mariocomputer's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as his previous books, but there are still some really good pieces in it. If you're already a Peter Hessler fan, you'll like it. Otherwise, read his other books first.
davybaby's review against another edition
4.0
I had the good fortune of reading Hessler's River Town during a trip to China in college, and it's colored my hunting down his work since then.
Strange Stones is a collection of essays from Hessler's years of travel- some about China, some about his experiences after returning to the United States. In both cases, he writes with a clear affection for the places, a respect for the people, and yet an honest presentation of the absurdity of both. The characters are larger than life in some cases, but also full and real.
Reading the essays about various places and people in the same collection brings them together in a wonderful way. We're not so different, we earthlings. Worthy of respect, but a bit bonkers in many cases.
Strange Stones is a collection of essays from Hessler's years of travel- some about China, some about his experiences after returning to the United States. In both cases, he writes with a clear affection for the places, a respect for the people, and yet an honest presentation of the absurdity of both. The characters are larger than life in some cases, but also full and real.
Reading the essays about various places and people in the same collection brings them together in a wonderful way. We're not so different, we earthlings. Worthy of respect, but a bit bonkers in many cases.
towardinfinitybooks's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. This was excellent and I highly recommend it. Honestly, Hessler has to be one of the best narrative nonfiction writers I've ever read. He is a great storyteller, and he conveys his observations about both larger-than-life personalities and ordinary individuals in a thoughtful and intelligent manner.
My favorite pieces are:
"Walking the Wall" - about the Great Wall of China, yes, but also its mythology and the wall enthusiasts, in particular, David Spindler
"The Dirty Game" - about the U.S. Peace Corps and one of its most die-hard fundraisers, Rajeev Goyal
"Boomtown Girl" - about one of Hessler's former English students, who finds work and builds her life in Shenzhen, a special economic zone in China
"All Due Respect" - about Japanese organized crime and the yakuza
"Quartet" - about driving and driving schools in China
"Home and Away" - about Yao Ming and Chinese athletes
"Go West" - Hessler and his wife move from China to small-town Colorado
My favorite pieces are:
"Walking the Wall" - about the Great Wall of China, yes, but also its mythology and the wall enthusiasts, in particular, David Spindler
"The Dirty Game" - about the U.S. Peace Corps and one of its most die-hard fundraisers, Rajeev Goyal
"Boomtown Girl" - about one of Hessler's former English students, who finds work and builds her life in Shenzhen, a special economic zone in China
"All Due Respect" - about Japanese organized crime and the yakuza
"Quartet" - about driving and driving schools in China
"Home and Away" - about Yao Ming and Chinese athletes
"Go West" - Hessler and his wife move from China to small-town Colorado
adunten's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting and engaging little book of essays that's primarily about an American immigrant's life in China. Hessler spent ten years living in China, and covers life as a Peace Corps volunteer, what it's like to live in a small alley in old town Beijing, Chinese driving habits, the impact of more liberal economic policies on the common people, what having the Beijing Olympics was like for ordinary Chinese in the area... and also throws in a few essays about his other life in rural southwestern Colorado after returning to the USA.
Every essay is interesting, and one or two are uproariously funny, but because it doesn't have a single strong narrative thread, reading it straight through like I did may not be the best approach. Try reading a single chapter at a time, and prepare for a total change of topic and supporting characters at each new chapter.
Every essay is interesting, and one or two are uproariously funny, but because it doesn't have a single strong narrative thread, reading it straight through like I did may not be the best approach. Try reading a single chapter at a time, and prepare for a total change of topic and supporting characters at each new chapter.
liam_2023's review against another edition
3.0
3 and 1/2 stars
Hessler's writing is great, and I found many of the essays very interesting and well done, but they were a bit hit and miss. Also, even though the only other book I've read from Hessler was River Town, there were some repetitive elements from it. Also, the essays didn't have any cohesive theme and were sometimes jarringly different. I say all of this, but really it was very enjoyable and I am looking forward to reading more from the author.
Hessler's writing is great, and I found many of the essays very interesting and well done, but they were a bit hit and miss. Also, even though the only other book I've read from Hessler was River Town, there were some repetitive elements from it. Also, the essays didn't have any cohesive theme and were sometimes jarringly different. I say all of this, but really it was very enjoyable and I am looking forward to reading more from the author.
madameroyale's review against another edition
5.0
What a wonderful collection! I didn’t love every story, but I still couldn’t resist giving it five stars, because Hessler’s writing is the sort that you mark up as a reference for how to be better. My favorites were “Boomtown Girl”, “The Uranium Widows”, “Quartet”, “Go West”, and “Dr. Don”. As someone who just read Toyko Vice, I really enjoyed seeing the alternative perspective on Jake Adelstein and his work in “All Due Respect” as well. “Go West” and “Dr. Don” will probably stick with me the most; I particularly liked the introspection of “Go West”. I can’t wait to order Hessler's other books.
_zora_'s review against another edition
5.0
Nice to read a bunch of Hessler's stories all together--a few of these I had caught in the New Yorker before, but most of them I'd missed. He has such a warm, fond way of writing about China, and I also enjoyed the pieces about Colorado, which made a good juxtaposition.
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