Scan barcode
njean927's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
5.0
whimsy_and_rigor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I enjoyed Swimmers more, but this is an incredibly well-researched book about Japanese “picture brides.” It has Otsuka’s distinct style, which works to capture all of the voices of all of the women represented. The parts where the women spoke of the evacuation orders was powerful and unsettling. The final chapter from a white person’s POV was an excellent idea and well executed.
jcoryv's review against another edition
5.0
Great read. An important book, I think. A group of misled mail-order Japanese brides followed from their homeland to America in the early 1900's, on through their internment in prison camps during WWII. It provides interesting insight into the different ways individuals cope with similar circumstances, and how folks end up in widely varied positions in life from similar beginnings.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
matthewchoi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
vtlism's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Such a cool book for a nerd like me. Beautiful 1st person plural voice and a collective plot.
baconbre's review against another edition
4.0
This book was very eye opening it made me want to know more. I will definitely be researching more on the topic. The way the book ended with other people’s perspectives, and not much information about what happened to the people was disorienting. After so much in depth information, and then to be denied any knowledge was like a kick to the gut.
heidilreads's review against another edition
this book is written in a easy-to-read, interesting style. however, i chose not to finish it because i was looking for one story. i wanted a beginning, middle and end. this book wasn't about that. i think i didn't feel like i had such limited time to enjoy reading, i might re-read this because it was a cute story.
jojobrown's review against another edition
3.0
So I had to read this book for my Women and Gender Studies class that I'm currently in at college. Though this book didn't necessarily leave me floored, it definitely served it's purpose in trying to open up my eyes and show me a history of Japanese women that has never truly been shown before in modern american literature.
It is written from a very interesting perspective of almost-first-person but where the first person is almost a casual observer to the situation. It is essentially non-fiction work, and follows the lives of not just one women but many Japanese women from their time on the boat coming to America, to the time they are forced by the president to leave because of the war.
It struck me how for all of these women's lives they have served to work and lived to serve man after man, and those more privileged than they. There were moments that were especially shocking to me like in the chapter about babies where they spoke about the various types of births they give whether it be easy or difficult or even caused some women to die in childbirth. It was also interesting how some women loved their husbands who had lied about their occupation and wealth to get them to America to help in the fields, and others hated them with the most passionate hate I've ever seen. Rightfully so in my opinion.
But what astounded me most is the women's undying faith that things would turn around or get better as long as they did what they were supposed to do. It then really saddened me when they were all forced out of the homes and lives they had spent so long trying to build for themselves in America. It was unfortunate that they were grouped in with the terrorist Japanese of the time, and even though they had nothing to do with it, they were the ones who suffered more so.
Overall, I thought this book was done well especially for the style of writing the author chose to use. It is an important piece of work that features the lives of many voices who have gone unheard for much too long, and I'm glad it was given to us to read.
It is written from a very interesting perspective of almost-first-person but where the first person is almost a casual observer to the situation. It is essentially non-fiction work, and follows the lives of not just one women but many Japanese women from their time on the boat coming to America, to the time they are forced by the president to leave because of the war.
It struck me how for all of these women's lives they have served to work and lived to serve man after man, and those more privileged than they. There were moments that were especially shocking to me like in the chapter about babies where they spoke about the various types of births they give whether it be easy or difficult or even caused some women to die in childbirth. It was also interesting how some women loved their husbands who had lied about their occupation and wealth to get them to America to help in the fields, and others hated them with the most passionate hate I've ever seen. Rightfully so in my opinion.
But what astounded me most is the women's undying faith that things would turn around or get better as long as they did what they were supposed to do. It then really saddened me when they were all forced out of the homes and lives they had spent so long trying to build for themselves in America. It was unfortunate that they were grouped in with the terrorist Japanese of the time, and even though they had nothing to do with it, they were the ones who suffered more so.
Overall, I thought this book was done well especially for the style of writing the author chose to use. It is an important piece of work that features the lives of many voices who have gone unheard for much too long, and I'm glad it was given to us to read.