About book Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, And Eating With China's Other Billion (2011)
Having just spent a year abroad in a similar Asian semi rural city in peripheral consciousness, I was pleasantly surprised by how relatable this book turned out to be- from searching for cheese to the strange appropriation of Christmas, to the difference in political paradigms that surface in conversation with our local peers. I can imagine the criticism that this book might face from different parties- from Jews, that Levy didn't take a firm stance on his religiosity, and that it wasn't a central current of the book; from peace corps volunteers, that he didn't grapple enough with western privilege and what it meant for him to serve; and from those who haven't spent time in Asian culture, that he made cliche observations and generalized conclusions. Some of this may be true, but as a spiritual Jew who spent a year grappling with a lot of the same questions, I think he hit the nail on the head. I don't think this book should be read as a treatise on Western involvement in Asia, but should be read as just what it is- a narrative of one man's experience. I think that cultural narratives and travelogues run the risk of attempting to speak for all perspectives and present a thesis on that culture, but Levy doesn't attempt to do that at all. It's simply his story to tell, and it made me grateful that people like him are teachers because he sounds like he's damn good at connecting with youth in need of guidance. Enjoyed the book. The author was fun to read about. I wouldn't have minded it being a lot longer - his vignettes of life in rural China were great, and I think the book would have been improved if it had more anecdotes. The image of Levy running through Walmart dressed as Santa Claus was wonderful.The one thing I did find annoying was his choice of teaching material. Honestly? You have the chance to pretty much choose exactly what you want to introduce the cream of Chinese grad students to from the literary gems of Western civilization, and you choose Heller, Nabokov, and post-modern poetry?I'd definitely recommend the book.
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Very interesting book. Gives insight into a peace corps experience and less-than industrial china.
—nickkky_
