Title: A SWEET READ
Review: As another former Peace Corps Volunteer who was able to almost become fluent in a foreign language while serving, I am aware of Mr. Hessler's sacrifice. One must be truly obsessed to do this. The result for us readers is a very detailed look at a remote part of China during a time of incredible change. Forty years ago, large newspapers and magazines had journalists stationed overseas to report on stories. Generally, they stayed in a city for some time and the result was often an interesting and detailed description of some far-off place. Mr. Hessler's book is unusual since it reads like such a piece of journalism, rather than a Peace Corps memoir. Usually Peace Corps memoirs are introspective and lack much in-depth history or politics. Hessler turned his eyes outward instead of inward. This is a wonderful book.
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