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Letter From China
from Chinais a poignant and irreverent diary of the author's yearlong (2001-2) experienceof teaching English to college students in Beijing,People's Republic of China.¿ From the very first pages, the author drawsyou into his struggle with a culture worlds away fromhis comfort zone.¿ The author's generousand compelling personality allowed him to gain access to the lives of hisstudents and their families, who became characters in his tale. One can experiencethe author's wit and humanity throughout the narrative.The author's humorous view of Chinais especially timely and dovetails with the current explosion of interest in thatcountry as it enters the modern world. ¿Thebook is neither a travelogue nor a look at the government, although elements ofthose subjects are woven into the story.¿Instead, it is an engaging look at China,tailored toward those who know little about it.¿Still, those who have lived and/or traveled there will also enjoy thebook as it reminds them of the absurdities they, too, experienced.
- GenresChinaNonfiction
304 pages, Paperback
First published December 19, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 4, 2020
Non-spoilers first: This book is incredible. I had just finished Mark Twain's The Innocents Abroad and was in the mood for another irreverent travel guide when I stumbled upon Froning's account of China. After Twain the bar was high but Froning's wry wit, curious eye, and warm heart won me over almost immediately. I used to live in Beijing as well and found myself rolling my eyes, laughing, and occasionally getting choked up when listening to his perspective on the city, its people, and the country at large. The China that Froning explored doesn't exist anymore, as the events of this book took place almost twenty years ago now, but the general spirit remains and it was so delightful to listen to this fish-out-of-water's take on all the major and minor differences between a life in the US and one in the Middle Kingdom. I strongly recommend this book to any and all.
This is now one of my favorite books of all time and I'm not sure if I can ever revisit it again, because:
Spoilers: I don't think I've ever cried more at the end of a book than I did with this one. I have never read something that, upon its completion, becomes so overwhelmingly poignant and existential. As I said, I used to live in Beijing, so I was already tearing up when Froning described how painful his farewell was, as I've gone through that exact experience several times. But the epilogue is objectively and absolutely devastating. Imagine reading a book about the last year of another's life but having that fact be completely unknown to both the author and yourself. I was, just as everyone was in real life, completely blind-sided by Froning's death, an event that casts a completely different light on every word of his book, given the subject matter. It has stuck with me for days; I've thought about his students, who are all in their forties now, and cannot bear the incredible sadness that comes with the fact that Froning himself would only be in his sixties today. What would he think of China now? Some of his predictions were way off base but others were quite premonitious.
It is a masterpiece of a book in that it shows us what it means to be human, in just how far our kindness and generosity can go with others, and how strong the bond between us can be when it comes to love.
This is now one of my favorite books of all time and I'm not sure if I can ever revisit it again, because:
Spoilers: I don't think I've ever cried more at the end of a book than I did with this one. I have never read something that, upon its completion, becomes so overwhelmingly poignant and existential. As I said, I used to live in Beijing, so I was already tearing up when Froning described how painful his farewell was, as I've gone through that exact experience several times. But the epilogue is objectively and absolutely devastating. Imagine reading a book about the last year of another's life but having that fact be completely unknown to both the author and yourself. I was, just as everyone was in real life, completely blind-sided by Froning's death, an event that casts a completely different light on every word of his book, given the subject matter. It has stuck with me for days; I've thought about his students, who are all in their forties now, and cannot bear the incredible sadness that comes with the fact that Froning himself would only be in his sixties today. What would he think of China now? Some of his predictions were way off base but others were quite premonitious.
It is a masterpiece of a book in that it shows us what it means to be human, in just how far our kindness and generosity can go with others, and how strong the bond between us can be when it comes to love.
December 11, 2017
Interesting book about year in China of an American teacher in a small university in China. Interactions with students, faculty, and "public".
I actually listened to this in podcast form. As I listened I got curious about what else he had done/written. So I did a search on the author's name. Don't do that until you have read/listened to the book.
Book is entertaining and enlightening about China for at least that time (early 2000s) in that situation.
I actually listened to this in podcast form. As I listened I got curious about what else he had done/written. So I did a search on the author's name. Don't do that until you have read/listened to the book.
Book is entertaining and enlightening about China for at least that time (early 2000s) in that situation.
April 18, 2011
I found this as a FREE audio download on iTunes as a podcast. I don't know how to down load books for free from my library, and I have trouble downloading books on CD with my Mac, so I was thrilled to find this from Libravox.
I would listen to chapters as I walked home from Skyline High after leaving my car there for my student teaching daughter to use. I found it fascinating, I'd always wondered what it would be like to teach English in an Asian country. He described it well. Gave insight into modern China, Chinese university life and the students. He did a very good job of telling about different aspects of Chinese culture from an American's point of view.
Was not expecting the added on postlude, and it made me sad. Still a great book, and a good listen!
I would listen to chapters as I walked home from Skyline High after leaving my car there for my student teaching daughter to use. I found it fascinating, I'd always wondered what it would be like to teach English in an Asian country. He described it well. Gave insight into modern China, Chinese university life and the students. He did a very good job of telling about different aspects of Chinese culture from an American's point of view.
Was not expecting the added on postlude, and it made me sad. Still a great book, and a good listen!
October 27, 2015
I just read Peter Froning's book and found it riveting reading. As a former foreign language teacher and as one who has traveled to China and has personal connections with people who live there I found his insights into the people and the culture fascinating. Lots of things have changed since his time there back in the early 2000's but his information explained a lot of WHY things are the way they are now. Very unexpected and sad postlogue but I would still recommend this book to anyone interested in other cultures and travel.
November 5, 2011
What an absolutely amazing book, consisting of letters and journal entries by an American who spent a year in China teaching English at a small university, and whose warmth and personality changed his students forever. Froning's writing is extraordinary, and he makes China come alive for the reader. Few things are as heartbreaking as the epilogue of this book. If you love to travel, or simply dream of traveling, you can't go wrong with this book. I absolutely loved it.
June 17, 2016
I accidentaly 'read' this audiobook through my podcast app (yes, it's completely free). A wonderful account of the author's year teaching in China. Just as heart-warming as, in the end, it is heart-breaking. Highly recommended.
April 29, 2010
This was very interesting and did NOT end the way I thought it would! Yikes.
February 4, 2016
I read this from podiobooks.com. Very eye opening, inspiring and enjoyable.
January 27, 2013
Very interesting read about the first hand experience of a reluctant American who went to mainland China to teach english.
December 24, 2015
The epilogue made me maudlin.
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January 12, 2016An interesting read especially in that it brought back many memories of the times that Nancy and I spent at NPU in Xi'an, China.
February 4, 2016
I read this from podiobooks.com. Very eye opening, inspiring and enjoyable.
May 7, 2019
Fin dagbok om ensamhet och gemenskap, ungefär som Lost In Translation.
February 19, 2013
Unique, entertaining and powerful.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews