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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
We read this one for bookgroup and had a good time talking about it. It takes place in the Seattle area in both the 1940s and the 1980s. A middle-aged man whose wife has recently died recalls his childhood during the war. He is the son of Chinese immigrants. Against his father's orders, he befriends a young Japanese girl who ends up in an internment camp. It is a story about war, love, jazz, friendship, immigration, and growing up. I liked it even if some of it was a bit unrealistic.
I appreciated this book in that it offered me a new perspective on WW2. Told from the perspective of a Chinese-American boy in Seattle when Pearl Harbor was bombed and the years after. His best friend was a Japanese-American girl, and the book gave a brief perspective of what it was like for those put into internment camps for their “protection”.
emotional
slow-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:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I work at a bookstore and this book was one of our selected titles to aggressively recommend to customers. I picked it up fully expecting to dislike it based on the quality of previous books that were similarly picked for us to recommend to customers. Despite my expectations I was surprised to find myself really liking this book. I primarily read science fiction and fantasy so, for me, this was a step way outside my norm. The story was enjoyable, and for me this is the most important thing to me when I am reading. I also thought that it was well written and was a smooth read.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was bothered by the inconsistencies of the era, but I may try this book again some time in the future.
Another great read...too tired to write much of a review but it was a fascinating look at Seattle's Japantown and the internment camps during WWII through the relationship between Henry, a 12 year old Chinese boy and Keiko, a 12 year old Japanese-American girl.
“to keiko, the sweetest, most beautiful american girl i’ve ever known.” SHUT UP!
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-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:
Yes