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Summary: A Brilliant Effort--Hessler's River Town Lives On
Review: A good friend of mine loaned me a copy of Hessler's River Town during the summer of 2001--just a couple of months before I hopped on a plane to move to China. It's hard to imagine how a book can so significantly affect one's experience in a new land, but this one certainly has.I've read the book several times now in the two and a half years I've been living in China, though the experience is different with each reading as I come to know China better. Hessler's work serves as a perfect introduction to the "fishbowl" conditions of a Westerner living in or visiting China's interior. The beauty of his work lies in the fact that it is the result of three distinct gifts that Hessler possesses: his skills as a researcher, his ability to connect with people he meets in meaningful ways, and his skill as a writer. I have been fortunate enough to visit Fuling and meet some of the people whose lives were touched by Hessler during his time there: the restaurant owners, the college officials, the priest. In every case, the mention of his name brings about genuine smiles and stories of the ways in which he connected with Fuling's residents during his time there several years ago. After you enjoy the book, you will be glad to know that Hessler continues to live in and write about China, with articles appearing from time to time in National Geographic and the New Yorker. There are follow-up pieces about return trips to Fuling available online as well. If you are planning a move to China, to visit, or you simply want to learn more about a small, complex corner of our world, Hessler's River Town will not disappoint.
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Summary: This IS China
Review: I've lived in China for over four years, and in that time I've read many books that westerners have written about this place. It is an incredibly difficult subject, and one that I've declared impossible because I don't speak Chinese. This is by far the most accurate, the most real, the one that really stirs me to say "Yes that's right." But that is not the real reason that this book stands out in my mind. It stands out in my mind because Mr. Hessler is an author. He was an author before he came to China, and he'll die an author. The man can write. To experience something truly worth writing about is only half the job. The other half is to describe it so well that anyone and everyone can "experience" it as well. In that, Hessler excels. I apologize for the hyperbole, but if you only buy one book about China, it really should be this one. I read it three years ago, and I still have my copy. If you could see my book shelf, you'd realize how unusual that is.
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Summary: peace corps in China, on the River Town Fuling
Review: I would imagine this novel to be a "must read" for any Peace
Corps volunteer. While it may be more pertinent for a volunteer going to the East, it certainly offers general practices that would be helpful for any corpsman in route to any country. In 1996, Peter Hessler and fellow teacher and volunteer Adam Meier began their two year teaching assignment in Fuling, China. Fuling is part of the Sichuan province and is located on the Yangtze River. Both volunteers assume positions at the local college known for it's literature studies. The town is quite secluded as far as visitors go, and Peter, with his very tall, thin, lumbering stature, and Adam with his solid structure create a mini-pandemonium wherever they go. Peter documents his visit in a humorous and respectful tone. Noting the differences between western and eastern lifestyles and values, he offers events in which he is compromised and events in which he excels. Relishing his victory of a track and field event, he quickly discovers it is best to be humble and backs off all future racing challenges. Teaching in a communist school presents interesting challenges as well as the expected difficulties of learning the language (very complicated) and learning how to communicate simply to accomplish the most basic of housekeeping functions. The students are ripe with in bred political jargon, and Peter must walk a tight line when topics are reviewed that may compromise the Chinese belief system. It is not an infrequent occurance that Peter and Adam are warned that their classes and lectures have exceeded the tolerance of the cadres. In these accounts, it is the responses of the students that delights the reader and teacher alike. It is in the description of the students and how they cope with their responsibilities that is so tender. Many have very difficult family problems and many are subject to extreme stress to excel. These expectations lead to devastating results for those few and a glimpse into the world of Chinese expectations. There are serious ramifications for those students who transgress, especially for premarital sex. If caught, this violation follows them for their entire employment lifetime not to mention the ostracism that takes place within the family. Peter takes on the town of Fuling on the Yangtze with passion. He quickly sets up a rigorous schedule to learn the language. He also ventures out of the safe confines of the college campus into the city of Yuling. He draws a crowd everywhere he goes, people stare, some yell disparaging comments and on many early occasions he experienced very negative receptions. Persistence on Peter's behalf prevailed, however, and in time he and Adam both began to make friends outside of the campus which enriched their lives and exposed them to the true Chinese lifestyle. There are many aspects of this book that was enjoyable. Peter gave lovely accounts of his ventures off into the countryside where he hiked for days and met many lovely folk that opened up their homes and life experiences to him. Descriptions of his travels were especially interesting. As Americans, we are usually bathed in travel comfort, but in China it is not so. Peter effectively describes boat transportation along with a pack of rats and rail travel that would render one a cripple. Do not miss his description of taxi travel in town....you will NEVER complain about New York taxi drivers again! Archaeological facts were interjected which definitely enhanced the reading experience and I especially appreciated the historical background that was also introduced appropriately throughout the book. Peter also shared his friendships that he made in Fuling. It was very interesting to follow these people in the course of several years. Peter was able to learn initimate details about how the Chinese handle personal relationships and how their country's birth control laws influence them. Peter very respectfully revealed these friendships and for the reader it was a very nice effect. All these experiences fully complimented Peter's assignment in Fuling, China and I am not surprised to see he is living in Beijing, China and acting as a regular contributor to _The New Yorker_.
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Summary: Fuling in 3 D.
Review: Peter Hessler brought each character in his book alive beaming with colour and expression. An honest perspective of his stay in Fuling. Reading this book is like having these characters inter mingling in your mind like a 3D movie. I could hear the stick stick soldiers, the honking, the sound of the river. Peter has somehow immersed with his chinese "self". He will lived with 2 switches now, the American switch and the Chinese one.
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Summary: I couldn't put it down
Review: River Town covers the two years Peace Corps volunteer Peter Hessler spent in the remote mountains of China. His time was spent teaching English literature at a teachers' college in Fuling city in the province of Sichuan. The notable thing about this experience was that he was one of the first foreigners allowed in to that city since the communist revolution. It's very interesting to see how the Chinese react to him. One of the points I really liked was the point of view that the Chinese students had toward Western literature. They have a very different way of interpreting such authors as Shakespeare and Cervantes. Needless to say, they run into political problems as they delve into the themes of Western literature. As an English teacher, this exploration and sense of discovery is what really inspired me in this book. You can tell that Hessler really reached out to these kids and that they will be touched by their experiences in his class. Another point is that this book presents the good and the bad sides of living in China. Often these kinds of books degenerate into a forum for the author to vent his frustrations, and they become very negative. Or in other cases, the authors become arrogant and show the people in other cultures as dancing bears to be laughed at or to be considered as oddities. However, Hessler is able to keep this book well balanced, and you get a sense that even though there were some bad experiences, he really loved his time in China, and that it was an experience that he would treasure forever. I'm glad that he decided to share his experience with us. Hats off to Peter Hessler.
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Summary: Loved it!
Review: Fascinating! I have to agree with all the positive comments about this book. I gave it to my 76 year old mother and she loved it too.
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Summary: I didn't want it to end...
Review: Peter Hessler has written a totally engrossing account of the two years he spent in Fuling, China teaching English at a local teacher's college. Most books of this type tend to focus on the larger cities ,such as Beijing or Shanghai. It was truly an eye opener to see what life is like in a "small" town (pop. 200,000+)like Fuling. The best part of this book is how Hessler grew to love and appreciate Fuling despite its shortcomings. He actually makes me want to visit this intriguing town despite its remoteness. An excellent book.Highly recommended
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Summary: China In All Her Splendor and Squalor
Review: Hessler writes a haunting and beautiful account of two years living on the Yangtze river. I myself have spent time teaching in China and I read this book shortly before going over there from America. I found it to not only be enjoyable and richly detailed, but also accurate. It helped prepare me not only for the living conditions but also the mindset of my students and system I would be expected to work under. Hessler brings out a side of China not often seen in the media or in books. He tells his story not in little tidbits but in one continuous flow of information that brings the whole picture to life. I plan to keep this book and read it again and again whenever I find myself missing China, even with all the spitting and annoying cadres.
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Summary: loved the book
Review: Amazing book. Wonderful descriptions. His experiences remind me of the days when I was in China.
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Summary: A sweet and sour book...
Review: Peter Hessler joined the Peace Corps and taught English and American literature at the local college at Fuling, a city at the point where the Yangtze River and the Wu River meet. His stories are a mixture of history, first-hand accounts of Chinese society and his own growth during the two years he was there.
His book is honest and very forward. His focus on one part of China, one city, allows him to get into great detail about city life, interaction with the city-folk and many of the problems he had. This is not a happy, happy, joy, joy book. He had many problems besides the happy times, the problems caused by his own temper and sometimes caused by his lack of understanding. A couple of times he even lies to the Chinese to get AROUND problems, something that could of easily back-fired and made things worse.
Also, I feel, he was sometimes TOO passive when dealing with the Chinese, but this was very likely caused by the fact that he was not a master of the language. A reader can tell when trouble is about to begin before it happens, which just goes to show how well Peter Hessler can write.
One sad note. The cover of the book shows, what I assume, is the docks/waterfront of old Fuling. If so, by now they are under water, as the first stage of the dam is complete.
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