Rating: 
Summary: Recounted with depth and candor
Review: Sounds Of The River is a four cassette, six hour, abridged audio narration of the second book of a trilogy of memoirs about author Da Chen, and his experiences in the Cultural Revolution of Communist China. Listeners learn of Da Chen's travails in studying at the University of Beijing, his being confronted with truly horrible living conditions, dealing with a chronic lack of food, suicidal roommates, and power-abusing professors. Da Chen's life experiences in mainland China are recounted with depth and candor in this impressive and highly recommended account.
Rating:
Summary: The beautiful songs of freedom
Review: Sounds of the river is a memior of a chinese man name Da Chen, a yellow stoner. Is the book about an historical study of the cultural revolution? No, I don't think the author shares any insights to indicate this is his intent. It seems the book is written in the style of a personal journal. The language of the book is very personable, funny, and presents a fresh view of life in China. I wasn't critical of historical inaccuracies. Da Chen doesn't seem willing to protray an accurate picture and it become evident from his book why he is unwilling to share the true protrait of conditions in china.Gifted with an unusual ability to understand English, he becomes privileged to study at the prestigious Bejing University. Da Chen works very hard and is noticed as an excellent student by his teachers. Later when Da Chen returns home to see some of the places, he wrote about in some of his college writing compositions, he realizes they seemed much better on paper than in reality. Does Da Chen write the same way in his book? I think Da Chen is very careful in his book not be critical. He makes poverty and hardship seem very bearable and brave in his book. It is very doubtful that the extreme hardship could be endured so pleasantly. Da Chen plays the chinese flute and numerous students, friends, and teachers realize he unique talent. The chinese flute is important because, Da Chen shows through this symbol, he is unwilling to separate from his ancient hertiage and culture. The memior reveres his parents and their values. Da Chen thinks highly of his father and mother. He talks of them with respect and admiration. Both parents introduce the concept of love as a path to marriage rather than tradition. This fustrates the match maker who wants to close a business deal for their daughter. A daughter who cuts hair but can manage twenty customers at a time has become prized by a local jeweler family, who wants the same good fortune from her skills for their family. The parents seem innovative in their ideas, but trapped in their country and culture. Change is slow but glimmers of enlightment are revealed. Both parents are extremely proud of their son and share their pride about their son with the community. Strongly rooted in the religion of Budhism, Da Chen takes us into the mysterious world of his religion. With the chance to study in America, two students will be selected; however, many associates and teachers tell Da Chen, he has no chance because he does not come from a wealthy and prestious family and lacks the political connections. With that they tell him, he should go home an pray to budha for help. Returning home Da Chen's father takes him to the Budhist temple to receive a blessing. The priest attends many of Da Chen's fathers plays, but shocks Da Chen with how femine he appears and talks. The Chinese believe a child name brings fortune or misfortune and the same applies to Da Chen as the Budhist Priest tells him his name indicates he will travel abroad and accumulate great wealth. Is the memior about zen? I would say in many aspects, yes. In many other aspects about faith. Da Chen is a humble and naitive student gifted and introduced to a large network of people with some of them being students and facility. In one portion of the book, a friend Bo is killed because of internal politics. Da Chen knows nothing of the reasons, only that Bo likes western ideas, was having an affair with one of the facility, and was known by the party as the son of a rebel. The memior is the story of coming of age, shocking poverty, ancient chinese marriage traditions, strange food, the hatred of foreigners, the opening of cultural exchange, brutal violations of human rights, and the awareness of the vast opportunities found in America. Da Chen gains the opportunity to study in American. Da Chen is influenced by the American Athletes who play the Chinese national team. Did he really meet Kareem? Wow! This is a chance for Da Chen to see and experience the differences between the two cultures. Because of his American experience receives college employment, at the age of twenty. Politically, Da Chen does not fit in with the Communist Party. As a result he becomes more obscure and distained by the dean an advocate of the party. The dean thinks Da Chen likes the taste of freedom to much. After hours, Da Chen teaches english. One of the students is the daughter of the Chinese Orchestra. A christian missionary couple cross Da Chen path and eventually introduce him to the Christian faith. Bob is a University chairman of music. Da Chen introduces the Bob to the chinese Maistro and the Maistro has the idea to perform a piece created by bob as a first in China. The musical piece is accepted with great enthusiam by the people. Later, Da Chen struggles with idealogy of many Gods and remains content to just have faith. Bob has problems understanding God so how could Da Chen grasp the reality? This was disappointing. The Sounds of the river and the colors of the mountain are replaced with the sounds of freedom.
Rating:
Summary: An extraordinary tale of an extraordinary life.
Review: With 'Sounds of the River', Da Chen continues the extraordinary tale of his extraordinary life. He offers a priviliged peek into the mysteries of a foreign culture and into the soul of a remarkable man. Read this book and rejoice in Da's journey, his courage and his poetic command of his new language. A pitch-perfect follow-up to 'Colors of the Mountain.' Highest recommendation.
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