Sounds of the River: A Memoir

by Da Chen and Chen Da

Book Overview

"A story about suppression, humiliation, vindication, and, ultimately, triumph." --New York Times Book Review

From the bestselling author of Colors of the Mountain--an engrossing, gloriously written coming-of-age saga that picks up where that book left off--in Beijing during China's Cultural Revolution

In this "equally beguiling sequel to his acclaimed memoir" (Kirkus Reviews), teenager Da Chen takes...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060199253
• ISBN13: 9780060199258
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Fascinating College Years Memoir

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.

A few flaws, but mostly intriguing

Alas, Chen Da's SOUNDS OF THE RIVER is not quite the knockout that his earlier COLORS OF THE MOUNTAIN was. This second, presumably concluding, volume in his autobiographical series was - to me - primarily valuable in it's details of Chinese university life. Certain aspects were familiar - the eclectic group of friends would be familiar to anyone in the world with some university experience, and his lengthy discussion of the more baroque machinations deep within the administration of a Chinese university was equally fascinating. At times the melodrama level ran a bit high - this was not always true, and I can think of one major event (involving a roommate) that is written about in a touching fashion. However, certain other occurences would seem to be a bit too befuddling for Chen to wax introspective over, and I was more interested in his thoughts than simple recountings of certain of these events. Still, Chen paints a largely very appealing self-portrait, and his attempts at balancing universality and communicating cultural specifics and experiences (further developing this, I note that Chen has adapted these autobiographical writings into a third volume for younger readers, an entirely approriate move) is to be lauded. -David Alston

I will never look at my interpreter the same way again

I loved reading this book and the descriptions of rural Chinese traditions and the hard scrabble life of the author as a student in Beijing. I went to China in 2002 to adopt our 2nd child and we were accompanied by several interpreters from the local college. Having read this book, I now wonder what they had to do to get these positions - were they the back-stabbing types or the deserving ones? I am travelling to China again in 2003 for our 3rd child and I will now wonder again and maybe even ask them how they came about their assignments.

Insite into a creative Chinese Man's life

I am an American who lived in Shanghai, China for 1/2 year in 2001/2002.It's a magical country with so many different customs andbeliefs. I miss those sweet, smiling people. Da Chen'sSounds of the River answered so many questions in my mind.He is an master of words and thoughts. I'm so thankfulI found this novel because it enriched my life. Thankyou Da Chen.

Chen Da as I knew

I passed by this book in book stores a couple of times. At first, the name Chen Da sounded familiar. Then I thought that it could be because that it is a very common name in China. Last time, I could not help myself to pick up the book. It makes me happy to see another author with Chinese name wrote another story about life in China. Then I opened the book. First came Beijing Institute of Languages, then the Going Abroad Department. All of sudden, I realized that this Chen Da was one of the English teachers who taught my class at that college when I was preparing my own Going Abroad in 1985. I looked Chen Da's picture inside the book sleeve again. Finally I recognized his face.Chen Da in my memory looked very much different from what he looks like today. Back then, he sported blue jeans while teaching in the classroom, wear long hairs, very thin built with a very big nose on his face, was a very cynical, and hippie looking. From that memory, I just can't imagine that Chen Da could sit down, and write serious books about his past. Having this book in my hand, I just can't be more happy for him. What the difference 17 years makes. We are getting old.I took my English training in Going Abroad Department at the Beijing Institute of Languages in early 1985. China was opening its door to the outside world. Every college graduate with a brain were doing whatever they could to go abroad to study whatever they could.I was going to U.S. to study Philosophy. My class was the first one that the Going Abroad Department ever had to admit students who paid their own tuitions....It generated lots of demand. As result, the Going Abroad Department offered more classes in following semasters, of course, the tuition were doubled, trippled. They learned the Capitialist way very quickly.I remembered the American composer Chen Da mentioned in his book. There was another American who taught my class. I think his first name was Tony. He had been in China for a few years. People thought he worked for CIA. Because unless he was on some kind of special assignment, it was hard for people to imagine that American could endured the harsh living conditions in China: dusty road, overcrowded buses, dirty food, etc. Tony complained about those in my class all the times.I politely give Chen Da's book 5 stars due to reasons mentioned above. Frankly, I don't understand how American readers would be interested in stories of Chen Da: there was nothing out of extraordinary. Those are the things happened in China everyday.I would apologies to Chen Da if my candid comments offended him.I just couldn't help myself not to write these. I have same memories about our past just as he does.