Henry Sergenian’s Reviews > Sounds of the River: A Young Man's University Days in Beijing – A Poetic Coming-of-Age Memoir of China's Cultural Revolution > Status Update

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 chapter showed the perspective Da Chen has on America. It also shows how the people of China see America, and America's education. In the chapter Da Chen expresses his thoughts on America's education, and how he believes that because he studied in China his whole America with be a breeze, however his father warns him to be humble. I am interested to see if Da Chen will take his talents to America.

This was my favorite chapter of the book so far. I enjoyed how it showed America and the culture that I am familiar with. Also I found it very amusing and interesting it was that Da Chen was able to meet famous American Basketball icons and not even be aware of who they are. What I loved the most about the chapter was how at the end Da Chen had a realization about how precious the players are to America.

The book is really starting to get interesting, when Da Chen finds out he might have a shot to travel to America, because of his professor he has a chance of traveling abroad and making it big, American Dream style. I think this where the class theme of America Beauty comes into play and how the perspective of the people of China are viewing Americans. I am interested to read how the rest of his journey shapes out.

This chapter was really depressing and changed the whole pace of the book, I am really disappointed that Bo took his own life, bo was one of my favorite characters in the book, if not my favorite. I knew that Bo wasn't as jumpy as he was in the beginning of the book. So this was a red flag for me, but I didn't know that he was going to kill himself this was a big surprise for me and one of the many mood changes.

This part of the book is when examples of where are theme American beauty come into play. Da Chen is seriously considering going to America, however a specific part where our class year theme American beauty was portrayed was the way the chinese people views the American people, and culture. I am interested to see what Da does in his process to travel to America.

The book has begun to become a little boring for my liking. Right now I believe it is confusing and for me it is hard to follow and know what exactly is happening. After reading the first three chapters I had really high expectations for this book. One thing that I found interesting was how the Author describes the differences Dac Chen notices from his different life style at home.

Right now this book has really intrigued me, and I have been able to make some self connections to the book. Even though I think I have it hard here at Cardigan, I wouldn't be able to do what this little teenage Da Chen is doing, After reading the first three chapters I am really anxious to read more and to find how his experience at Beijing language Institute is going to change and how Da Chen will adapt.