Book Review: Smoke and Mirrors (An Experience of China)
July 31, 2008 by Jean Mercedes
Filed under Business
Pallavi Aiyer moved from India to Beijing to be an English teacher in China (and to be with her boyfriend). Her memoir “Smoke and Mirrors: An Experience of China” thus includes many comparisons between her native country and her new country of residence. Combined, the two are refered to as “Chindia”.
Aiyer’s experiences as a teacher of English to Chinese journalism students and her travels to different parts of the country provide for fascinating insights into the modern Chinese culture. Almost all of the millions of students in China today are only-children who, compared with their parents, have obtained great material wealth. They define freedom as being able to dress how they want, date whom they want and buy a new car and apartment. When Aiyer pushes them on controversial subjects, the students glibly recite the government line as if it were their own free thoughts.
Aiyer is able to look at the shiny new China without being blinded by the smoke and mirrors.
Image from uscc.gov. Shanghai highways.
To be a Chinese, I think the last sentence of second paragrap is so abourd. I once was in India for one mounth and I can feel that most of Chinese youth care about not only thier material life but our society problem especially the poor. However, to be honestly, I can’t see anything in your india rich youth.
Hey….don’t take this person too seriously. We have tons of such journalists in India. In her opinion, she is trying to bring out the truth but all she is doing is looking st a situation (in both India and China) with a pre-conceived notion that it is all screwsd up. I have met lots of Chinese youth who support the govt. when they in their independent mind think is right and do not agree with certain things when they, in their opinion, don’t agree with it.
There’s got to be all types everywhere. It only depends on how you choose to represent a sample set.
Having said that, I need to read the book before I make a judgment. Anyway, we would be better off with fewer of these journalists.