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| River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze (P.S.) | 
 enlarge | Author: Peter Hessler
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy Used: $5.38
You Save: $9.57 (64%)
New (45) Used (35) from $5.38
Avg. Customer Rating:  165 reviews
Sales Rank: 10113
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 432
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.4 x 1.2
ISBN: 0060855029
Dewey Decimal Number: 910
EAN: 9780060855024
ASIN: 0060855029
Publication Date: May 1, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Acceptable: may have one or all of the following; light corner bends, scuff marks, edge chipping, may have name written on inside title page and or, missing DJ, some light damage to binding, writing or highlighting on pages, possible light water stains. 100% of your purchase supports Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
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| Customer Reviews:
 A fast and engaging read June 23, 2008
Hessler writes candidly about his experiences in China as if he were writing to a friend back home. His accounts of conversations between himself and the locals are priceless, both funny and sad. This book really brings to light the hardships of Chinese farmers and their children, who seek to escape their rural lives by getting an education and joining the Communist Party.
Hessler's self-deprecating tone and funny anecdotes about his cultural mishaps make this book entertaining and touching. I strongly recommend it for anyone who wants to visit China or is interested in learning more about what makes this complex society tick.
 Easy, Interesting Read June 10, 2008
Interesting peek into Chinese life. Four stars because I left wishing for something a bit deeper. Highly recommended.
Simply delicious May 21, 2008
Hessler's writing is a joy to read. His dry wit reminded me, somehow, of Joseph Heller's Catch-22. Except that Hessler's irony is friendly and warm whereas Heller's brilliance was cynical and ruthless.
Hessler does an excellent job of providing details to a story that get you to feel what he was feeling, rather than trying to tell you how he was feeling. And his stories about having the same conversations over and over reminded me of my own travels abroad, and the split personality that one does develop as a not unpleasant coping mechanism.
In addition to superb, reflective writing, Hessler conveys the peculiarities of Sichuan life with an affectionate tone. I look forward to reading his "Oracle Bones".
The next Peter Mathiessen May 16, 2008
If you're a fan of visual travel writing, in the style of Peter Mathiessen (The Snow Leopard), you'll probably enjoy this book very much, although the ground it covers is semi-urban China, rather than the wilds of Nepal. Hessler has an exceptional eye for detail and a strong ability to bring the reader into the sensory experience of China.
One of my favorites April 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Others have already provided in-depth reasons as to why they rated this book five stars, but these are mine:
1. Hessler's work reads like a suspenseful novel; I couldn't put it down for several days and learned a good deal.
2. Hessler never comes off as remotely condescending toward the people of Fuling, which is unfortunately more than I can say about most authors of travelogues.
3. Hessler includes excerpts from his students' essays, letters, and newspapers that communicate more about Chinese culture than could any formal history book.
I am currently reading another of Hessler's books, Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China's Past and Present and recommend it to anyone who enjoys River Town or any historic nonfiction.
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