Status Updates From Sounds of the River: A Youn...

The book is beginning to become much more interesting for me. Da Chen has made extreme progress throughout the book. Right now in the book Da Chen seems more comfortable, Also I am glad that he switched into a better dorm with better conditions. This made the book less depressing. Right now a favorite character of mine is Bo. Bo is a savage and is always breaking the rules, he has enhanced the excitement in the book.

This is similar to "The Reluctant Fundamentalist". In that, the world changing affected, directly or indirectly the protagonists life.

After reading the book, and doing some research. I found out the China's economic, and trade relationship with America started to improve in 1980. This is interesting because the book is based in the 1980's. May I remind you of Chen's goals of learning english, and going to school in America. (continue to next post)

How one party initially seems way better, but after further investigation you realize they are one in the same. Or even Just "On The Rainy River", and its signs of Americana. This book gave closure to the year.

This book, I feel, really concludes all of the literature we have read this year. Whether it being, "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" and it relating to "Sound of The River" on how it feels to be different, or not fully accepted because of where you are from. Or "The Mothers" and the relation between Aubrey, and Nadia, and the relation between Chen's school life, and home life. (continue to next post)

He had depressed roommates, and corrupt teachers, who he depended on to go to school in America. I am not from China, and am not sure if this book is a completely accurate depiction of how it is to be a student in china. If people really dream of America. Nonetheless, I think it gave me a better understanding of China's culture, and an appreciation for its people.

When Chen decides to make it his goal to learn english, and be more western, it really reminded me of the train ride at the beginning of the book. The hours of stories Chen listened to on the train from the english interpreter, how he dreamed of New York. Chen's horrible living conditions on the train, translating to the bad conditions in Beijing. (continue to next post)

representation of the ways that China could improve. (Continuing from last post.)

The end of the book, to me, is a perfect way to wrap up Chen's story in China. His story is one of corruption, lies, money, hard work, and a lot of luck, but since he achieved his goal in the end, he must be praised and put on a pedestal, because apparently it does not matter how you got there, it just matters that you did. This book was one of the most relatable books that I have read this year, and it serves as a

Chen's journey to get permission to go to America is surely full of challenges. The government has been playing the game of pass and it does no help to Chen. Bureaucracy in China has still not diminished. In fact, jealousy of some people (the dean) tries to keep the talented people like Chen from getting further education. However, I feel happy for Chen that he got the chance to go to America.

All f this starts to kick in, as he realized how good he will be living at school. This is similar to "The Mothers, and how Nadia would compare her life to Aubrey's life, and thinks that Aubrey's life is way better than hers. But things aren't always as they seem. Will Chen realize that his school life isn't all that, or not?

As Chen finds himself entering his dorm, he meets his roomates, Bo and Wong. They show him around the room, and tell him that they will be sharing a desk. Once Chen starts to settle in he points out differences between his home life and school life. At school he has a proper bed, but at home he sleeps on hay. How at school he has an allowance that is more than enough to feed his whole family. (go to next post)

Chen finally makes it to Beijing, and is not so friendly greeted by his classmates. They are snobby city kids, who make fun of him for his dark complexion. He is different than them, and is shunned for it. This is like in the "The Reluctant Fundamentalist", how Changez wasn't accepted in America after 9/11, because he's muslim. How Changez either had to change or lose his job and leave America.

When Chen's arrives in Beijing, he feels almost patriotic. As he listens to the national anthem, he puts his hand on his chest and stands up. Very "americanish" if that's even a thing. This is similar to on the rainy river when Tim is deciding whether he is going to flee to Canada or stay in America, and throughout the street there are signs of Americana, tempting him to feel patriotic.

Whilst on the train to beijing, Chen meets a chinese, english interpreter for a sports channel. The interpreter is Chen's seat partner, and is going to beijing for work. He tells Chen of his journeys as an Interpreter, as says that the place he wants to visit most is New York. Then adds that women in japan like english, they find it attractive. He talks about women a lot. (finished in next post)

At the start of the book we are introduced to the main character, Chen. He is on his way to school in mainland China, Beijing. From the countryside of China This is similar to how Changez went to school in America, an unfamiliar place.

Despite the fact that Chen is a hardworking student, government in China chooses to give other people who seems to be more "loyal" to them the opportunity to go abroad. Chen is surely not experienced enough for this situation. Working hard and getting good grades does not work in China. Even though people who choose to join the communist seem to be "loyal", all they want is to go abroad. What a sarcasm!

The tension between Taiwan and mainland China has been a long-lasting problem since the founding of the PRC of China, but the reality for the normal citizens is that no one respects the Taiwanese, and people in China want the military to take over Taiwan by force. It was shocking that the dean gave Chen a passport just because of his Taiwanese uncle. It is contradicting what the government claims to the citizens.

In chapter 17 I found it so heroic and funny how Peng and the Cellist had saved Da's life because they saw that his crap was black. Even though Peng or the cellist had never interacted with Da before they still saved him by giving him the medicine to stop the internal bleeding which I thought was very heroic.