Sounds of the River: A Young Man's University Days in Beijing [Paperback]

Da Chen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 4, 2003

In this "equally beguiling sequel to his acclaimed memoir, Colors of the Mountain" (Kirkus Reviews), teenager Da Chen takes his first train ride away from the farm he was raised on to his new university life in Beijing. He soon faces a host of ghastly challenges, including poor living conditions, lack of food, and suicidal roommates. Undaunted by these hurdles, and armed with a dogged determination to learn English and "all things Western," he competes to win a chance to study in America -- a chance that rests in the shrewd and corrupt hands of the almighty professors.

Poetic, hilarious, and heartbreaking, Sounds of the River is a gloriously written coming-of-age saga that chronicles a remarkable journey -- a travelogue of the heart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Da...is certainly likable. And his transformation from country boy to big city college professor moves briskly and entertainingly along. (San Francisco Chronicle Book Review )

Readers will already be looking forward to the next installment. (Kirkus (Starred Review) )

“A story about suppression, humiliation, vindication and, ultimately, triumph.” (New York Times Book Review )

About the Author

Da Chen is the author of Colors of the Mountain, a New York Times bestseller; Sounds of the River: A Young Man's University Days in Beijing; Brother; and two books for children, Wandering Warrior and China's Son: Growing Up in the Cultural Revolution. He grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution and now lives in New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (February 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060958723
• ISBN-13: 978-0060958725
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,061,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written!, April 13, 2004

By 

Janice (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sounds of the River: A Young Man's University Days in Beijing (Paperback)

Da Chen's "Sounds of the River" is a sequel to his first autobiography "Colors of the Mountain," which deals with his university days studying English at Beijing. "Sounds of the River" picked up where "Colors" ended. Chen wrote about the difficulties that he faced as a country boy travelling to a big city like Beijing and how he had trouble adjusted to living among the city folks. Once in Beijing, Chen realized that he needed to start from zero as he had difficulties comprehending and speaking English. Since he did not come from either a political background or a city, he was constantly looked down by some of his teachers and fellow classmates. However, Chen managed to survive as he studied hard and was determined to succeed. Later, Chen realized that he wanted to leave Red China and pursued his "American dream." (Not going to give it away here on how he had finally left China)

I really enjoy his second book. I was very mesmerized by "Colors of the Mountain" and wanted to know what happened next. I enjoy his quirky observations of life on campus and the people that he encountered such as - the department's dean who needed to be bribed with oysters and lycees, his roommate Bo who was into high fashion, as I find them colorful and interesting. "Sounds of the River" is well-written as Chen is able to express his thoughts vividly to his readers. There are many funny moments and there are times that you can't help but relate to his ordeals. Some readers might also appreciate his poetic expressions. I think readers who are interested in this book should definitely start with his first, as it is crucial to know his family background, and experience to fully appreciate "Sounds of the River."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars And you think you have it rough...., September 2, 2007

By 

Vermeer fan (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sounds of the River: A Young Man's University Days in Beijing (Paperback)

Da Chen describes in aching detail his uphill battle to get his foot in the door of Chinese higher education with it's exposure to greater intellectual challenges and the potential for higher rewards. This book takes up from the point of his childhood described in "The Sounds of the River" in a flyspeck provincial village to the big city life of the capital Beijing. The persecutions visited on Da and his family due to their former lives as "landlords" continue with beatings, insults and threats of death or expulsion from school. Navigating the corrupt eductional system, living on pocket change, driving yourself into sleeplessness and bleeding ulcers, figuring out who and how to bribe in order to make it from day to day under Communist rule are explained and illustrated. Mr. Chen made an appearance at the Decatur Book Festival yesterday and my reading of his books was prompted by the opportunity to meet this extraordinary individual. His fluency with a brush and flute-explained in "Colors of the Mountain"-was evident. Do yourself a favor and delve into his books and into another world.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating College Years Memoir, June 7, 2007

By 

A. Silverstone (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sounds of the River: A Young Man's University Days in Beijing (Paperback)

Da Chen writes about his college years at the Beijing Language Institute. Although the story of the naive countryside dweller moving to the big city is an old one, but Da Chen makes this story fresh and entertaining. However, Beijing at this time was still quite backwards compared to Western cities or even Beijing of today, yet the gap with rural life at that time was already enormous. The hurdles of getting used to all the novelties of college life, dealing with the arcane and corrupt communist rules, and the drive to earn a scholarship to go to the United States all make for an engaging story.