Book Review: A Year Without “Made In China”
Remember that sweet adventure I was able to take with Beth?
I brought a book with me.
Because I thought I might actually be able to read it.
And – you know what?
I did read it.
I really did.
It literally jumped out at me from the library’s shelf. I was looking for a novel – some escapist literature, if you will, for an escapist trip.
But I picked up Sara Bongiorni’s A Year Without “Made in China” instead.
In the end,
I am really glad I did.
Bongiorni is a reporter and a mother and a label checker. She and her husband made jokes for years about the idea that it seemed as if every label for every purchase in their home read “made in China”. They decided to see if China really was cornering the free market so their family staged a bit of a boycott and an unofficial experiment and declared that they would purchase no “made in China” products for one full year.
She writes in a pleasant, engaging and amusing fashion that never hints at a preachy tone.
There is no self-righteousness in her story and she somehow writes about her family’s experiences, beliefs and findings, without ever implying that others should be guilted into doing the same or that she is morally superior than her readers for her choices. It really is a grand experiment for the family and they aren’t even sure if they understand exactly the implications of their boycott – or the meaning behind it either.
I finished the book with three primary thoughts. (Some of which are obviously more important than others. But that’s just how thoughts work, right?)
One – Purchasing non-Chinese items is actually pretty darn difficult, it seems. Particularly clothing, shoes and toys. (Just take a look at the tags in your closets and in your toy boxes. Seriously.)
Two – Perhaps we should consider how China’s role in the global economy is actually affecting American businesses. And then perhaps we should do something about that.
Three – I want to do something with our kids for a year and then write a book about it.
So.
I think Bongiorni might have intended me to think ideas one and two.
But as for idea number three – well, I don’t know.
But I am thinking it nonetheless.
And now all I need are . . . suggestions.
Who has them?
(No. Really. This is the part of today when you stop what you are doing, you put down the coffee cup and the organic whole grain muffin and you respond to my question.)
What should the Keigleys do for a year that I can write about? (Or six months or two weeks? Whatever.)
13 Comments
ruthannfloyd
First, i love Ben's comment- it is refreshing and funny. And here is my idea: A year without tv. It would be really hard, but could be worth it.
laceykeigley
Let’s see – convincing Kevin to give up the TV for a year would be the real story there.
LaceyKeigley
Actually – I think this would be cool.
LaceyKeigley
You make me laugh!
LaceyKeigley
Man.
This is a list to be reckoned with.
And I like it.
LaceyKeigley
That could be pretty funny.
The Year We Made Ben Brown Do Things.
LaceyKeigley
Thanks!
I imagine I will keep doing what I am doing – but probably because I am lazy!
carlyn
You should just keep doing what you are doing we already like to read it.
Marie from Germany
Everyone learns German.
Christopher
Get Ben Brown something to do because obviously he has a lot of time on his hands.
ben
Kayak the Amazon River Basin.
Build a moat around your house and study its affects on your visitors.
Try to actually find the end of a rainbow and whomsoever may be sitting there with a pot o' gold.
Discover oil on your property and move to Beverly Hills.
Live without electricity, or pick a decade/year and only live with the modern conveniences available then.
Only eat locusts and wild honey.
Wear clown make-up.
Avoid using zippers.
Everyone in your family adopts the same first name.
Open a biker bar.
Learn to ice sculpt.
Celebrate July 4th everyday.
Practice Buddhism.
Practice Amishism.
Practice banjo.
Buy a Partridge Family bus and start a family band.
Only eat foods Jesus would have eaten.
Only eat foods Frodo would have eaten.
Purchase a Delorean and take it over 88mph.
Sail around the world.
Attempt every activity found in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Attempt every activity found in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Discover an alternate universe in a wardrobe.
Publish a book of poetry written by your family.
Mandy
My stream of consciousness about your needed ideas: eat only local food for a season, but Barbara Kingsolver already did this and wrote a book about it; tell the kids they don't have to take a bath for two weeks, but that would be gross and no one would want to hang out with you; share your faith with some one new everyday, but that may be more something you could do and not so much the wee ones; travel around the USA in an RV for a year, but then Kevin would lose his job. All that to say I have no ideas what you should do.
Gretchen
Travel around North America in an RV.