bcgg's review against another edition
3.0
A vey unique style of writing I found very engaging. Definitely one to read. I know I will be thinking of these tightly written stories well into the future because of the insights it presented.
thatsevenbetter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
kaddyren's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mimima's review against another edition
3.75
If it were longer, the first-person plural may have gotten annoying, but for this length it was very effective in telling the story of these women while communicating that they were individuals with singular stories.
Having grown up in the Northern California foothill region, so many of the places were familiar.
Having grown up in the Northern California foothill region, so many of the places were familiar.
quickolive32's review against another edition
5.0
Although this is fictionalized the stories are well researched. The author notes her research in the Acknowledgements. It seems its not enough to just say that it was extremely sad what Japanese people went through when immigrating to the United States. I recently learned that there were once almost a hundred Japantowns in the United States and now there are just five left.
The last chapter, written from the perspective of other Americans that weren't interned, includes this chilling passage:
> You can still see the official notices nailed to the telephone poles on the street corners downtown, but already they are beginning to tatter and fade, and after last week's heavy spring rains only the large black letters on top -- Instructions to All Persons of Japanese Ancestry -- are still legible. But what it was, exactly, that these instructions spelled out, none of us can clearly recall. One man vaguely remembers a no-pets directive as well as a designated point of departure. ... Many of us admit that although we passed by the notices every day on our way into town, it never occurred to us to stop and read one. "They weren't for us," we say. Or, "I was always in a rush." Or, "I couldn't make out a thing because the writing was just so small."
In these times when a type of fascism is on the rise around the world and even in the United States, these words should serve as a reminder of what we shouldn't do.
The last chapter, written from the perspective of other Americans that weren't interned, includes this chilling passage:
> You can still see the official notices nailed to the telephone poles on the street corners downtown, but already they are beginning to tatter and fade, and after last week's heavy spring rains only the large black letters on top -- Instructions to All Persons of Japanese Ancestry -- are still legible. But what it was, exactly, that these instructions spelled out, none of us can clearly recall. One man vaguely remembers a no-pets directive as well as a designated point of departure. ... Many of us admit that although we passed by the notices every day on our way into town, it never occurred to us to stop and read one. "They weren't for us," we say. Or, "I was always in a rush." Or, "I couldn't make out a thing because the writing was just so small."
In these times when a type of fascism is on the rise around the world and even in the United States, these words should serve as a reminder of what we shouldn't do.
elliemcc11's review against another edition
4.0
very quick read. took jzust two sessions. interesting novel.
jkwelch's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed every line. Each phrase or sentence packed volumes of emotion and truth without bogging down the message with details. Beautifully written and memorable - not because of the story it tells in general, but because of the feelings it stirs within.
mattreadsalot's review against another edition
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.75
rosamondreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0