River town : two years on the yangtze - paperback: 9780060855024

from mattviews

In his concluding remarks of River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze, Peter Hessler points us to the nub of his experience in China: "I had never had any idealistic illusions about my Peace Corps 'service' in China; I wasn't there to save anybody or leave an indelible mark on the town. If anything, ...

from Rascalstar

Here's a smattering of what I enjoyed about this book: I learned a great deal about China and the people outside of the big cities; it was peppered with humor, occasionally laugh out loud type; the author has great heart and insight, and is highly observant; it's about real people; the writing is...

from zoe.r2005

River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze by Peter Hessler is a terrific non-fiction book. The author tells his two years of successful teaching experience in a small town. His knowledge of modern Chinese history including the local history of Sichuan Province is amazing. It's incredible that Hessler ...

from tungsten_peerts

I really liked Hessler's Oracle Bones, but think this is a better book: more focused, richer, more personal. It all rings so true that it hurts. Even if he doesn't like cats (boo, Mr. Hessler!), he seems to have deserved his MacArthur Fellowship. Excellent on every level. If you have any interest...

from Sarah_Beaudette

An entertaining, enjoyable book that you don't regret reading is not always the same as a really well-written book that you cherish. I'm an admitted style snob, and parts of this book read like poetry. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in China, or travel in general.