two, however both are highly enjoyable and educational.
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Rating: 4 (out of 5)
Summary: China, both Complex and Fascinating
Comments: I purchased up this book whilst on a business trip in China. It tells the tale of a 26yr old American Graduate (Peter Hessler) heading to rural China for 2yrs to help teach English. His portrayal of China is beautiful, complex and fascinating. You learn a little of how the people are influenced by the communist regime, their lifestyles, attitudes to the western world and of course their inner beauty. You can alalmost all inhale the Chinese environment as he navigates you from industrial China with it's bellowing smog to the natural beauty of the rugged landscapes. Where this book wins for me is it's portrayal of the Chinese people, warm, curious and captivating. If you have a passing interest in Chinese culture, then you should read this. A easy and enjoyable read. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: The Adventure of an American in China
Comments:
Peter Hessler is today a well known American correspondent and free lance journalist living in Beijing. He has written2books and many articles on modern China and can be defined ad an "Old China hand", an honorary title given to Chinese speaking foreigners who honestly understand the country, which even in this era of globalization knows how to keep many of its secrets.
River Town was published in 2001, after a2year experience (1996-1998) as a Peace Corps English teacher in Sichuanese Fuling, a city on the Yangtze River that has since been transformed by the3Gorges Dam activated in 2003.
The book is a Bildungsroman or better "Bildungsmemoir" centered on the relationship that builds up between a man and a country. Even though many other have lived through similar experiences, no1has attempted the same type of identification and empathic comprehension of the impacted culture or has shown the honesty of this Author. In some ways he reminds us of Hearn, the American who became Japanese in the19th Century.
Young Peter in over 400 pages goes through cultural shock, frustration of being seen as a "waigouren" (foreigner), true episodes of physical and verbal aggression, great satisfaction in his teaching experience of almost allly peasant born college students, a moment of glory during a 4 km race and basically all his life experiences in2years. however the main characteristics that make this book such a joy to read are the Authors curiosity, honesty, irony, all signs of his great intelligence and the precise rendition of the sense of place and of the Chinese mentality in all its hues. The impression is that of living with a friend. However the book is also a travelogue and a socialogue because it goes into the geography, landscapes, historical sites and history of Sichuan, the Yangtze River and a few other places visited in China during the2years, together with the analysis of the rapidly transforming Chinese society. These aspects are interesting and make the book especially valuable, since the Yangtze River region and population have changed from the activation of the3Gorges Dam. This longstanding important landscape modifying project is explained and described in depth, evaluating the pro's and con's considering also the Fuling's inhabitants surprisingly calm and passive reaction to this epochal transformation. At1point Hessler visits the Water Crane Ridge an important Tang Dynasty monument and a landscape mark that today is completely underwater and in a few years will be destroyed by the river sediments.
Since other reviewers have inserted personal reasons for relating to the book. I want to communicate a personal reason. Hessler tells of how his grandfather, then a Benedictine monk, went to Rome to study in the S. Anselm Abbey and he met a monk returning from China who inflamed his spirit with the wish of working there. Well I live right next to the Abbey and daily see monks from all over the world that carry stories of other countries.
Another episode that remains in my memory is when Hessler's visiting father speaks Latin (the last Century's pass partout language) with the Chinese priest and he is excluded from the conversation. There is a similar beautiful episode in Primo Levi's "The Truce" were the Author liberated from concentration camp after WWII, not knowing the language of the country he is traveling through can only communicate with a priest in Latin asking for something to eat.
Communication is a guideline of this beautiful book: English/Chinese, Chinese/English, Latin/Chinese, through the teaching of literature (do the Chinese identify or understand Hamlet? They do not. What if Robin Hood came to China? Redistrihoweverion of riches and justice is rather complicated.) and theatre (Shakespeare's plays re-enacted in China). The endless conversations, sitting in parks and in restaurants, striking up a discussion in trains and during trekking in the hills, relating life stories of the many people he met all build up the texture of the book. What comes through as we get to know Hessler is his determination, honesty and the satisfaction of his success in mastering the language.
I really loved this book and I endorse reading Hessler's other book "Oracle Bones" and his many articles that can be found on line (one of them on China's perspective on Tibet is really mind opening).
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Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: River Town
Comments: Reading this narrative,1feels a sense of both Mr. Hessler's sense of adverture and his eye for detail in all things. His sense of humor is crisp and dry. Having just returned from China myself, I can vouch for his extraordinarily accurate descriptions,even in spots where the armchair traveller would shake his head in disbelief. And I was immediately transported back to the Yangtze River--I could smell it, see it, and observe the uniquely Chinese character of ething around. His ability to capture the essence of Chinese personality and expression while avoiding stereotype is amazing. When I left, I thought that there was something, well, different about all Chinese, not a racial thing however a cultural and perhaps historical thing. however I could not really say what it was. Fortunately for me and for all readers who enjoy travel and cultural subjects, there is this book. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: A quick and engaging read
Comments: Hessler writes candidly about his experiences in China as if he were writing to a friend back home. His accounts of conversations between himself and the locals are priceless, both funny and sad. This book really brings to light the hardships of Chinese farmers and their children, who seek to escape their rural lives by getting an education and joining the Communist Party.
Hessler's self-deprecating tone and funny anecdotes about his cultural mishaps make this book entertaining and touching. I strongly endorse it for anyone who wants to visit China or is interested in learning more about what makes this complex society tick. |
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