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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
I had to read this for class and it was honestly so wonderful. The language was obviously language from back then and I hated how they talked about black people and women but I read this book so quickly!! The main character wasn’t my favorite until the end when he told that story about going to church with his friend when he was on that internment camp that was when I started to love him. Great book honestly.
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(9/9/24) way better a second time! Ichiro’s so introspective and very intense. Such an amazing novel.
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(9/9/24) way better a second time! Ichiro’s so introspective and very intense. Such an amazing novel.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I see why many older Japanese still find this book to be troubling and will not read it.
John Okada wrote a beautiful sad story of Ichiro. A Japanese American who struggles assimilating back into society after being released from prison after the war. He comes home to a conflicting home with a brother who wants nothing to do with him, a drunk father, and a mother who refuses to believe Japan lost the war. He finds himself struggling to be an “American” and looks for answers to help him understand his belonging. This story tugged on my heartstrings and helped me better understand the struggles of Japanese Americans after ww2. I was completely ignorant of the issues they faced and this story shed light on what it means to search for the American dream.
don't mind me catching up on reviews from a month ago
anyway reading this book was a really cool experience because i had the chance (shoutout isaac!) to meet shaun wong, one of the key players in getting it republished and publicized. he had some pretty valuable insights into the asian-american experience and taking on the publishing industry and its both beautiful and heartbreaking to think of all the care that went into making this one book known and all the similar works that may have slipped away. the story itself was also v interesting and i really appreciated how every character represents a different reaction to the war and how it played out. many of these characters are also quite timeless and many people in the discussion found they could still relate.
anyway reading this book was a really cool experience because i had the chance (shoutout isaac!) to meet shaun wong, one of the key players in getting it republished and publicized. he had some pretty valuable insights into the asian-american experience and taking on the publishing industry and its both beautiful and heartbreaking to think of all the care that went into making this one book known and all the similar works that may have slipped away. the story itself was also v interesting and i really appreciated how every character represents a different reaction to the war and how it played out. many of these characters are also quite timeless and many people in the discussion found they could still relate.
I really enjoyed this book. While the story is about a Japanese-American man after WWII, the themes of the story are timeless and it’s easy to imagine the same story set in post-9/11 America with a Muslim-American as the protagonist. While Ichiro’s choices were at times frustrating as he allowed his own feelings of doubt and worthlessness get in the way of potential good opportunities, it also feels relatable and true to real life. Strongly recommended.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes