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chelsbels's review against another edition
1.0
This book is horrid. It’s all we and some of us etc it was the most boring non story I have ever read. It’s almost like a never ending poem.
hanaka's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
flyer_ch's review against another edition
4.0
A poignant story, written in an original, delicate, style using the first person plural narration. We accompany closely these mail order brides through all their ordeals from landing in the US till their shameful deportation.
amstrzyz's review against another edition
4.0
Intense look at Japanese women who moved to America and created as life for themselves pre and post Pearl Harbor. While I was familiar with their struggles, this book opened my eyes to a different world. The collective first person narration made this an even more powerful book.
lizzielou356's review against another edition
4.0
A strong 4….4+? It was only not a 5 star because it took me a while to get beyond the usage of first person plural. You really don’t see that very much. I went into this book with zero expectations or even awareness of what it was about. It was a good education for me. And lovely in the writing. My heart broke a little for these women but also I cheered for their successes and rooted them on.
The longest story was the final one, told from the “regular” Americans left behind. I felt impatient with that, perhaps because I knew that part of the story?
I’m excited to read more by Otsuka. Hope to hit a couple in the next few months.
The longest story was the final one, told from the “regular” Americans left behind. I felt impatient with that, perhaps because I knew that part of the story?
I’m excited to read more by Otsuka. Hope to hit a couple in the next few months.
whatever_andra's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lizzybaby's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was interesting but I found using the collective pronoun and not concentrating on specific characters kept me at a distance from the emotional impact.
teresatumminello's review against another edition
4.0
As with most short stories or novellas, this almost 'prose-poem' of a book is probably best if you can read it straight through, in this case to get the full effect of its incantatory prose.
Though it's mostly told in first-person plural, it reminded me of the style of Tim O'Brien's [b:The Things They Carried|133518|The Things They Carried|Tim O'Brien|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1424663847l/133518._SY75_.jpg|1235619], another treatment where what seems like 'just' a list of things is so much more. It does what I feel literature does better than 'knowing the facts': reminding us, showing us, that behind the 'numbers' are individuals.
Be sure to read the author's note at the end to see whose words she uses for her fictional mayor's. It makes an important part of history even more relevant to today.
Though it's mostly told in first-person plural, it reminded me of the style of Tim O'Brien's [b:The Things They Carried|133518|The Things They Carried|Tim O'Brien|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1424663847l/133518._SY75_.jpg|1235619], another treatment where what seems like 'just' a list of things is so much more. It does what I feel literature does better than 'knowing the facts': reminding us, showing us, that behind the 'numbers' are individuals.
Be sure to read the author's note at the end to see whose words she uses for her fictional mayor's. It makes an important part of history even more relevant to today.