Rating: 
Summary: Heartwarming, inspirational, memorable.
Review: Colors of the Mountain is the story of Da Chen's coming of age in post revolutionary, rural China. The son of a family of "landlords", a despised class in China at this time, the book is semi autobiographical and is an inspirational tale of prevailing against long odds. It is also a wonderful window into life in rural China--the nature of the countryside, the characters all small towns seem to produce in doves all over the planet, the struggles that everyone must endure off in the "boonies". (One suspects that these elements of the story probably aren't far from what life is currently, China being the place it is.)On the whole I found the narrative to be compelling, the characters memorable and the story quite well structured. If there is a major flaw in the novel it's that the language is sometimes repetitive and awkward--one can intuit that English is obviously not Mr. Chen's native tongue. On the whole, however, this flaw in the end just adds to the charm and mood of the tale far more than it detracts from it. I bought 5 or 6 copies of this to give out as Christmas gifts this past December and everyone who I gave it to has enjoyed it. You will too.
Rating: 
Summary: A Memoir or a Fiction
Review: I was very impressed by the overwhelmingly positive reviews about Da Chen's memoirs (Colors of Mountain) in the national media (especially the article on News Week). I thought that finally, here comes a fresh writer from China with such passion and humility and was writing about the time our generation care deeply about. Well, I have to check it out. Indeed, his use of humor and earthy style is very effective and touching. One could not but to resonate with him at various points of his struggle and triumph. The book would be good if he did not pass it along as a memoir but as a first person fiction. My rough assessment on the contents of the memoir is as followings. There is about 20% of real-life experience that can be easily dissociated and are commendable. The rest can be divided as about 70% second hand exaggerated fantasies for the situation effects and about 10% deliberated fabrication for the sole propose of self-indulgence. Let's set a few records straight as an illustrative example. First, Da Chen is not a son of a landlord (his father is). There is only one sentence that talked about that because his grandpa is a landlord, so that his father was dismissed from his teaching job. This is hardly a true statement. I have not encounter a single instance that a teacher was dismissed solely because his/her father is a landlord. Indeed, my study of China of the same period shown that about 40 to 60% (dependent on the specific geographic location) of school teachers' fathers are landlords or worse according to the standards of the day. There must be something else he was hiding. His vivid description of his first day of schooling (the trouble with tuition) is hardly credible either. He might, indeed, hold 50 fens (equivalent of 50 cents) in his hand and that the teacher gave him the extension on tuition. But the tuition was only 3 Yuan (equivalent of 3 dollars). The education was essentially free at the time and 3 Yuan was mostly for the books etc. For example, any one of his piglets (when fatting up by the end of the year) would easily sell for 60 to 100 Yuan at the time (a princely sum, indeed), not to mention the mother pig they had all along (if only one knows the truth, all that sympathy for him would evaporate). The recollection of his association with the gang-activities is equally laughable. Without getting into the details, I just want to remind the readers that at the high of his gang association, he was only 9-10 years old (I had the sense of dislocation of time when reading his description). There must be other ways to generate the same sensation. His distaste for the Red Guards is also very strange. True, he might be turn down the first time when he applied to join the little red guards (and I don't believe that the whole class was little red guards except him, perhaps only 30% was in little red guard at first. I personally, have to apply eight times in order to join). But strangely, he did not have any memory of his second and third attempts. I'm sure he was admitted into the little Red Guard eventually. What about his joining of the real Red Guard in middle school (he probably was the first few that was admitted into that organization)? Furthermore, there is no description of his joining the Communist Young League. One might wonder what kind of selective memory he has. Then, there are many instances of bizarre alteration of historical facts that make this reviewer wonder just what he is try to present. For instance, on page 77, he quoted the lyric of a popular song at the time, but inserted the "Russian" there himself, but why? In all, this memoir should be labeled as a fiction. Even so, one should think twice before been foiled into his semi-genuine sentiment. I do not recommend this book for serious reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Fiction passed as memoir
Review: This book caught my attention immediately when I saw it. Besides my interest in Chinese history, I found from the book's jacket it was the life story of the author who was born in the same year I was, 1962, also in rural China. Wow, I thought, I could really relate to it. I wanted to enjoy the book. As I read it, I grew more disappointed. The book was more about fiction than facts. As other readers had pointed out, it was full of fabrications or shades of truth. To cite but one such case, the author talked about being treated by a school nurse after a fight. A school nurse? In a rural elementary school? Perhaps in America, but there was no such thing in China! Clearly the book was written for the western audience, which is not a bad thing. But, the author, whose intelligence and ability I don't doubt, would have been more honest to market it as fiction rather than memoir. I should have known better, given the manner of the crystal clear memory the author flushes out in the book. All that after some thirty years!
Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming, inspirational, memorable.
Review: Colors of the Mountain is the story of Da Chen's coming of age in post revolutionary, rural China. The son of a family of "landlords", a despised class in China at this time, the book is semi autobiographical and is an inspirational tale of prevailing against long odds. It is also a wonderful window into life in rural China--the nature of the countryside, the characters all small towns seem to produce in doves all over the planet, the struggles that everyone must endure off in the "boonies". (One suspects that these elements of the story probably aren't far from what life is currently, China being the place it is.) On the whole I found the narrative to be compelling, the characters memorable and the story quite well structured. If there is a major flaw in the novel it's that the language is sometimes repetitive and awkward--one can intuit that English is obviously not Mr. Chen's native tongue. On the whole, however, this flaw in the end just adds to the charm and mood of the tale far more than it detracts from it. I bought 5 or 6 copies of this to give out as Christmas gifts this past December and everyone who I gave it to has enjoyed it. You will too.
Rating:
Summary: This is why I love reading books
Review: History nuts don't seem to like this book. But let's forget whether or not Da Chen's memoir is historically accurate, let's just enjoy the inspirational story that it is! Da Chen has a talent that is undeniable. His lyrical storytelling is poignant, unpretentious, and fluid. One can see his story unfold in their mind vividly and with ease. THis book does not take much effort to read. It draws you in with exceptional ease. Some parts did seem unreal and sugary, like how he made friends with fourteen year old hooligans at the age of ten, and their wonderful dinner that they prepared one day. But other than that, who cannot help but be drawn into this story of the oppressed--the families of landlords in China during this time period? THey endured great inhumane torture, and learned to maintain their dignity and pride throughout. Da Chen's story is universally appealing. How he survived through all this torture and managed to make it to college and become a success is phenomenal. He is an inspiration to anyone. Never mind if their is a strand of historical inaccuracy!
Rating: 
Summary: Mesmerizing!
Review: Da Chen's "Colors of the Mountain" is a memoir dealing with the author's childhood in Yellow Stone, a small rural village in China. As a son of a landlord, Da had a difficult time growing up as his family was considered to counter-revolutionary and was blacklisted by the Communist Party. He was constantly targeted and abused by other kids and even teachers seemed to loathe him. This was set during the Cultural Revolution period where education was deemed dangerous and intellectuals were sent to the rural area to be re-educated. Despite these obstacles, Da persevered to stay in school. As he was isolated from kids of his age at school, he befriended with a few older guys who were not in school, smoke and gamble. Even though these guys were deemed "dangerous" by the village people, they were sincere and accepted Da as who he was rather than what family he came from. However, Da's fortune changed when Chariman Mao passed away and suddenly, college education was what everyone talked about. Da knew that his only chance at getting out of the small village and sought a better life for himself was to get accepted into a college. I enjoy this book as Da Chen wrote beautifully and at times, almost poetically. His descriptions of the sceneries at his village, the Dong Jing River, the mountains were vivid. The book also describes the lives of landlord families during Cultural Revolution and how it affected the landlords' children. Quite a number of books written on Cultural Revolution usually dealt with intellectuals or people with ties to the West and how they were jailed and torture. "Colors of the Mountain" on the other hand, saw Cultural Revolution through the eyes of a child. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: A great book. Enjoyable all the way through.
Review: This was a really great book. He is a very talented writer. This book has even increased my vocabulary. I was impressed how well he was able to make a memoir interesting, especially someone that is not famous. The story was pretty good overall, but I enjoyed actually reading it more than the story itself. I actually laughed out loud on several occasions. I will definitely be reading his second book very soon while his story and emotions are still fresh in my mind. I suggest this book to anyone that likes a witty, fresh, easy read.
Rating:
Summary: Bitter Sweet
Review: Da's bitter sweet story of his life growing up during the cultural revolution in rural China had me laughing and crying at the same time. His story is on par with Angela's Ashes.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!!!!
Review: This is a fantastic book! The author is a wonderful story teller. Every time I picked up the book I swore I would only read one chapter but I'd end up reading for hours. When I finished I immediately went out to get Sounds of the River, which picks up right where this book ends. It was interesting to read about family life and the daily events of a child living through turbulent times...but this isn't the story of a child beat down by the times, but of one who rises above the obstacles. This book was a pleasant surprise...I just randomly picked it off the shelf and it turned out to be one of the best books I've read in a while. I highly recommend it along with its sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring to all of those who are college bound!
Review: Colors of the Mountain by Da Chen was written to tell the world about his struggle to get an education. Da wanted the reader to know how poorly he was treated in Yellow Stone despite his accomplishments. He strived to get into a college and that was his main goal in life. I think that today us as students take advantage of being given an education. To Yellowstone, it was an option that only few were able to excel in. Da Chen dedicated his life to school. The message that I was sent was to be thankful for the public education system and to show how fortunate I am for everything that I am given. He showed me that you have to want to go to college and nothing can stop you if you're committed. But most of all I learned that you have to want it. You have to want to excel in college and if that means giving up your social life then so be it. You have to make sacrifices if you truly want it. In the end, you'll realize its only a small portion of what its worth.
Da Chen wrote his bibliography strictly from memory. However his descriptions were so precise and so descriptive it felt as if I were watching his childhood as a movie. I could easily picture the characters and settings that took place. Imagery is defiantly one of his strong points. Da writes so simply yet the more he writes, the more clear it becomes. Da is defiantly one of the better authors. He writes so well it's amazing for he has a lot of talent. I think that he enjoyed writing about his accomplishments and the adventures of his every day life. Da Chen has come so far. I would describe him as the definition of success. He knows the struggles as well as the enjoyment of he outcome.
Da Chen persuaded me in a way that can't be descried in words. He really motivated me in a sense to be more thankful and to strive a little farther than above average. His success story is exactly what students need to work harder and set you goals high. His childhood was so full of mystery and it was never boring, especially his friends. Da's everyday struggles were fascinating and most of the time it's hard to believe. The novel was never confusing for I could relate to his style of writing as well as some of his situations. His life was so astonishing. He was put down because of his family's political background yet he still did everything he could to get an education. This book defiantly needed to written just to simply inspire others. It was well worth his time as well as mine. I would highly recommend this book to those who need the extra push to excel. His remarkable tale is motivating to those who are thinking of college. It gives the extra edge that is needed to succeed and I realized that I need to be willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve my goals. I'm also looking forward to reading Da Chen's new book which is the sequel to Colors of the Mountain. Chen, Da. Colors of the Mountain. New York, Random House Inc., 2000. Time Spent: To Read: 7 hours; To Write: 1 hour. Word Count: 564
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