What a fantastic book. This, for me, was one of those rare books that you can’t put down but don’t want to end. Having just finnished it this morning I am already at a loss. I have read many books on China and this ranks among the best for me.
This is the story of Peter Hessler, an American student, who takes up an English teaching post in a remote town called Fuling where the River Wu meets the Yangtze. Fuling becomes his home for the next two years and here we are treated to a feast of Chinese life in a town where they are very unused to “waiguoren” (foreigners). We go through the many highs and lows with him and we meet a collection of fantastic characters along the way. To view this town and its people through waiguoren eyes is fascinating and a real eye opener.
Having been to China only once on holiday (to satisfy my enthusiasm) I am left feeling that spending all my time in Beijing and Shanaghai is abit of a cop out and I am now left with a real urge to travel deeper into this wonderful country and expore some more. This book has certainly given me a taste for that.
I highly recommend this book. I found it a real page turner.
I also can’t wait to read Oracle Bones which has been on my shelf for far too long now:
Many thanks, also, to Cannon Gate for sending me a copy of Hessler’s new book Country Driving due to be released in March 2010. I can’t wait to read it!
There is apparently a lot for me to discover outside of my books. Thanks for the fantastic read,