Customer Reviews

A Single Pebble

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although published almost 50 years ago, this book deserves another look using a modern, critical lens. Overshadowed by Hersey's other works, specifically Hiroshima and A Bell for Adano, A Single Pebble offers a great deal to the reader. The book is far more than a fictionalized travelogue of a trip up the Yangtse River. It is a work that documents exposure to the acts and ideas of another culture by an American used to thinking of himself as representative of all that is modern and educated, and therefore all that is to be considered as desireable or superior. As a reader, I came away from the book with the idea that all that I think glitters may not be gold. It should be noted, however, that this is not an American-bashing book; both sides--the narrator and the Chinese people he meets--are guilty of a type of national myopia when viewing the "Other" in their midst. Those interested in Postcolonial and Cultural studies will find plenty to occupy them, whichever side of the debate they fall on.

This is a great short novel. A young engineer, he's never named, goes to China to plan a dam. Culture shock sets in. What do these Chinese need with a dam? The main Chinese character is the man who walks the towpath ashore, taking the little boat upriver. Conventions and mores and customs interfere. Even the flipping of your hand can get you into trouble. Beautifully written; Hersey loved each sentence. The towpath man, his feet knowing every inch of miles of towpath, is unforgettable.

When I recieved the list of the six books that we had to read for freshmanyear in high school I was devistated. "There goes my summer." But, fortuantley, the first book I picked up was John Hershey's "A Single Pebble." I was drawn in when I read about the American engineer who would travel through China to look for spots to build dams. Then I was touched when I met the cast of characters aboard his junk boat. The owner's wife treated the American engineer with much love, when no one else really did. This eased his homesickness. The others, such as Big Pebble, and the owner, Old Big, were mysterious characters. This book, lathough I had been to China before, helped me understand Chinese culture better. I thought that they would be open to something as useful as a dam, espically after you read all the hard times they have to go through to get through a single river and how long it takes. But I was suprised.

I was required to read the book "A Single Pebble," for summer reading. I thought it would be terrible, but I loved it. The book is a symbolic novel, about a boy that goes to china looking for a place to build a dam. He went there thinking he would be superior to all the others on the boat, but shortly realized he was looked down upon. The engineer experiences a culture shock, and is upset to find out the trackers, owner, and old pebble are upset that he wants to build a dam, even if it will help them. He later decides whether to blame himself for the death of a crew member- believing he killed himself as fear for change in the ways of the river. As he rides the junk, he learns of chinese tradition, fear, and superstitions, and faces the mighty power of the great Yangzee River

Set against the backdrop of the mighty Yangtze river, A Single Pebble protrays the culture shock experience by an American engineer. The book has great meaning today considering China's dubious efforts in building the Three Gorges dam on the Yangtze which will displace millions, destroy habitat, and perhaps in the end be reclaimed by the wrath of the mighty river itself.

I had read John Hershery's "A Bell for Adano" and enjoyed the subtle nature of his writing so decided to read another of his works. As a student of civil engineering, I found "A Single Pebble" far from boring. When you read it, let yourself become omnipresent within it.

Many of Hersey's other books are moving, memorable stories. A Bell for Adano and Hiroshima are among Hersey's best, and these books should be read by any well-rounded individual. A Single Pebble, however, is more forgetable. Hersey does do a good job presenting the clash between traditional Chinese culture and modern Western culture in the early twentieth century. However, the clash between the main character, an engineer representing Western culture, and another leading character, a boatsman representing traditional Chinese culture, is so artificially strong that the reader can sympathize with neither character or position. The book anticlimaxes and concludes with some overly abstract thoughts on the future of China. Ultimately, it is not a book of the same quality as many of Hersey's other works, nor is it a story of the same quality as other stories (in multiple media) that probe the differences between East Asian and Eurpoean culture.

I became an engineer, also.

The ASE and IEEE magazines printed lists of books favored by other engineers--some of my heroes, in fact. The book is written simply, probably appropriate for a junior high school literature class. An adult should devour the book over a short business flight.

Other reviewers, as well as the synopsis here, have explained the story. But I haven't read any that explain how this book relates to engineering. The protagonist is an Engineer, and is culturally distinct from his hosts despite his knowledge of many customs, cuisine, and the language. However, he adversely affects the chi of the boat, subtly disturbing everyone on board.

Further, he is also at odds with thier purpose. He brashly announces his intent to dam the river, intending to simplify and protect their lives with his technology, when he's actually threatening their comfort.

The story is something that all engineers should read--particularly young students--such that they might begin to understand one way that the process of engineering might take shape.

Hershey has written a small, but very powerful book. It is full of whimsey and cultural contrasts. It entertains such questions as what is true progress. Indeed, it is a great book for group discussions.

My cardiologist recommended this book and said that it was his favorite. I enjoyed it and hated to see it end.