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bentohbox's review against another edition
4.0
A pretty well-done memoir that ties together history, culture, and family. I really appreciated what I learned from this book, but sometimes it really dipped into lots of guilt and that pulled me out of the spell of the narrative I think..
basically_books's review against another edition
1.0
Do you enjoy listening to a person write an entire autobiography about what a horrible person they are and not really doing much to change it and better themselves? Well, do I have the book for you!!
I read this book for book club. After a few days of listening to the audiobook and letting it dampen my mood, continuously marveling at what an atrocious person the author is, and wondering why on EARTH she's pretending like any of her behavior is okay - I decided it was in my best interest to put this book down.
The author wants absolutely nothing to do with her Okinawan heritage, yet when she discusses what Okinawans went through and their history, she refers to them as "we." Between that and the way she treated people around her, I can't fathom why she decided to write this book. Some people have incredible, page turning life stories. Elizabeth doesn't.
Don't waste your time or mental energy.
I read this book for book club. After a few days of listening to the audiobook and letting it dampen my mood, continuously marveling at what an atrocious person the author is, and wondering why on EARTH she's pretending like any of her behavior is okay - I decided it was in my best interest to put this book down.
The author wants absolutely nothing to do with her Okinawan heritage, yet when she discusses what Okinawans went through and their history, she refers to them as "we." Between that and the way she treated people around her, I can't fathom why she decided to write this book. Some people have incredible, page turning life stories. Elizabeth doesn't.
Don't waste your time or mental energy.
pnw_classicelegance's review against another edition
4.0
Wow - lots of thoughts. Will update with more later but as of right now definitely worth a five star.
missalyssa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
aliireads's review against another edition
4.0
Well written. So much important information about the history of Okinawa that i never knew. Also makes me think a lot about my mom and her experience in the us. I like the way the book is written and how it flows
unicornbanzaiiking's review against another edition
2.0
I was really excited to read this. A very interesting memoir but her belief that all white people are racist and America is the only country that has done terrible things was disruptive to appreciating the deeper more sincere story about her search for identity and redemption. She implies that two people who are not the same race or speak the same language cannot love each other. These things download throughout the book just took away from an otherwise incredible story.
I'll never understand people who blame their parents for loving and caring for them.
I'll never understand people who blame their parents for loving and caring for them.
lisa03's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this memoir - the author and I are similar, because we both have an Okinawan mom and a dad who was in the military when they met! Like the author, I don't really have a strong connection to my half-Okinawan side. Our similarities probably end about there. I really respect this memoir, because the author is brutally honest about herself and her parents. There are times when she was pretty hard on her mom, and her mom was also unstable when the author was growing up. She chronicles her search for identity and how in the process she begins to understand her mother more. The book alternates between chapters about her and her parents with chapters that explain Okinawa's history.
luckyniko's review against another edition
4.0
i liked this book but actually i didn't because i cried so hard i had to take a nap.
4 stars because it was touching and the historical facts about okinawa were really interesting.
///spoilers//// like... im not kidding.
liiiiiiike, i know she was just a kid but its so fucked up that she wouldnt even try to communicate with her mom. i can only barely comprehend the crippling loneliness her mom must have felt to have no one (husband or offspring) try to know you? and to lash out because you're in pain and to be dismissed?? i sobbed and EMK if you see me in the streets... we are boxing. im glad things are turning around though, like honestly.
4 stars because it was touching and the historical facts about okinawa were really interesting.
///spoilers//// like... im not kidding.
liiiiiiike, i know she was just a kid but its so fucked up that she wouldnt even try to communicate with her mom. i can only barely comprehend the crippling loneliness her mom must have felt to have no one (husband or offspring) try to know you? and to lash out because you're in pain and to be dismissed?? i sobbed and EMK if you see me in the streets... we are boxing. im glad things are turning around though, like honestly.
tammys_take's review against another edition
4.0
Brutal, raw and often difficult to listen to as the author gives voice to what it feels like to be a child born of an American military service man and an Okinawan mother, and to grow up in a small town in upstate New York. This book resonated with my own experiences growing up, the internalized racism, the feeling of not fitting in, being exoticized or invisible, the dynamics of power and dysfunction in relationships. While this author explores all the hardship, there is also a lot of healing and growth. A beautiful story of self-discovery and reconciliation.