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So I figured out how to combine two of my New Years’ Resolutions; read more, and blog more, thus- a book review blog! I felt for a while like my ideas were stagnating because living in DC doesn’t have as many cultural quirks as living in Italy did (I’m pretty sure we’re all familiar with the American culture) so I decided that my blog needed a theme. Thus, I’m going to review a few of the things I read, and maybe throw in a movie or two if I’m impressed (or entirely unimpressed).

The first book up is World on Fire by Amy Chua.

World on Fire by Amy Chua

In World on Fire, Amy Chua contends that the two main forces of globalization aggressively pursued by Western countries, namely, market liberalization and democratization, contribute to and in some cases bring about serious ethnic conflict and global instability. This is due to the two policies’ simultaneous effect of increasing inequality and subsequently hatred for market-dominant ethnic minorities, while at the same time empowering the poor majority to react, often resulting in violence or severe oppression of the minority. Chua explains it thus, “The global spread of free market democracy has thus been a principal, aggravating cause of ethnic instability and violence through the non-Western world. In country after country outside the West laissez-faire markets have magnified the often astounding wealth and economic prominence of an ‘outsider’ minority, generating great reservoirs of ethnic envy and resentment among the impoverished ‘indigenous’ majority…democratization, by increasing the political voice and power of the ‘indigenous’ majority, has fostered the emergence of demagogues who opportunistically whip up mass hatred against the resented minority. As a result, in its raw, for-export form, the pursuit of free market democracy outside the West has repeatedly led not to widespread peace and prosperity, but to ethnic confiscation, authoritarian backlash, and mass killing.” (187-88) Chua proceeds to describe a series of examples in which a program of market liberalization in combination with democratization, usually backed by the West, has led to either severe ethnic conflict or political backlash. From the Philippines and Yugoslavia to Nazi Germany and even Anti-Americanism, Chua applies her framework to conflicts both past and present.

In a purely informational sense, Chua’s book is an enjoyable, interesting and pleasant read.  After an emotional and attention-grabbing introduction describing the death of a beloved Aunt, purportedly due to the consequences her thesis describes, Chua segues into the deeper context of her argument. Her first two sections come across as a sort of history lesson through a series of descriptions, references and loose figures. Like a good history textbook, Chua begins her chapters with a humorous or enlightening anecdote, followed by some background information, a brief description of the current setting, and finally a reiteration of the issues. The book continues this way both throughout the globe and throughout time, her arguments getting progressively less robust, increasingly more flexible and even extrapolating to places that have only one or two of the three characteristics her thesis describes (market dominant ethnic minorities, economic liberalization, and democratization). In this way, her third section seems like the tagline for an infomercial- “But wait, there’s more!”- as she attempts to reconcile her thesis with intra-city conflicts in the United States, anti-Americanism, Nazism, and the current crisis in the Middle East. What Chua doesn’t realize is that the further she extrapolates and attempts to convince readers of her argument’s global (and national, in the case of the United States) relevance, the further she alienates those who were sold to her argument in the first place.

This argument by itself seems simplistic and logical. It makes sense that in countries where the vast majority of the population live in dire poverty, and those that do hold most of the wealth are of a noticeably different skin color, culture or ethnicity, ethnic conflict would result. It also makes sense that the greater the inequality between these peoples the more conflict and hatred there would be, and if free markets do in fact exacerbate these inequalities it might even be a direct consequence. While it is much less obvious, it also makes sense that a form of government that empowers the angry majority without protecting the rights of the minority can and often does lead to civil conflict or oppressive majoritarian policies. The way Amy Chua frames her book it seems like she is simply trying to describe a phenomenon rather than prove a thesis, much as a history book might say what happened in a particular era and offer several plausible suggestions as to why this might have occurred. The anecdotal and descriptive style of writing leaves no room for alternative interpretations; each example is specifically framed for her argument, and there are no competing explanations or variables that she is including or comparing against. If the point of the book is that she is simply trying to prove that these effects of occur, the lack of scientific methodology severely undermines her claim. A better approach might be to gather a set of recent conflicts or transition governments and see how the variables of market-dominant minorities, the gini coefficient, perceived ethnocentrism, and democratization (including the various levels of democratization, considering that “democracy” is debatable in many of the examples she gives) affect the outcome. This would make her results much more scientifically robust and offer solid proof.

It seems, however, that instead of trying to prove her thesis she is merely trying to describe a phenomenon that is the most likely explanation for several events throughout the world. She transitions easily from example to example, reiterating her point of view and showing how each scenario fits in the context of her argument. Given that her information is accurate, her conclusions seem logical, and aside from a few very interesting history lessons it seems no major ideological breakthroughs are made. Perhaps it is simply the mark of a great writer, but Chua’s observations and conclusions seem obvious. She is not trying to prove a hypothesis as much as she is saying something is true and providing anecdotal examples as supporting evidence. The question then becomes what the point of her writing this is. If it is not to methodologically prove the relationship between free market democracy and ethnic conflict for sheer academic value, then what is it? To raise awareness? To explore possible solutions? To disprove prior theories?

That question is exactly what the reader has in mind after two hundred pages of this message being reinforced. In logical terms, it seems that she spends her entire book defending a premise without drawing a conclusion.  In fact, some of the logical conclusions that could be drawn she rather obviously avoids discussing, even in the most narrow of terms. It seems that in her avoidance of drawing judgments from her work, either because of her reluctance to make broad claims or timidity in saying anything controversial, she discredits or completely diminishes the value of her work. Even one of her most obvious answers, that the United States should stop promoting simultaneous intense market reform and immediate democratization in countries with market-dominant ethnic minorities, she refuses to say directly. Instead, she states, “First, the best economic hope for developing and post-socialist countries lies in some form of market-generated growth. Second, the best political hope for these countries lies in some form of democracy, with constitutional constraints, tailored to local realities. And third, avoiding ethnic oppression and bloodshed must be a constant priority. But if these goals are to be achieved- if global free market democracy is to be peaceably sustainable- then the problem of market-dominant minorities, however unsettling, must be confronted head-on.” (263-264) She then goes on to state feeble policy recommendations that may help remedy these problems, most on the part of the corrupt and often unstable governments that have very limited incentive to do so. By the end it almost feels as if she herself does not believe there is a good solution, and just spent the entire book discussing the problem.

In the end, Amy Chua’s book is a delightfully informative, logically sound (for the most part) and enlightening read. Like many other books, it does well in debunking the neoclassical myth that free market democracy in the purest sense is the answer to all the world’s problems and an invincible catchall policy. This, however, is not a new concept, and in the absence of any further conclusion or salient recommendation Chua’s book fails to be anything but mildly thought-provoking.

Fool by Christopher Moore

“There’s always a bloody ghost, inninit?” It was very difficult for me to stop laughing after reading (the audible.com version on my iPod) Fool by Christopher Moore. I know reviews are few and far between on this site- but this book was so entertaining, I had to recommend it to you. To sum up (and you know as a former English major, and married to an English major, I don’t say this lightly): if Will were around today, he would have busted a gut laughing from the sheer hilarity. Truly, this book pays excellent homage (and only a little bit of fromage)  to the nature and spirit of Shakespearean comedy.

So what does Fool have to do with Shakespeare? Well, Fool is a parody of Shakespeare’s King Lear, written from the perspective of one of the more minor characters: the court jester (the fool). If its been a while since you have read King Lear- think Shakespearean historical tragedy- ghosts, betrayal, and royal intrigue.

The basic plot of the original is this: King Lear, getting old, decides to give his kingdom to his daughters. Being rather vain- he decides to parcel it out according to how much his daughters love him and he asks them as much. His two older (read: evil) daughters, Regan and Goneril give him as much flattery and praise as they can to win a half the kingdom each, but his youngest daughter Cordelia sees through them and refuses to participate, and is so banished to be married to King Geoff of France, even though she actually is the daughter that loves her father the most. Of course, both Regan and Goneril turn on the king in their ever increasing greed, but through the manipulations of Edward of Gloucester (a bastard heir to the Duke of Gloucester) , the two daughters are pitted against each other to their eventual downfall.  Pretty standard tragedy, and a piece of excellent literary work as is everything by Will.

Moore follows the plot of the original with a few slight historical and literary alterations to the effect of changing the tragedy into a bawdy comedy (at one point the characters even discuss whether the story is a comedy or a tragedy). And when I saw bawdy: I don’t mean school children are taught that Shakespearean comedy is bawdy and they don’t get it; I mean the book is full of monkey spunk, ghost shagging, wart-bummed witches, and all manner of prank and villainy. The puns are hilarious, and as long as you are ready for a PG-13 read, you will be rolling on the floor soon enough. What made Fool even funnier for me- is the use of modern English language in the context of 11th century England. Note- that you Americans will have to understand English slang, but since my stint bar tending in a pub, I was well prepared. Given that Moore is an American, it makes it that much more funny.

So my dear reader, head to the library or the bookstore and pick up Fool, by Christopher Moore- the adventures of Pocket the Fool will entertain you in no small measure!

In the musical “Aida,” the pharaohess begins her narration with the line “Every story is a love story.” In China, I would have to argue that “every story is a sad story.” In the course of my East Asian Studies classes, I have read several translated Chinese novels by such famous authors as Lao She, Mo Yan, Lu Xun, and Ma Jian, and I am now embarking on a new adventure, reading my first Chinese novel in Chinese. It seems that all of these writers love to embrace the tragic. In fact, most Chinese authors I’ve read, including the celebrated Chinese-American author Amy Tan, describe the most extreme of sorrowful situations… horrible deaths (such as drowning in a vat of feces), social or political injustice, suicide, abuse and beatings, mothers drowning babies, starvation and dire poverty, even cannibalism. Needless to say, there has been a lot of cruelty, injustice, and suffering in the course of human history, no matter what civilization, that deserves attention. What I don’t understand is that I have not once come across a Chinese novel that is not absolutely tragic. The book I am reading now is called the Age of Tattoos. I have only read the first 12 pages, but this is what has happened so far: Pregnant woman falls through frozen lake on her way to night shift at a Lime factory. Somehow she gives birth in the icy water and manages to save the infant before she dies (by page 2). By page 5, that infant, who is now nine years old, is hit by a train and has his leg amputated. That nine year old’s older brother is partially responsible, and the father beats him relentlessly. Older brother decides to take revenge on father, has his gang of friends beat up his own father. Then the brother’s gang gets in a fight with another gang, and the older brother is stabbed multiple times until his intestines are falling out. He dies.

Anyway, that’s as far as I have read, and I’m almost afraid to continue. It can only get better from here, right?

My theory is that in the West, we love to live vicariously. Watching people on TV with lives better than our own is a way of gaining a little bit of pleasure. I feel that in China it is the reverse, watching or reading about characters with lives much more miserable than your own is a way of making you life seem relatively good. I’ll have to test out this theory.

In the meantime, enjoy your feel good movies and books!

Got back from Penang at 7 a.m this morning, only to walk into an apartment smelling like mold! The reason was quickly spotted, a pool of yellowish water was on the floor downstairs, coming from a leaking wall! Another water damage spot was sighted on the ceiling. Apparently some pipes broke or have been slowly leaking for a while, leaving some water damage. A couple of books that had been sitting next to the leak were irreparably damaged, completely molded over. It was really gross.

I just texted the landlady, hopefully the damage can be fixed and she won’t try to pin it on us (or make us pay for repairs)!

At least in my efforts to learn the word for mold, I found out how to say antibiotics! That could be useful someday.

Right now it is 3 pm in the afternoon, and I am sitting on the second floor patio of a bar/cafe in Beijing drinking a Bailey’s coffee, typing on my shiny new Macbook, (next to my handsome “foreign” boyfriend who is also typing away on his expensive, albeit slightly altitude screwy, Macbook Pro), surrounded by other foreigners drinking Long Island Ice Teas or Coronas with lemon (China is inexplicably and irritatingly void of limes, one has to go to the very gaoji places to get a decent mojito!) listening to Christina Aguilera’s rendition of “Voulez Vous Couchez Avec Moi” while I wave away the stench of ever present cigarette smoke, not from the usual mouths of laobaixing, but from the lipsticked mouths of a few blond foreigners in Armani sunglasses who daintily hold their Virginia slims by the tips of their well-manicured, red polished fingers, and I -needless to say- am in a very bad mood.

Maybe its because the air for the past few days has been so polluted that you can barely see the outline of buildings only a few hundred yards away, maybe its because I don’t have enough Bailey’s in my coffee, maybe its because the bookstore we wanted to go to and spend the afternoon drinking wine is closed for the afternoon, or maybe its due to the fact that I now don’t have the chance to go sit and flip through Glamour or some other trashy magazine. Whatever the reason, I’m pissed and Life Sucks, with a capital L and S. Oh the hard life of a foreigner in China! The shortage of raunchy English fashion magazines and juicy green limes is so disheartening! Luckily only 7 more days until I get back to civilization.

Whoever said that March goes in like a lion and out like a lamb must not have been in college. The weather has gotten milder, yes, and even towards the pleasant end at times, but the workload and insanity of the TA’s is, I believe, inversely proportionate to the temperature. While March started off in a dull lull (say that three times fast) of huddled masses, runny noses and procrastinated homework assignments, there was generally enough free time and ease to happly idle the hours away.

Now that spring break’s over, everyone’s gone crazy. Projects pile up like cow dung in a barn, impending tests loom with the threat of panic attacks and mental breakdowns, injuries abound beneath packs of books and pollen allergies, and despite the occasional spring romance and beautiful day, faces around campus appear as gloomy as ever.

I can’t wait for the weekend; at least I, after a crucial statistics test on friday, have an enjoyable weekend ahead of me, which is a lot more than I can say for any week in the next month.