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My Altay
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 18, 2025
I give the novel My Altay by Li Juan five stars. I agree with the author’s point of view about the theme of finding identity through nature, culture, and personal reflection. To begin, Juan describes how the land and environment shaped her personality before she was aware of her own place in the world. This shows how the theme of identity and belonging develops through her experiences growing up in Altay. “The land raised me long before the world ever noticed me.”(Juan 29) in her hometown in Altay. I agree that this quote supports the theme because it shows how deeply connected she is to the land and how it shaped her from childhood.
Also, Juan emphasizes the simple and free lifestyle of the Kazakh herders, further confirming the idea that freedom can exist outside of modern society. She admires their way of life, which follows the rhythms of nature rather than being pressured by external forces. "People here do not chase after the world. They only follow the season" (Juan 48). I love how this passage contrasts the rural Altay region with the bustling modern world, clearly highlighting the themes of simplicity and respect for culture.
Later, Juan reflects on moments of loneliness, showing how isolation can lead to deeper feelings for understanding herself. Her time spent alone in nature helps her recognize her own emotions more clearly. “In the quiet of Altay, I finally learned to hear my own heart.” (Juan 72). This line reveals how the author grows emotionally, turning solitude into a powerful tool for discovering herself.
Additionally, Juan observes how the herders interact with nature with respect and humility. She realizes that even though life in Altay is simple, it is never empty. “Everything here is simple, but nothing here is small.”(Juan 102). This quote highlights the author's writing style and imagery, demonstrating how she uses simple language to express profound meaning.
Finally, I agree with the foreshadowing and reflective tone Juan uses when she talks about how Altay shaped her identity. Toward the end, she looks back on her life and understands that the place itself transformed her. “Altay is not the place I came from. It is the place that made me.”(Juan182) This made me realize how a person’s environment and culture can shape who they become.
I enjoyed reading this book because it made me reflect on how identity is often formed by the places and people around us. It also reminded me that nature, culture can shape someone just as much as education or society. It brings me back to the theme that a person’s environment can play a powerful role in who they grow up to be.
Five unfamiliar words were:
Pasture
Migration
Nomadic
Isolation
Resilience
Also, Juan emphasizes the simple and free lifestyle of the Kazakh herders, further confirming the idea that freedom can exist outside of modern society. She admires their way of life, which follows the rhythms of nature rather than being pressured by external forces. "People here do not chase after the world. They only follow the season" (Juan 48). I love how this passage contrasts the rural Altay region with the bustling modern world, clearly highlighting the themes of simplicity and respect for culture.
Later, Juan reflects on moments of loneliness, showing how isolation can lead to deeper feelings for understanding herself. Her time spent alone in nature helps her recognize her own emotions more clearly. “In the quiet of Altay, I finally learned to hear my own heart.” (Juan 72). This line reveals how the author grows emotionally, turning solitude into a powerful tool for discovering herself.
Additionally, Juan observes how the herders interact with nature with respect and humility. She realizes that even though life in Altay is simple, it is never empty. “Everything here is simple, but nothing here is small.”(Juan 102). This quote highlights the author's writing style and imagery, demonstrating how she uses simple language to express profound meaning.
Finally, I agree with the foreshadowing and reflective tone Juan uses when she talks about how Altay shaped her identity. Toward the end, she looks back on her life and understands that the place itself transformed her. “Altay is not the place I came from. It is the place that made me.”(Juan182) This made me realize how a person’s environment and culture can shape who they become.
I enjoyed reading this book because it made me reflect on how identity is often formed by the places and people around us. It also reminded me that nature, culture can shape someone just as much as education or society. It brings me back to the theme that a person’s environment can play a powerful role in who they grow up to be.
Five unfamiliar words were:
Pasture
Migration
Nomadic
Isolation
Resilience
December 3, 2025
Bedtime stories that kept me company through 2024–2025 haha. I listened to most of them in audio. My favorite was ‘Sleeping in the Wilderness’. I love how Juanzi writes about clouds, rain, and wind — how can her words be so vivid & colorful and full of the spirit of the grasslands!
May 26, 2025
chinese book! loved the slice of life style narration but found some of it boring.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews