An irreverent tale of an American Jew serving in the Peace Corps in rural China; which reveals the absurdities; joys; and pathos of a traditional society in fluxIn September of 2005; the Peace Corps sent Michael Levy to teach English in the heart of China's heartland. His hosts in the city of Guiyang found additional uses for him: resident expert on Judaism; romantic adviser; and provincial basketball star; to name a few. His account of overcoming vast cultural differences to befriend his students and fellow teachers is by turns poignant and laugh-out-loud funny.While reveling in the peculiarities of life in China's interior; the author also discovered that the "other billion" (people living far from the coastal cities covered by the American media) have a complex relationship with both their own traditions and the rapid changes of modernization. Lagging behind in China's economic boom; they experience the darker side of "capitalism with Chinese characteristics;" daily facing the schizophrenia of conflicting ideologies.Kosher Chinese is an illuminating account of the lives of the residents of Guiyang; particularly the young people who will soon control the fate of the world.
#342884 in Books Holt Paperbacks 1999-05-15 1999-05-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.39 x .6 x 6.19l; 1.85 #File Name: 0805061231576 pagesGreat product!
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A wonderful book. Gave another perspective on our Revolutionary War ...By LuellaA wonderful book. Gave another perspective on our Revolutionary War involving Canada; the St Lawrence; Bennington; VT; Hudson River. Character was developed so well - info' derived from the many letters written from the principle players on both sides of this part of the campaign. My sister and husband also read and completely concur. A very good detailed book for those who would like to expand out from General Washington and Lafayette.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good book on the Burgoyne Campaign of 1777By greene_manEdited 2/3/13:Third time through this book. One thing that was obvious but not stated outright is that Burgoyne's defeat was as much caused by his own hubris as well as the American dispositions. Furthermore; although General Horatio Gates was in command of the American forces at Freeman's Farm; the background for the victory was laid on a foundation of support by the then-deposed general Philip Schuyler; the decision to evacuate Fort Ticonderoga by General St. Clair; and the American victory at the Battle of Bennington.An excellent and well-researched overview of the important Saratoga Campaign of 1777 when British; German; Loyalist and Indian troops under the command of General John "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne invaded south from Canada along the Lake Champlain-Hudson River waterway in an attempt to split the rebellious colonies in half.(Re-read in December 2011)(Read third time January-February 2013)1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Exceptional Book!By Paul F. BrooksAuthor Ketchum utilized a very large canvas in order to communicate a gripping account of the pivotal events of the American Revolutionary war. The trade paperback edition consists of 448 pages and another very generous 97 pages of notes; sources; bibliography and index. This is a book to be immersed in. I was constantly looking up locations on maps; recalling passages from biographies I had read about Stark; Arnold; Franklin and Washington and consulting the notes and index. The basic story of Saratoga can be summarized in one sentence. General Burgoyne surrendered his English and German army to General Gates at Saratoga New York as a result of over extended supply lines from Canada. Certainly there were other factors that contributed to the English loss such as mass desertions by the Indian allies; lack of carts and horses; summer torrents and blazing heat and lack of reinforcements from either Canada or from Generals Howe or Clinton. Overriding everything was a general sense of British hubris; "we shall put the fear of the British Lion into these rebellious bumpkins - send out our Hessian and the Brunswickians troops; now let us retire to our tent for several toasts to the King". The author deserves all the acclaim he received for this book. His ability to weave relevant quotes from letters; journal; reports; and even newspapers sustains the narrative and maintains high reader interest in the events; battles and every day trials of an army on the march. For this reader the most riveting aspect of the months long campaign by Burgoyne was the description of the appalling terrain; near impassable "roads" render into muddy quagmires full of gullies and tree stumps. Added to this the accounts of the unremitting gorilla tactics of the retreating rebels - felled trees; destroyed bridges and sharpshooter ambushes. Ketchum captures a vivid account of a bloody; dirty campaign in which the colonists were fortunate to prevail.
