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marielaloo's review against another edition
5.0
HOLY. SWEET. MOTHER. OF. GOD.
this book hurt me in a lot of places. it's hard to put down, the horrors within the pages just stays with you so might as well read it til the end. everyone should read it. everyone should know. everyone mustn't forget.
please.
this book hurt me in a lot of places. it's hard to put down, the horrors within the pages just stays with you so might as well read it til the end. everyone should read it. everyone should know. everyone mustn't forget.
please.
geve_'s review against another edition
5.0
Incredibly detailed account of the events leading up to the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, the death march, prison and work camps and the long road back from all of it. I appreciated the critical points regarding Macarthur's ego and mistakes that led to the occupation of the Philippines and thousands and thousands of deaths that followed. Though this was clearly an American based story, I was glad to read at least some Japanese perspectives taken from diaries etc, as well as the few Filipino stories, though I really wished for more of these. There was a bit too much pre-war backstory, and those chapters sometimes took away from the rest of the book.
I was a little surprised by the slightly biased take at the end of the book regarding the military tribunal. I originally wrote a whole essay about this, but deleted it as it really wasn't that relevant to a book review. What I will say is that the book made me think very deeply about this, and who bears responsibility in cases such as these. I strongly agree that the trial of General Homma was not conducted fairly, and relied on the need for vengeance at a time of great pain among Americans. This is of course familiar, as many times in history we have used fear and pain to move against enemies unjustly. I didn't appreciate the tactic of using the general's family as a means of humanizing him. Certainly he loved his wife and she him, and she had great respect for him. That has no bearing at all on his possible crimes. As is expertly illuminated by Sereni in Into that Darkness, a person may love their families and still be capable of the absolute worst crimes against humanity. At any rate, Homma received an unfair trial. He deserved to be held responsible for his part in the crimes, but I don't agree with the outcome or the means.
I am very glad to have read this book, and was greatly informed by doing so.
Pros:
amazingly well researched, detailed and informative
information from all sides
included the whole timeline
very thought provoking
Cons:
needed more Filipino perspectives
too much pre-war personal backstory.
highly recommend.
I was a little surprised by the slightly biased take at the end of the book regarding the military tribunal. I originally wrote a whole essay about this, but deleted it as it really wasn't that relevant to a book review. What I will say is that the book made me think very deeply about this, and who bears responsibility in cases such as these. I strongly agree that the trial of General Homma was not conducted fairly, and relied on the need for vengeance at a time of great pain among Americans. This is of course familiar, as many times in history we have used fear and pain to move against enemies unjustly. I didn't appreciate the tactic of using the general's family as a means of humanizing him. Certainly he loved his wife and she him, and she had great respect for him. That has no bearing at all on his possible crimes. As is expertly illuminated by Sereni in Into that Darkness, a person may love their families and still be capable of the absolute worst crimes against humanity. At any rate, Homma received an unfair trial. He deserved to be held responsible for his part in the crimes, but I don't agree with the outcome or the means.
I am very glad to have read this book, and was greatly informed by doing so.
Pros:
amazingly well researched, detailed and informative
information from all sides
included the whole timeline
very thought provoking
Cons:
needed more Filipino perspectives
too much pre-war personal backstory.
highly recommend.
simplymary's review against another edition
4.0
I gave this book five stars because I thought the research was exceptional, it was an absolutely fresh look at a very worn-out topic (WWII), and it was the first book on war I've read that captured the mindset, worldview, and experiences of BOTH sides (in this case, American and Japanese). The couple who co-wrote it obviously brought in their own areas of expertise and experience, and I just can't imagine how much time and effort it must have taken to interview so many people and dig up the kind of information that is interlaced throughout. The nice thing is that it's a gripping and captivating read, using as the main thread the true story of a boy from Montana who endures the Bataan Death March in the Philippines, in part by discovering his talent for drawing (his moving sketches are found throughout the book). The bad thing is that it's a really gruesome tale: gory details, crushing disappointments, depressing medical diagnoses, and the horror of man vs. man. I'll never forget one quote of a survivor describing the emaciated body of his comrade whom he comforted in his final hour: "If his parents could see his body, like hide stretched over a skeleton, they would never stop crying." Sigh. So you might want to have an upbeat, funny book to turn to when this one seems like the pain will never end. However, it's just such an important story that I feel everyone should know what really happened there in the Pacific. I will say that the rosy synopsis I was given of General MacArthur in high school history was seriously challenged by these authors, and I was hanging onto each word in the last chapter to find out the fate of the Japanese general whom I came to love. This is one of those books that helps you put your life and challenges into perspective, and is a sobering reminder of how many blessings we take for granted.
nnowels's review against another edition
4.0
After months of reading, yes, I finally finished this book. I had to read lighter books in between fragments. Ended up buying it so I wouldn't feel guilty monopolizing the library copy. Such a heartbreaking tale, especially if you've met survivors and their families. A fitting tribute to "my boys," but it made me ache for them and the hardships they endured.
mokey81's review against another edition
5.0
This is an incredible book. I definitely recommend it. I was needing some nonfiction in my life. This book satisfied that need as well as offering an interesting read rather than the dryness often attributed to nonfiction. This is the story of the Bataan Death March. You hear all the details from before the March to a soldier going home and war criminals put on trial. It was interesting. It was moving (I found myself on the verge of tears so many times and sobbing at one time). This is incredibly well-written. Please read this.
pharmdad2007's review against another edition
4.0
This is an unbelievable account of the atrocities committed on the Bataan Peninsula during the latter years of World War II. A must - read for history lovers.
rseykora's review against another edition
4.0
I learned a lot from this book about the battle/ death march in the Philippians. I appreciated that the author provided some Japanese perspective; not focusing only on the US/Philippian experience.
mrsjulietfox's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book about Bataan and the experience of American POW's in the Pacific. I'm running the Bataan Memorial Death March next weekend, and I wanted to understand exactly what happened a little better. After reading this, I know it will be an incredibly emotional experience, as I cried multiple times throughout the book. Though the authors primarily follow one particular solider, Ben Steele, they also describe the experiences of many different soldiers, officers, Japanese soldiers, and others. It was very well-researched and well-written, and, despite having to take a bit of a break because of the heartbreaking material, I got through it quickly.
madtattler's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
kimk's review against another edition
4.0
Had a hard time deciding between 3 and 4 stars. Ultimately went with 4 because of all I learned from this book. I was aware of the Bataan Death March but never knew about the specifics of the March and the atrocities that followed. General Douglas MacArthur played a major role in the American defeat and the plight the solders were left in on the Bataan Peninsula. Throughout the conflict and even after defeat, he failed to acknowledge his responsibility for his actions and was even awarded a Medal of Honor. He escaped and left his troops in the horrible situation he brought upon them.
The book claims to follow the story of one soldier, Ben Steele, a young cowboy from Montana. However, the author did a very poor job of following Ben's story until the 2nd half of the book. Throughout the book, there are random awkardly-placed flashbacks to Ben's life in Montana.
After very informative descriptions of the Death March and the horrible conditions and brutalities the American and Filipino POWs endured for the 3 years following the March,the author failed to give a clear picture of the years after the end of the war, both in Ben's life and that of other POWs. Instead, he concentrated on what he, the author, believed was the unfair conviction of the Japanese General Homma in the post-war trials of Japanese war criminals. I agree that MacArthur should have had no role in these trials but I also believe that General Homma should have known what his officers were doing to the POWs. If he did not, as the author apparently believed, the author should have provided the information on who was making the decisions regarding POW treatment and why General Homma was oblivious to these decisions.
Overall, very informative.
The book claims to follow the story of one soldier, Ben Steele, a young cowboy from Montana. However, the author did a very poor job of following Ben's story until the 2nd half of the book. Throughout the book, there are random awkardly-placed flashbacks to Ben's life in Montana.
After very informative descriptions of the Death March and the horrible conditions and brutalities the American and Filipino POWs endured for the 3 years following the March,the author failed to give a clear picture of the years after the end of the war, both in Ben's life and that of other POWs. Instead, he concentrated on what he, the author, believed was the unfair conviction of the Japanese General Homma in the post-war trials of Japanese war criminals. I agree that MacArthur should have had no role in these trials but I also believe that General Homma should have known what his officers were doing to the POWs. If he did not, as the author apparently believed, the author should have provided the information on who was making the decisions regarding POW treatment and why General Homma was oblivious to these decisions.
Overall, very informative.