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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
chillstock's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This book is one of the hardest reads I’ve had in a while, and I read a lot of hard books. But it will stay with me.
guybrarian133's review against another edition
5.0
Until now, my perception of the Okinawan/Ryukyu Islands and its people were that they had something of a distinct identity, but a distinctness in the way that people from separate areas of the United States are distinct from one another. In other words, I still saw them as inherently Japanese. Suffice to say, Speak, Okinawa provided me with quite an education on the matter that I am feeling quite grateful for.
However, that history lesson was something that I completely expected, and it was the main drive to seek out the book in the very first place. What I didn't expect was the extent to which the author going to share details from her own life. She brings forth a blunt, intense, and raw honesty as she talks about her family and her lifelong and still ongoing journey to understand her own identity. There are plenty of heart-wrenching and painful moments that are shared with a lack of hesitation that I honestly respect immensely. Also, although the story told here is uniquely and beautifully hers and hers alone, at the exact same time there managed to be points that felt more than a little familiar as she described her complex relationship with her parents and ongoing efforts to understand herself.
A major thanks to Elizabeth Mikki Brina for both the history lesson and her willingness to open herself up so much to readers like myself.
However, that history lesson was something that I completely expected, and it was the main drive to seek out the book in the very first place. What I didn't expect was the extent to which the author going to share details from her own life. She brings forth a blunt, intense, and raw honesty as she talks about her family and her lifelong and still ongoing journey to understand her own identity. There are plenty of heart-wrenching and painful moments that are shared with a lack of hesitation that I honestly respect immensely. Also, although the story told here is uniquely and beautifully hers and hers alone, at the exact same time there managed to be points that felt more than a little familiar as she described her complex relationship with her parents and ongoing efforts to understand herself.
A major thanks to Elizabeth Mikki Brina for both the history lesson and her willingness to open herself up so much to readers like myself.
mkmaya's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed reading this book, but it didn’t hit me quite as hard as Crying in Hmart.
letstalkreads's review against another edition
5.0
Memoir with a lot of good historical information about Okinawa. I really enjoyed the end section, when she visited Japan/Okinawa with her parents and intermingled it with thoughts and her parents story. I was impressed by her creative way to reconcile her complex feelings about her relationship to her mother and her identity.
Trigger warnings- multiple.
Trigger warnings- multiple.
thatclaregirl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
mia_w's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a while to get into this book - the writing was a bit choppy and lacked some heart (to me) in the beginning, but it gets better. I had a hard time connecting with the author overall as she and I had very different relationships with our parents, and I do think she gets a bit preachy at times, but I still think her perspective and her voice are important. I just wanted her to give Okinawa more of its own voice, too, to get to 5 stars.
alyssayoho's review
4.0
I don’t have words quite yet, but so many more people need to read this. So honest and beautifully written. I felt like I was alongside her for every moment she recorded. If she ever releases another book, I’ll be there.