One of the points I really liked was the point of view that the Chinese students had toward Western literature. They have a very different way of interpreting such authors as Shakespeare and Cervantes. Needless to say, they run into political problems as they delve into the themes of Western literature. As an English teacher, this exploration and sense of discovery is what really inspired me in this book. You can tell that Hessler really reached out to these kids and that they will be touched by their experiences in his class.
Another point is that this book presents the good and the bad sides of living in China. Often these kinds of books degenerate into a forum for the author to vent his frustrations, and they become very negative. Or in other cases, the authors become arrogant and show the people in other cultures as dancing bears to be laughed at or to be considered as oddities. However, Hessler is able to keep this book well balanced, and you get a sense that even though there were some bad experiences, he really loved his time in China, and that it was an experience that he would treasure forever. I'm glad that he decided to share his experience with us. Hats off to Peter Hessler.
Hessler brings out a side of China not often seen in the media or in books. He tells his story not in little tidbits but in one continuous flow of information that brings the whole picture to life. I plan to keep this book and read it again and again whenever I find myself missing China, even with all the spitting and annoying cadres.
It is also a great book to read to better understand the Peace Corps experience. It presents a very honest portrayal of what volunteering with the Peace Corps is actually like. I really appreciated Peter's honesty of emotion as he experienced things in Fuling, they helped to make the experience all the more real.
Peter has a wonderful writing ability. The book flows as smoothly as the Yangtze and encompasses rich detail. After reading this book you feel like you were able to accompany an interesting person on his voyage to better understand China. This book is excellent!