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Summary: If you enjoyed this book, read John Dalton's "Heaven Lake"
Review: "River Town" and "Heaven Lake" are two of my all time favorite books about China. Both are beautifully written, thoughtful, poignant, honest and nonjudgmental.
For those of you who have loved this book, I highly recommend "Heaven Lake".
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Summary: Paints a good picture of modern China
Review: I read several books on the topic of China last year and this book by far gave me the best understanding of what life was like in the remote cities of China at the present time. The books covers lots of different aspects of everyday life. Peter Hessler does a good job of mixing in some humor from his own experiences there. It is not a book that is easy to read cover to cover in a few days but I kept at it and was glad I did. I was only dissapointed that my travels did not lead me to this region of China. River Town made me want to experience Fuling for myself.
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Summary: A must read before visiting China
Review: If going to China or trying to better understand China (if that is possible) this is a must read book. Informative, well written and entertaining all in one.
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Summary: River Town
Review: 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.
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Summary: A Good Read (with Chinese Characteristics)
Review: In one of the most culturally defining books in recent years, Peter Hessler explores the Chinese culture and proceeds to describe his life as a teacher in a town with strong communist roots during the end of the twentieth century. Peter Hessler brings to life his experiences and thoughts of the small, rural town of Fuling centered in the heart of mainland China. As a volunteer teacher who knows almost no Chinese at the beginning of the novel, Peter is sent by the Peace Corps with his friend Adam to teach English to a group of college students and give them the opportunity to appreciate American and British literature. Through the course of the book, Hessler shares his feelings and experiences on teaching a group of youths indoctrinated by the CCP as well as the beauty of nature and the life of a waiguoren (foreign devil). As Hessler progresses through the book, not only does he progress in his knowledge of Chinese language and culture, but his students begin to open up to him and see him as not just a foreign teacher, but as their mentor. These transitions between friendships and his life in general are very well written. He thoroughly investigates every aspect of Chinese culture and life as each chapter discusses a very specific point about his trip to Fuling. The novel reads in a chronological fashion, but there is a certain degree of randomness on a few of the subject that he touches on. Hessler also gives very beautiful descriptions of the natural beauty of China not only of the busy city of Fuling, but also of the countryside and more rural areas he encounters during his hikes. Although Peter describes in great detail his daily routine, his descriptions of his life or his teachings never become dry or monotonous. Fresh experiences are constantly altering his views on communist China and the effect it is having on its citizens. In the end, his experience is complete as he realizes what a fulfilling two years he has led on the Yangtze River. Hessler also makes a very accurate and balanced commentary on the political indoctrination of the students that he teaches. Often, Peter gives examples of writing samples that his students have turned in to him that are laden with communist propaganda that the students have been bombarded with since a young age. Hessler comments evenhandedly on many of the Chinese traditions and propaganda that he encounters on a day-to-day basis and how it effects his life and the lives of his students. Considering the political situation that we are currently involved in with China, this book is a necessary read for anyone who wants to understand the Chinese point of view. I would recommend this book without reservation to anyone who is seriously interested in learned about the Chinese culture from an American, yet unbiased, perspective. It is an excellent and fast read that deserves the highest praise as a very well written and informative novel about life in the heart of China.
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Summary: Warm, insightful, personal and engaging
Review: My son who lives as a foreigner in China directed me to read the book, and I found it wonderful.
Not only does it provide a dynamic insight into the country's present thinking (through Hessler's students' essays), but it allows us to watch his efforts to move gently and gracefully through his new local society, with varying success.
More than just enlightening, it's wonderfully entertaining, as we share the bittersweet adventure of joining a culture that's so hard to decode. I read the book before a trip to Beijing, and thought about it every day I was there, and often since.
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Summary: Well-written, marvelous, provocative.
Review: Peter Hessler spent two years working as a Peace Corps volunteer while teaching literature in the remote Sichuan province in southern China in the late 1990's. Being one the first Peace Corps volunteers in China and possessing an intense curiosity of his new surroundings has resulted in this superb travel memoir that provides the reader with an intimate glimpse into the hill city of Fuling and the history and politics of larger China. During his stay he eyewitnessed the incredible events of the Chinese takeover of Hong Kong and the building of the Three Gorges Dam.Hessler reaches far beyond the average tourist by making a commitment to learn Mandarin and become acquainted with the locals and their individual stories. At the beginning of his stay he was easily started by the overt treatment of the locals of having seen a foreigner but was soon transcended more into Chinese society as his new knowledge and appreciation deepened. Throughout his narrative Hessler frequently ponders Chinese politics and their affect on his students in relation to the United States and as a result brings up numerous provoking issues and concerns. Highly recommended, especially for those interested in China or Peace Corp volunteers.
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Summary: A different kind of "travel book"
Review: River Town probably is disappointing to some earlier reviewers because it does not follow the convention of viewing China as an impenetrable mystery for Westerners. Unlike books such as The River at the Center of the World (Simon Winchester), Hessler makes a point of trying to immerse himself in Chinese culture and daily life. This makes all the difference in the quality of the insights and personal change depicted throughout the book. Readers really get a sense of the struggles, problems, humour, and enjoyment Hessler went though during his time in China. Compare this to Winchester's journey, often using soft-seat trains and boats, which only reinforced his distance and separation from Chinese culture. Unfortunately, a lot of authors, including Winchester, never attempt to explore the gap between their cultural backgrounds and those of the places they attempt to describe. The resulting books are essentially just glorified tourist's diaries, with tired comparisons about how much more "advanced" and "civilized" Western countries are compared to China. Overall, Hessler's book is good for people interested in reading a thoughtful and often entertaining account of what it's like to live in a culture that is radically different from the US. It's well written and offers a great deal of personal insight, as well as occasional interludes describing various regions visited by Hessler. Those looking merely to confirm their preconceived notions about Western versus Asian culture should look elsewhere.
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Summary: An excellent, apolitical piece
Review: This is a brilliant book. This young man came to China with an open mind and is fundamentally different from much of the young expatriate population here, both in terms of his intellingence and his goals in coming. (Typical personalities: "I'm a Loser Back at Home, but when I come to China I'm a Big Man on Mulberry Street." Another: "I'm Young and Bored and Trying to Convince Myself That There is a Communist Revolution Somewhere.") Some books that have been written have also tried specifically to address the political issues of this vast country. It is more interesting to someone who is not a professional protestor/ academic to see what happens in practice when some of the Romanticized Sacred Cows of Academics are implemented in Real Life (see: Communism, Authoritarianism, Big Government). This is also not taken from the perspective of people that are constantly whining about Human Rights. In my opinion, the author does a good job of not reinterpreting China in terms of some of these Sacred Cows, be they of whoever. The prose is clear, elegant and not overwrought with detail. But the reading is not overly light, either. It's just the things that any person would think about if they came here to teach. Or that any person might want to know if they wanted a perspective of China independent of political slants of any type.
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Summary: River Metropolis
Review: This is a very personable book and I found it very interesting and helpful in becoming acquainted with modern day Chinese. Fuling, the "small river town" of this book is in fact a very large and modern city. Cruising up the Yangtze River looking for the little river town, I was so disappointed to find a city of gleaming skyscrapers. But then, a lot of water has flowed down the Yangtze since Hessler wrote this book.
It's a good read.
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