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Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
Author: Dai Sijie, Ina Rilke (Translator)
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress is an enchanting tale that captures the magic of reading and the wonder of romantic awakening. An immediate international bestseller, it tells the story of two hapless city boys exiled to a remote mountain village for re-education during China's infamous Cultural Revolution. There the two fri...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780385722209
ISBN-10: 0385722206
Publication Date: 10/29/2002
Pages: 192
Rating:
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 694

3.7 stars, based on 694 ratings
Publisher: Anchor
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Leigh avatar reviewed Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress on + 378 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 14
Quick read. Charming coming-of-age type story of a teenaged boy during the Maoist re-education of China. Literature lovers will especially appreciate this one.
Donura avatar reviewed Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 11
I loved the style of writing of this book. It reminded me of Pearl S. Buck. A wonderful story of two young men sent to the countryside during the re-education of upper class during the Communist Revolution of Mao. But the story is really the story of fine literature and the effect that it has on everyone regardless of their party affiliation. It also tells the story of youth coming of age in very trying times. A very quick read.
Claudielou avatar reviewed Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress on + 77 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 11
I loved this book! It's a beautiful little gem of a book! It's like a fairy-tale, set in the mountains of China during an unlikely period for a fairy-tale; the "re-education" reign of Chairman Mao. I highly recommend it, and I'm not relisting it, because I want my husband to read it, my son to read it.... It's one of those books that you read and want everyone you love to read it, too.
Claudielou
reviewed Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress on + 92 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
A heartwarming story about two Chinese youths sent to the mountains for "re-education" during Mao's Cultural Revolution. Humorous, sad, and ironic, it's a lovely read.
reviewed Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
I picked this book up on a whim at the buy 3 for the price of 2 table at a book store. The boys in the book struggle with their past "rich" life with their parents to learning how to live on the mountain side. While trying to survive, through hard labor, they entertain the villagers with their stories from movies they've seen. As they live in the village, one of the boys meets a girl who he wishes he can love through the stories he knows in his movies and books he's read. Its a quick read that I enjoyed.
Read All 113 Book Reviews of "Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress"

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reviewed Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress on + 18 more book reviews
This funny and engaging story is about two teenage boys from wealthy families in China who are exiled during China's Cultural Revolution to be "re-educated" in a distant mountain village. They long for books to read (strictly forbidden by the Chinese police!) instead of planting rice, mining coal, and hauling buckets of feces to the fields for fertilizer. Then, an opportunity comes along for their book-dream to come true; plus, they meet a charming little seamstress!
reviewed Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress on + 101 more book reviews
This book was simple, but bery good. The story kept you interested. I loved imagining the villages, and the boys trying to figure out what to do, and of course "Young love". It is also nice to realize the importance literature can have on life.
reviewed Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress on
An interesting view into the lives of people at that time in history
reviewed Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress on + 112 more book reviews
Excellent!

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