River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze
By Peter Hessler
This descriptive non-fiction book is based on Hessler's experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sichuan.Hessler and his fellow volunteer, Adam, are the only 外国人 (Wàiguó rén--foreigners) in the remote city of Fuling. They attract quite a bit of attention wherever they go, with people often shouting at them. At first, this is overwhelming, but by the end of the book, they have learned how to work the crowds, joking about themselves as "foreign devils." Often, a member of the crowd ends up as a spokesperson, asking questions that the 外国人 answers for the benefit of everyone present.
Hessler is in China for several historic events, including the return of Hong Kong and the death of Deng Xiaoping. He also takes a trip on the Yangtze before the completion of the Three Gorges Dam.
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
By Lisa See
The key to the book: p.355
"What about social issues?" Sean asks me. "Could tea be seen as a symbol of worth: a commodity that represents change in value for women, and for China, on the world stage?"
This was a well-researched book, but it's impossible for it to have a truly authentic indigenous voice. It was a hard transition to read this after a non-fiction memoir with an incredibly strong voice. The narrator often jumps right to the details that will seem the most strange to the reader. The effect is that we have the eyes of an outsider, noticing the aspects of the culture that seem most unusual to us first. For example, on page 4: "I'm just a girl. Unimportant, as I've been told many times." Right away, I can tell that this story will has a feminist bias/agenda, which probably wouldn't be part of an indigenous person's reason for writing. Yes, this was a part of the culture, but show, don't tell!
This tendency was apparent in the plot, as well. This book follows an Akha girl's life as she lives according to the traditional ways, acting as her mother's apprentice to learn to be a midwife. She begins to reject the traditions when her best friend's sister, Deh-ja, has twins. Since only animals have multiple offspring, the twins are "human rejects" that must be killed. Twin infanticide is a serious issue and should be addressed; however, as Sean eventually points out on the airplane, this is the first fact many people learn about a culture which traditionally practiced infanticide. It is a focus of the first part of the plot, while I doubt it would be the focus of an indigenous person telling memories of their childhood. The narrator mentions this twin birth is rare, the first time anyone remembers it has happened in their village. This book begins with the words, "No coincidence, no story," but this is so coincidental that it's cliche. It also doesn't help the voice that we meet the narrator as she rejects the traditions.
While reading, I could accept the narrator's attendance at a trade school, and even her work at a hotel, but acceptance into an exclusive college tea program in which 2,000 people applied and only 120 are accepted? And then successfully starting her own business? As an ethnic minority, this is a stunning example of overcoming discrimination. Then she marries a wealthy man...This book eventually explains the narrator's opportunities as the result of the intervention of a successful businessman, Mr. Huang, whom she met in her village. He helps her because her A-ma (mother) saved his son's life when he was dying of cancer. I'm glad they eventually attributed part of her success to guanxi, connections, but it's a big coincidence...
The life of Li-yan's daughter, Haley, is traced through documents like school assignments, inserted into Li-yan's story. Her experiences, especially the transcript of a conversation she and other adopted Chinese girls have with a psychologist, has a strong and believable voice.
I've been negative about this book, but it's mostly because I wanted to put my finger on why it didn't seem authentic. This book may not be a classic, but it does not lack substance and is by no means low-quality. The author's purpose goes beyond simple entertainment. As the opening quote of this post demonstrates, there is depth and unity. As a work of fiction, I think this book does an excellent job of sharing the Akha culture with compassion and understanding, something that textbooks and informational summaries struggle to do. I learned a lot, and I wish I could make this book available to students in a future classroom. Unfortunately, one of the scenes with her first husband is not appropriate for children.
This was a well-researched book, but it's impossible for it to have a truly authentic indigenous voice. It was a hard transition to read this after a non-fiction memoir with an incredibly strong voice. The narrator often jumps right to the details that will seem the most strange to the reader. The effect is that we have the eyes of an outsider, noticing the aspects of the culture that seem most unusual to us first. For example, on page 4: "I'm just a girl. Unimportant, as I've been told many times." Right away, I can tell that this story will has a feminist bias/agenda, which probably wouldn't be part of an indigenous person's reason for writing. Yes, this was a part of the culture, but show, don't tell!
This tendency was apparent in the plot, as well. This book follows an Akha girl's life as she lives according to the traditional ways, acting as her mother's apprentice to learn to be a midwife. She begins to reject the traditions when her best friend's sister, Deh-ja, has twins. Since only animals have multiple offspring, the twins are "human rejects" that must be killed. Twin infanticide is a serious issue and should be addressed; however, as Sean eventually points out on the airplane, this is the first fact many people learn about a culture which traditionally practiced infanticide. It is a focus of the first part of the plot, while I doubt it would be the focus of an indigenous person telling memories of their childhood. The narrator mentions this twin birth is rare, the first time anyone remembers it has happened in their village. This book begins with the words, "No coincidence, no story," but this is so coincidental that it's cliche. It also doesn't help the voice that we meet the narrator as she rejects the traditions.
While reading, I could accept the narrator's attendance at a trade school, and even her work at a hotel, but acceptance into an exclusive college tea program in which 2,000 people applied and only 120 are accepted? And then successfully starting her own business? As an ethnic minority, this is a stunning example of overcoming discrimination. Then she marries a wealthy man...This book eventually explains the narrator's opportunities as the result of the intervention of a successful businessman, Mr. Huang, whom she met in her village. He helps her because her A-ma (mother) saved his son's life when he was dying of cancer. I'm glad they eventually attributed part of her success to guanxi, connections, but it's a big coincidence...
The life of Li-yan's daughter, Haley, is traced through documents like school assignments, inserted into Li-yan's story. Her experiences, especially the transcript of a conversation she and other adopted Chinese girls have with a psychologist, has a strong and believable voice.
I've been negative about this book, but it's mostly because I wanted to put my finger on why it didn't seem authentic. This book may not be a classic, but it does not lack substance and is by no means low-quality. The author's purpose goes beyond simple entertainment. As the opening quote of this post demonstrates, there is depth and unity. As a work of fiction, I think this book does an excellent job of sharing the Akha culture with compassion and understanding, something that textbooks and informational summaries struggle to do. I learned a lot, and I wish I could make this book available to students in a future classroom. Unfortunately, one of the scenes with her first husband is not appropriate for children.
