tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post6617815465981585125..comments2023-12-04T10:02:29.445-06:00Comments on Mark's China Blog: Iron and SilkMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-9039675501423346412011-01-17T09:51:28.638-06:002011-01-17T09:51:28.638-06:00@Ramesh - Thanks so much for your comments. I agre...@Ramesh - Thanks so much for your comments. I agree that every person's experiences are unique and special in their own ways.<br /><br />@Anon - Note that the quote you use here was from another blogger, not me. I'm a huge Hessler fan, but not sure I'd go quite as far as he did in his praises.<br /><br />Hessler is quite the polarizing figure. I feel like China watchers are all over the map with their assessments of him. The book that I see panned the most - Oracle Bones - is my favorite.<br /><br />Different strokes for different folks.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-41763661124164848132011-01-17T07:20:51.353-06:002011-01-17T07:20:51.353-06:00"I’ve scoured his writings to find faults and..."I’ve scoured his writings to find faults and thereby a basis for my rivalry, but I still have yet to come up with anything."<br /><br />Well, the problem with his writing is that its all just a series of unconnected sketches. It took me over a year to read his first book because each time I put it down I thought, what's the point in picking it up again? There's nothing that draws you in and holds you.<br /><br />Hessler is really a journalist who should stick to publishing articles, then calling his books collections of articles, rather than pretending they contain any kind of overarching narrative?<br /><br />Bitter? Not really, just bored of all this praise for mediocre writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-83815001596608102802011-01-15T21:54:02.826-06:002011-01-15T21:54:02.826-06:00Hadn't heard of Iron and Silk. Despite your mi...Hadn't heard of Iron and Silk. Despite your mixed reviews, I am intrigued enough to go and buy it.<br /><br />This is a superb post Mark and a perfect illustration of why your blog is such a pleasure to read. Having lived in China, I can relate to every thought in this post. I believe everybody's experience is unique and conditioned by his own background, culture, values, etc etc. I am a great fan of Peter Hessler too, but I am equally a fan of your blog - your experiences and perspectives are as rich and interesting as anybody else. Undoubtedly others will come with even more interesting pieces.<br /><br />I am thankful for my time in China. Sure I didn't do much of what many of you did. But it was extremely meaningful to me and when I now read books or articles on China, I can understand and appreciate it much better.<br /><br />China is a popular country these days, but I am sure the experience will be the same whichever country or culture you go to.Rameshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782192840421019943noreply@blogger.com