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debbiecollectsbooks's review
4.0
Devastating
Devastating, heartfelt stories. Personal stories and experiences from people living in Japan at the time of the earth quake and how they dealt with the unknown.
Devastating, heartfelt stories. Personal stories and experiences from people living in Japan at the time of the earth quake and how they dealt with the unknown.
melissa_427's review
3.0
This is was such an intersting compilation of reflections from Japan's March 2011 earthquake/tsunami. People from all over the world, primarily from Japan or with a connection to Japan shared their experience and emotions regarding the event. Via a man and his Twitter account (perhaps other social media) this book came together quickly and served to rasie funds for the disaster - really, an impressive and interesting project.
"To support Japan, what I would say is this: Simply do what you do everyday, but do it better. Go to school or to work but with passion and energy. Engage your neighbors or community but whit more sympathy and compassion than you ever have. Let these historic moments move you, inspire you and invigorate you for as long as the feeling lasts because, believe me, that initial adrenaline and humanitarian solidarity will wear off. Ride it as long as you can. Let it make you be a better person, and let it wake you up from the complacency in your life." (pg. 31/location 592)
"The depth of one's emotions is not necessarily proportional to the level of emotion being expressed." (pg. 82/location 1746).
"From the outside, we may act calm and cheerful to the point of seeming creepy. But do understnad: We are crying inside, we are gritting our teeth, often literally. I seem to have developed a constant crease in my forehead." (pg. 83/location 1760).
"To support Japan, what I would say is this: Simply do what you do everyday, but do it better. Go to school or to work but with passion and energy. Engage your neighbors or community but whit more sympathy and compassion than you ever have. Let these historic moments move you, inspire you and invigorate you for as long as the feeling lasts because, believe me, that initial adrenaline and humanitarian solidarity will wear off. Ride it as long as you can. Let it make you be a better person, and let it wake you up from the complacency in your life." (pg. 31/location 592)
"The depth of one's emotions is not necessarily proportional to the level of emotion being expressed." (pg. 82/location 1746).
"From the outside, we may act calm and cheerful to the point of seeming creepy. But do understnad: We are crying inside, we are gritting our teeth, often literally. I seem to have developed a constant crease in my forehead." (pg. 83/location 1760).
mverdoorn's review
2.0
These were interesting accounts of the 2011 earthquake in Japan. Unfortunately most were from people around Tokyo or not even in Japan at all. It would have been nice to have some accounts from the tsunami survivors as well.
sbaunsgard's review
3.0
Book assembled after the Tohoku quake with proceeds going to the Japanese Red Cross. Impressions from right after the quake from many different people. I think the main issue that some may have with this is that it that most of the contributors were not in the middle of the disaster. That doesn't mean that what's here is invalid, but it is only a partial picture.
tanyarobinson's review
3.0
This piece is a collection of glimpses of the disaster that struck northern Japan at 2:46 on March 11, 2011 and those it impacted. It was put together in the immediate aftermath and thus lacks the voices of those most directly affected (and too busy trying to survive to contribute an essay!), which would have made it more powerful. But this was no attempt to be a literary masterpiece, just the expression of a group of unconnected people looking for any small way to help.
roohanin's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
This book is a set of stories compiled from people who suffered in the 3/11 Japan earthquake, directly or indirectly.
I started reading this book only because it was free in my Kindle Unlimited subscription. Later, I realized almost 11 years have passed since the disaster. I began to see the stories in a new light.
Some stories beautifully convey the emotions those people were feeling, during the quake or in the following weeks. The epiphanies of life, the fear for the future, the gathering of strength, the waiting for some news from loved ones, the patriotism shine through most of the stories.
"From outside, we may act calm and cheerful to the point of seeming creepy. But so understand: We are crying inside, we are greeting our teeth, often literally. " - Yuko Kato ~ Underneath
It has been mentioned multiple times in the book, that the compilation and editing of stories was a quick job. Kudos to the editors. But it left me wanting more, and not in a good way. Some of the stories left me without closure. As an afterthought, I do realize, those stories may not have had an end at the time.
I have had my epiphanies and learning from some of these stories, especially because I am reading this book 11 years after and in the middle of an epidemic. They gave me quiet strength that, Life Goes On.
I started reading this book only because it was free in my Kindle Unlimited subscription. Later, I realized almost 11 years have passed since the disaster. I began to see the stories in a new light.
Some stories beautifully convey the emotions those people were feeling, during the quake or in the following weeks. The epiphanies of life, the fear for the future, the gathering of strength, the waiting for some news from loved ones, the patriotism shine through most of the stories.
"From outside, we may act calm and cheerful to the point of seeming creepy. But so understand: We are crying inside, we are greeting our teeth, often literally. " - Yuko Kato ~ Underneath
It has been mentioned multiple times in the book, that the compilation and editing of stories was a quick job. Kudos to the editors. But it left me wanting more, and not in a good way. Some of the stories left me without closure. As an afterthought, I do realize, those stories may not have had an end at the time.
I have had my epiphanies and learning from some of these stories, especially because I am reading this book 11 years after and in the middle of an epidemic. They gave me quiet strength that, Life Goes On.
kascott1's review
5.0
I can't believe I waited so long to read this book. I lived in South Korea during the Earthquake and I felt so helpless to do anything; I was so close but I felt like I was a world away. I was glued to Twitter as everything unfolded. I was thankful when I started seeing tweets and getting emails from my friends in Japan. This books made something that I felt so disconnected with come a little bit closer. It moved me -- no doubt about that. I definitely recommend this book as an eye opener to how people think about tragedy, and how human co-operation and perseverance are some of our greatest traits as a species.
mscoutj's review
4.0
This is a collection of stories gathered from survivors of the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster. The collection was put together in the immediate aftermath of the quake, so while the full scope of Fukushima was not known, most were still in the throes of the apocalyptic reporting of the world press.
The vignettes are powerful. Or moving. Or disturbing. Or any other adjective of which you can think.
The vignettes are powerful. Or moving. Or disturbing. Or any other adjective of which you can think.