Iron & Silk

Very intriguing

There were parts i didnt understand abiut chinese policy and communism but i found all the characters super interesting and thought provoking. Glad i didnt buy this in the nook only the hunger games is worth that amount of money ha ha

Worth the money!

This book is SOOOO GOOD!!! You should read it! It is informative and enjoyable! My favorite story is when he goes to the fisherman's house and plays his cello for the family! Everyone is so nice there!

Iron & Silk by Mark Salzman is Mark's story of his time in C

Iron & Silk by Mark Salzman is Mark's story of his time in China while teaching English.  Mark spent 1982-1984 in Chang-sha, Hunan teaching at Hunan Medical College.

During his time there, Mark learned many Chinese techniques, such as multiple martial art forms as well as calligraphy.  He tells his story in Iron & Silk through short vignettes of his experiences.

The cover of this book suffers from 1980s Disease (having been published in 1986), and looks like it would fit in perfectly in the intro to Saved by the Bell, but please, don't judge this book by it's tacky cover!  After all, just think of what YOU looked like in the 80s!

I really enjoyed reading about Mark's time in China.  He experienced many unique things and was taught by one of China's greatest boxers.

One of my favorite stories was about a time when Mark took a crowded train and was stuck across from two Chinese men who were obviously inebriated.  The men had been released from "corrective labor" for having stabbed someone, which they openly explained to Mark.  One of the men began telling Mark how excited he was to get to go home and see his mother, going on and on about it.  After a minute or two of this, his friend hit him hard.  When the first friend questioned about why, the second pointed to Mark (obviously an American foreigner) and said, "Because he's from far away.  He can't see his mom at all.  He doesn't need to know how happy you are."

That story totally surprised me, and probably shattered some assumptions Mark had about the men.

Do you have a good assumption-shattering story to tell?

Thanks for reading,

Rebecca @ Love at First Book

reviewed by UCI students

We really enjoyed Iron & Silk because the story is realistic. Mark Salzman is successful in painting a genuine picture of Chinese culture and its people through his experiences and observations. It is an excellent book for people who are interested in learning Chinese culture, especially martial arts. The writing is also easy to understand. In addition to being genuine and comprehensible, the book is humorous, such as the part where Master Pan is learning English.

¿Iron and Silk¿ is satisfactory.

Mark Salzman did a very good job describing his stay in China. He recorded his interactions with his students, his teachers, his friends, and the local peasants. The experiences he described had a touch of reality and truth, but they lacked enthusiasm. In the book, Salzman met many people, but he did not go into detail with his relationship with whomever he encountered. The book is a collection of short stories, but none of the stories related to other stories too well. The book also lacks a conclusion, and there wasn¿t a good transition from the present to the past in the first couple of chapters. Salzman failed to build the climaxes in his story; therefore, most of the stories seem quite dull and plain. Erm¿we ran out of time¿so read it yourself.

Reviewed by UCI students.

The experience that Salzman has is very interesting. Since the novel is broken in to small short stories, it is easy to read and enjoy. Some of the wording that the author used is confusing, therefore we give a four star rating.

UCI Students Rate Novel

Salzman approached the Chinese culture with an open mind. He accepted the new lifestyles that he encountered. He experienced many incidents that helped him perceive the Chinese customs in a positive and negative way. By interacting with the Chinese people, Salzman also broadened their understanding of different cultures beside their own when he introduced his own culture into theirs.

True and detailled story about the communism

Every small chapter show the chinese policy to control the people, torture them especially the intellectuals. I was in the same situation like teacher Wu, the foreign company where I worked was in the situation like Mr Mark in Hong Kong foot, the mistreatment that the civilians suffered was the same in Suicide... All information and advance in the world were avoid to publish to chinese people. Only if you live like the fisherman, didn't need to go to school, you felt comfortable because the Party, the government didn't pay attention to you. Consequence of the system : terrify people > must to obey > easy to manage > VALUE, TALENT, ABILITY can't develop > objective of the communist party.

Lessons from a Kung Fu student

This book shares the name of the movie starring the author about his endeavor to study Kung Fu from an authentic Chinese master but learns more than just Kung Fu along the way. His teacher has since emigrated to Ontario,Canada..

Adventurer, but not a Teacher

The reader is given a realistic picture of China in the late 80s. Mark was dashing, adventurous, and amusing, but he didn't seem to concentrate on his job: teaching English! Two years after his book came out, while teaching in a nearby Chinese city, I personally talked with two teachers from the place where he taught and they relayed to me the consensus that Mr. Salzman was the WORST teacher they had ever had there!

For Martial Arts Lovers!

I recieved this book in the mail and finished it the very same day. The stories are amazing and if you are a lover of martial arts like I am then you will truly be amazed and appreciate this book.

Awesome, no other word for it.

I absolutely loved this book. It was writtin in a strange style of many short stories that together prove to be an interesting read for anyone who loves martial arts. His training is in great detail and the experiences he encouters are very interesting to read. Buy it now!!

READ THIS BOOK!!!

This book was the best book that I have ever read. It is written as though Salzman was telling you the stories in person. It's an easy read and the collection of stories are incredible. If you want just a good book to read, this is the book to get.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.