Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com
Summary:
British born author Simon Winchester lived in Hong Kong before setting off on a journey up the Chang Jiang or Yangtze River as it is most often referred to in the West. In The River at the Center of the World: A Journey Up the Yangtze and Back in Chinese Time, he chronicles his adventures across China along the 3,964-mile River. Employing nearly every mode of transportation--including boat, train, jeep and shoe leather--Winchester recalls his passionate exploration of the countryside, while providing important and engaging historical information. His recollections of the Chinese people are often less complimentary, as he exudes an air of disgust at the country's apparent disregard for pollution, its awkward modern architecture and decaying historical monuments.
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
Winchester falls short on this one
Customer Rating:
As a great fan of travel writing and of Simon Winchester I've got to give a thumbs down for this book. Not very engaging writing. The concept is great - up a river, back in time, but Winchester doesn't really stick to this method - he does go up a river (although sometimes by boat, sometimes by car, sometimes by short flight), but he doesn't go back in time in a very methodical way. He's all over the place in time and brushes on huge events, like Mao coming to power, in the breadth of a single sentence. He doesn't dig deep into anything, he wains poetic then changes his tone to factually dry. Almost 200 pages into the book and I'm still not getting any sense of perspective, color, taste, smell - just a pot of rambling facts and mish-mash.
Sorry Simon - not your best work.
A great Joy
Customer Rating:
I can think of few experiences better than traveling up the Yangtse (Changjiang) after reading Simon Winchester's terrific book. Knowing when to look for a brief glimpse of the Pilutan monument (to one of the few Englishmen to have created something good in China--he charted the river) That was in 1999, a year later my son and I hiked Tiger Leaping Gorge, further inspired by this amazing book Like so many of his books, Winchester shares a delightful passion through his writing. If anything his writing, especially this book, is contagious. River at the Center of World is wonderful book. How many other travel writings still glow after traveling the same path?
The River at the Center of the World
Customer Rating:
I read this book just a few days before I departed on a trip to China that was to include a cruise of the Yangtze. The book is a bit dated, but nonetheless I found it to be extremely useful. I especially appreciated the historical side trips that the author associates with stops along the way. The writing is excellent, and reading the book is a pleasure.
Winchester on the Yangszi
Customer Rating:
Simon Winchester's books are all excellent reading with lots of facts, even on related matters. This one is no exception. Although I am only one-quarter through with this book, I am learning a lot.
A Fascinating Collection of Historic Details Traveling Up a River
Customer Rating:
I had never read Winchester before. On our recent trip down the Yangtze a fellow traveler was reading this book and recommended it. After reading it I would consider it a rich cultural experience through the history of this river.
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