Across China

Rating:
Summary: Peter Jenkins can't write to save his life
Review: Being fascinated with the geography and cultures of Asia, I picked up this book, excited to read another travelogue about China. After plodding through about 80 pages, waiting for it to get interesting, I quit reading and decided that this was the only book that I would ever actually throw away. Peter is a horrible author, his writing style is about on the low grade school level and I have no idea how he ever got signed to a book contract.

To anyone considering this book, save your money and go read "Riding the Iron Rooster," by Paul Theroux or any other adventure book that's been written about this part of the world.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Read
Review: This book is written from the viewpoint of an American with little knowledge of China. I think it is an entertaining book about new and unique experiences. It is not intended to be a deep study about China.

I'm just finished the book (it's now 2003). I believe Peter's trip to China took place in 1984. I'm sure things have changed a great deal in the last 19 years!

I would recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: More food please.
Review: This book was pretty good, and it read really fast. I would have liked a little more detail about some of the places. It was very hard to get a feel for the time element in Jenkins' trip. Also, it seemed like a lot of China was left out. I know Jenkins set out to see the "real China," but it seemed as though much of it was unaccounted for. Then again, I guess the book is called "across" and not "all around." I thought that he did a good job conveying the impact of the cultural revolution, but, overall I was left a little cold by the way the whole book seemed to hurry me back to America. Read this to get you acquainted with places and ideas, then read "7 Years in Tibet" and "The Snow Leopard" to really teach you something.