Phoebe S. (phoebeshen) reviewed River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze (P.S.) on + 26 more book reviews
Thoughtful and interesting book about Hessler's 2 years teaching English in Fuling, China as a Peace Corps volunteer. As one of the first foreigners to live in Fuling, he writes about Chinese culture from an unusual and interesting vantage point.
Loved Hessler's prose, style, and his American perspective on such a different culture. Very enjoyable reading.
Excellent book depicting life on the Yangtze River during the time that the Chinese government was displacing massive numbers of families from its banks in preparation for the opening of the new dam. The political messages given the people as depicted in book seemed very realistic. I have since been to China and things have changed, but at the time this was written, our guides said things were much as described in the book. Many of the cultural references were still very much true and gave insight into the people of rural China.
Barbara P. (gotchagal) -
I really enjoyed this book. I have always admired Hessler's writing and never been disappointed by any of his books, and I've read almost every one.
We have traveled to China twenty (yes, 20) times - so far, and have found the people and culture to be fascinating. We were in China, cruising on the Yangtze river before there was a dam, when they were in the midst of building the dam and yet again when the dam was completed. The Chinese government lied constantly about how many people were going to be displaced because of the dam. Their numbers were off by several millions and one of the saddest things was that they took people who for generations knew nothing about anything but working the land, and who had never even seen a toilet and sent them to little apartments in the city where they were at a total loss.
Peter Hessler has a great appreciation for and understanding of China. As much as we have learned from our travels and from friends we've made there, we have always learned something new from his books. He is hungry to learn about his subjects and is an excellent writer. His students were also eager to learn.
We have traveled to China twenty (yes, 20) times - so far, and have found the people and culture to be fascinating. We were in China, cruising on the Yangtze river before there was a dam, when they were in the midst of building the dam and yet again when the dam was completed. The Chinese government lied constantly about how many people were going to be displaced because of the dam. Their numbers were off by several millions and one of the saddest things was that they took people who for generations knew nothing about anything but working the land, and who had never even seen a toilet and sent them to little apartments in the city where they were at a total loss.
Peter Hessler has a great appreciation for and understanding of China. As much as we have learned from our travels and from friends we've made there, we have always learned something new from his books. He is hungry to learn about his subjects and is an excellent writer. His students were also eager to learn.
Maria C. (teeceeonthebeach) -
This was a rather fascinating read. The author's impressions of the time and place were insightful and humorous. One of those books that pleases with each reread.
Carol F. (cactusflowerwomen) reviewed River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze (P.S.) on + 628 more book reviews
Struggled to read this book and finally just got so bogged down in all the details about the language, history, and how to teach American lit to the students, that I gave up.
