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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
This was an assigned college book almost 20 years ago and I've held onto it for that long. I remember loving it but it's time to minimize my bookshelves and let someone else read it.
Read this one for class. What an awesome read. Monica Sone provides an excellent account of the complicated life faced by the Nisei Japanese-Americans before and during World War II.
A fantastic memoir about growing up Japanese-American before WWII, and the subsequent internment of all people of Japanese descent during the war. The author uses beautiful language and imagery to describe her childhood in Seattle, and skillfully covers twenty-odd years of her life in a relatively short book.
I had to read this book for my Pacific Northwest History class, but I enjoyed it spectacularly. The biggest draw, I think, was the character aspect. I loved Kuziko/Monica; her spirit shone brightly out of the pages and may have darted out to kick my shins once or twice, then darted away laughing. Her parents were also a riot. The things they said, they just felt so authentic and true and non-preachy, while still allowing for human (reader) empathy and emotion.
Actually, reading this book felt a lot like listening to a story from my mother, even though my mother is not Japanese, was born after WWII, and lived in Chicago. It felt like it could have been a story from her childhood, about growing up in the city. And that is really why I gave this book 5 stars, despite telling numerous anecdotes on every page, many of which did not end up relating to one another (it felt a bit disorganized): this book was really able to cut across time and get to the crux of humans. Humans and their hearts, their hopes, and dreams. Even though it was about a bleak and depressing subject (racism and Japanese interment camps) this book gave me such an indescribable feeling of hope. Hope for America.
Actually, reading this book felt a lot like listening to a story from my mother, even though my mother is not Japanese, was born after WWII, and lived in Chicago. It felt like it could have been a story from her childhood, about growing up in the city. And that is really why I gave this book 5 stars, despite telling numerous anecdotes on every page, many of which did not end up relating to one another (it felt a bit disorganized): this book was really able to cut across time and get to the crux of humans. Humans and their hearts, their hopes, and dreams. Even though it was about a bleak and depressing subject (racism and Japanese interment camps) this book gave me such an indescribable feeling of hope. Hope for America.
An absolutely wonderful first hand account by Monica Sone of her difficult experiences growing up as a Nisei child who also encountered the American Japanese internment camps of World War II.
Monica's riding was fluid, thoughtful, and oftentimes poetic as she was able to convey both the somber reality that she faced along with many humorous notations that left me smiling or even giggling.
I couldn't recommend this book enough and hope everyone gets a chance to read it.
Monica's riding was fluid, thoughtful, and oftentimes poetic as she was able to convey both the somber reality that she faced along with many humorous notations that left me smiling or even giggling.
I couldn't recommend this book enough and hope everyone gets a chance to read it.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Being a second-generation Chinese growing up in America, I could relate a lot to Ms. Sone in terms of growing up with two different cultural identities--never quite being the same as the other kids at school, but also not fitting in with the first-generation migrants. It was also interesting to read about a first-person viewpoint on WWII from a Japanese-American's perspective. I didn't really know a lot about the Japanese internment camps themselves before reading this book, so it was enlightening. Ms. Sone was pretty positive about the whole experience which I thought was nice.
This was one of the book options for a class' summer assignment. I'm glad I chose it!
This was one of the book options for a class' summer assignment. I'm glad I chose it!
challenging
tense
slow-paced
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Great, positive book. Quite funny and fun to hear about Seattle in the 1930-1940's. She's very positive about the Japanese internment which is commendable