Nick Jessop’s Reviews > Sounds of the River: A Young Man's University Days in Beijing > Status Update

I finished the book and I was disappointed that I never got to figure out if Da enjoyed his new home, Lincoln, Nebraska. Its funny that everyone in Yellow Stone thinks that he is going to a big city but Nebraska is actually in the middle of nowhere. He will be far away from his family and he will probably be very homesick. I think of Lincoln as a depresing city and I hope that Da can find happiness there.

After begging twice Da was finally able to get a passport so that he can travel to the U.S. At first the school did not want him to go the U.S. because they thought he was too young to handle the different culture. I agree with the school because I think Da thinks the U.S. is one big party and that it will be very easy to live there. I am not sure Da has made the right decision even though he is happy.

This book has has lots of highs and lows but right now Da is at a high point because he got a great job for the NBA. It is also exciting that his sister got married. Hopefully she is happy with her husband because she is young and she did not get to choose her husband. I think Da will enjoy his new job.

Da went to the temple to pray to Buddha and talk to a monk about his journey to America that may happen. I feel like the Chinese are overhyping America and that his how this book can be related to American Beauty. Da also got to talk about his new college life with Professor Wei. I think Da enjoyed his time at home but he is going back to school now and will probably be very homesick.

I put the wrong page number in the previous update.

Bo made it back home and I think he feels very proud because everyone treats him like a legend. Da has also told his parents that he might travel to America. I think that makes Da's father very happy because he never had that opportunity and he wants his son to have the best. However I think Da's parents might be worried that he is getting distracted by girls. I think Da is happy to be home and see his friends.

Da's social life is changing and he is starting to lose his connection with Bo but he has a new friend Hui who he has a lot in common with. Bo seems to have lost his mojo and he was even beaten up at a party because he was hitting on someone's wife. Bo is also always sick which frustrates him. However Da is finally going home with the help of Hui's illegal business plan to see his family and learn from Buddha.

I think at this point in the book Da completely understands how college works. He is getting good grades and is being more open and social. However Bo has been very moody and depressed. The seasons are changing which might mean that the characters personalities are changing or maturing because that has been a common trend in a lot of the books we read.

This seems to be one of the happiest times in the book. Da has moved dorms and he now has better living conditions and can shower daily. Bo seems to be very non traditional because he is wearing heels and trying to be trendy. Bo is also bringing girls back to his room and into the showers even though he has already been caught. To conclude this book is getting less depressing and a lot more fun to read.

I think that Da is getting used to his new life. He is starting to get to know his roommates but one of them moved into a new room because he wanted a single. However I think the college has a very depressing atmosphere and poor living conditions. I am staring to really get into the plot of this book.