recommended by AP Comp teachers

An excellent followup to River Town. I learned a great deal. What stuck with me the most was Hessler's friend Pollat (I am unsure of the spelling as it was an audio book). I had no idea Uighurs existed until I read this book, nor was I aware of their plight. It's some eye opening stuff. As well, the jiadu (sp?) culture with the money lending and such.

I learned about starch and its different uses.

REVIEW IS WIP ( )

Totally one of the best writers about China I've read. ( )

This was an excellent narrative of Peter Hessler's time in China as a correspondent for various American newspapers and magazines. I thought overall it was a worthwhile read and a great audiobook for work. There wasn't anything groundbreaking in the format, but the personal stories (there a three or four "main" Chinese storylines) were interesting and well-framed. Would recommend to anyone interested in China or human-interest stories from China. ( )

Enlightening despite being not as cohesive as it could've been. The separate stories Hessler tells are keenly observed and intelligently told, but he's not entirely successful at fitting them into one overarching narrative. (Some of the sections, most notably the one about the factory employees, might've been better suited for his subsequent book, "Country Driving".) I still give this one four stars because of how well Hessler does at capturing a country in transition and the individuals trying to make their way through that process. ( )