By Iwao Peter Sano
This gulag memoir tells the story of a Japanese American in a Siberia right after WWII ended. Technically, the author calls this a POW camp, but I think it aligns with the gulag memoirs in description. Sano's strength is description - he does a wonderful job describing the details of camp life.
"Sadness, anger, and despair over this turn of events was more than I could bear. I felt as if I had been thrown into a dark, cold, and bottomless pit from which there was no escape." Pg. 39
"While lying in bed one day, I thought abou the book All Quiet on the Western Front. In the book, one of the soldiers wishing to be removed form the front lines bribed the doctor and even set a burning match to the thermometer to make it appear as if he had a fever." Pg. 80
"The Japanese soldier was never taught or trained what action to take as a prisoner other than to take his own life. To live on in captivity was simply not in the realm of possibility to the Imperial Japanese Army." 86
Book 18
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The Poison Study
Another recommendation from Lisa Parkin's YA list of books to read. A list given to me by my friend LLL.
Definitely more on the fantasy side, but without the stereotypical players (dragons, etc). This book was a page turning read as you see a young woman's life go from the dungeons (oh, I guess there were dungeons) to . . . well, I can't really tell you that or it would ruin the story.
Suffice to say this is a well written book with a well formed story that is completely unpredictable. This combination made for a very compelling read.
I would have to lie if I said I won't be looking out for the sequel to this book!
Book 16
World War Z
By Max Brooks
Think of this book as a documentary you can read, detailing the horrors that were World War Z. Or for those of you not born yet the war against the zombies. Each section documents the particular experience during this war of an individual. The collection spans the human spectrum of person, job, occupation. Piecing together a mosaic of the war through the eyes of those who were there.
If you think you know everything there was to know about the Zombie War, this book is for you. It will take all those tactics, battle plans, risks and strategy and put them face to face with real life experience.
If you don't know anything about the Zombie War I have to ask, where did you dig a cave in the sand and remain completely isolated for the duration of the wars?
"It's fear, dud, just fear and you don't have to be Sun freakin Tzu to know that real fighting isn't about killing or even hurting the other guy, it's about scaring him enough to call it a day. . . They're not afraid! No matter what we do, no matter how many we kill, they will never, ever be afraid!." Pg. 100
"We required a massive job retraining program. In short, we needed a lot of white collars dirty." Pg 135
"There is a word for that kind of lie. Hope." Pg. 164
"Who knows what we could have accomplished if we had only chucked the politics and come together as human bloody beings." Pg. 259
"Anywhere around the world, anyone you talk to, all of us have this powerful shared experience." Pg. 333
Book 17
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The Long Walk
The True Story of a Trek to Freedom
By Slavomir Rawicz
This is a riveting, unbelievable survival story. Beginning as an unjustly imprisoned prisoner of the gulag system, with all the accompanying dehumanization and torture, this story moves into Siberia and then escape. I loved this book and the story of this group of people willing to risk the unknown trek with a possibility of survival rather than stay with the known horrors of the concentration camp. I want to remember the people - Kristina, Zaro "the joker ", Kolemenos "the giant", the "American", all friends. Survivors.
From the author's introduction:
"I hope The Long Walk will remain as a memorial to all those who live and die for freedom, and for all those who for many reasons could not speak for themselves. I had to tell my story as a warning to the living, and as a moral judgement for the greater good." Pg. xii
Quotes from the book:
"I had been walking slowly round left hand in the now characteristic prisoner's attitude of supporting the top of the issue trousers, which Russian ingenuity supplied without buttons or even string on the quite reasonable assumption that a man preoccupied with keeping up his pants would be severely handicapped in attempting to escape." Pg. 3
"In pain and filth and degradation they try to turn a man into a whimpering beast." Pg. 3
"The Bull must have been something special even in the NKVD. He ran his interrogation sessions like an eminent surgeon, always showing off his skill before a changing crowd of junior officers, assembled like students at an interesting operation. His methods were despicably ingenious." Pg 7
"The men I most admired were the jokers. They saved us often in our blackest moments. There were maybe four or five of them in our lot. They would joke about anything. Their quips were frequently macabre, almost always earthy and pungent with the good strong language that men use. They were irrepressible. Nothing stopped them. I bless their memory for the gutsy belly laughs they gave us as they aped the train commandant, the Russian guards, anything and everything Russian." Pg 32 - 33
"The problem posed by the little Jewish shopkeeper just could not be answered, I decided. Germans or Russians? For the Pole in my position in 1939 there was little choice. There were plenty more like me on this train, who had thought that fighting the Nazis might be a passport to Soviet clemency." Pg. 38
"There was, by now, one slight improvement in our condition. Following the example of one unknown minor genius, we had made trouser-fasteners from twigs threaded through the waist bands. Now we had both hands free." Pg. 39
"The wind had jagged teeth that made me feel quite naked to its attack. Men stood in the snow and looked bleakly at one another. All the tears were not caused by the cutting wind." Pg. 40
"These people make me feel very humble. They do a lot to wipe out bitter memories of other people who have lost their respect for humanity." Pg 199
Book 15
By Slavomir Rawicz
This is a riveting, unbelievable survival story. Beginning as an unjustly imprisoned prisoner of the gulag system, with all the accompanying dehumanization and torture, this story moves into Siberia and then escape. I loved this book and the story of this group of people willing to risk the unknown trek with a possibility of survival rather than stay with the known horrors of the concentration camp. I want to remember the people - Kristina, Zaro "the joker ", Kolemenos "the giant", the "American", all friends. Survivors.
From the author's introduction:
"I hope The Long Walk will remain as a memorial to all those who live and die for freedom, and for all those who for many reasons could not speak for themselves. I had to tell my story as a warning to the living, and as a moral judgement for the greater good." Pg. xii
Quotes from the book:
"I had been walking slowly round left hand in the now characteristic prisoner's attitude of supporting the top of the issue trousers, which Russian ingenuity supplied without buttons or even string on the quite reasonable assumption that a man preoccupied with keeping up his pants would be severely handicapped in attempting to escape." Pg. 3
"In pain and filth and degradation they try to turn a man into a whimpering beast." Pg. 3
"The Bull must have been something special even in the NKVD. He ran his interrogation sessions like an eminent surgeon, always showing off his skill before a changing crowd of junior officers, assembled like students at an interesting operation. His methods were despicably ingenious." Pg 7
"The men I most admired were the jokers. They saved us often in our blackest moments. There were maybe four or five of them in our lot. They would joke about anything. Their quips were frequently macabre, almost always earthy and pungent with the good strong language that men use. They were irrepressible. Nothing stopped them. I bless their memory for the gutsy belly laughs they gave us as they aped the train commandant, the Russian guards, anything and everything Russian." Pg 32 - 33
"The problem posed by the little Jewish shopkeeper just could not be answered, I decided. Germans or Russians? For the Pole in my position in 1939 there was little choice. There were plenty more like me on this train, who had thought that fighting the Nazis might be a passport to Soviet clemency." Pg. 38
"There was, by now, one slight improvement in our condition. Following the example of one unknown minor genius, we had made trouser-fasteners from twigs threaded through the waist bands. Now we had both hands free." Pg. 39
"The wind had jagged teeth that made me feel quite naked to its attack. Men stood in the snow and looked bleakly at one another. All the tears were not caused by the cutting wind." Pg. 40
"These people make me feel very humble. They do a lot to wipe out bitter memories of other people who have lost their respect for humanity." Pg 199
Book 15
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Withered
By Lauren DeStefano
The writing in this book were a step ahead of most YA novels. I really enjoyed that throughout the book. The story was also compelling as the nature of this new world unfolds.
The book cover illustrations are so wonderful and fit the book so well. I don't think I ever quite got the title. The caged bird theme in the artwork suits the story well, while the relationship to "wither" is difficult to piece together.
I am skeptical of a sequel for similar reasons that I didn't love Crossed (sequel to Matched). But I don't want to give anything away. Read it and see for yourself!
Book 13
The writing in this book were a step ahead of most YA novels. I really enjoyed that throughout the book. The story was also compelling as the nature of this new world unfolds.
The book cover illustrations are so wonderful and fit the book so well. I don't think I ever quite got the title. The caged bird theme in the artwork suits the story well, while the relationship to "wither" is difficult to piece together.
I am skeptical of a sequel for similar reasons that I didn't love Crossed (sequel to Matched). But I don't want to give anything away. Read it and see for yourself!
Book 13
Divergent
YA dystopian fiction at its best. I loved this book. I thought the story really blossomed, characters and the story gaining depth as the plot progressed.
Woven throughout this story are themes of conformity and finding your own voice, being true to yourself while still caring about what important people in your life think (like your parents) and what it means to be different.
Not to mention, the fight scenes were great! I would love to see this as a movie. And can't wait for the sequel!
Book 14
The Dogs of Riga
By Henning Mankell
This was a Swedish crime recommendation from Susan.
A fascinating mystery that crosses Sweden into Riga, Latvia the crime story explores crime and crime solving in these two distinct cultures and countries. As the lead detective states, he had to look up Latvia on a map when it became apparent that their investigation was moving them in that direction. I am not sure if this is meant as kind of a joke or more of a poignant quip, but Stockholm and Riga are literally right across the baltic sea from one another.
This was an interesting read and a great follow-up to the last Swedish crime novel!
Book 12
This was a Swedish crime recommendation from Susan.
A fascinating mystery that crosses Sweden into Riga, Latvia the crime story explores crime and crime solving in these two distinct cultures and countries. As the lead detective states, he had to look up Latvia on a map when it became apparent that their investigation was moving them in that direction. I am not sure if this is meant as kind of a joke or more of a poignant quip, but Stockholm and Riga are literally right across the baltic sea from one another.
This was an interesting read and a great follow-up to the last Swedish crime novel!
Book 12
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The Princess of Burundi
Referred to me by my friend Susan
I am working another track this year on Swedish/Scandinavian crime. A friend of mine provided a list of recommended authors and this is the first in a series of Swedish reads.
This is a very well written, well developed crime story. The characters are interesting, human and realistic. The crime story is unpredictable and compelling. Despite the cliche, I truly couldn't put it down.
I also really enjoyed the foreign space and place of this novel where snow is the dominant feature and colloquial sayings have to be interpreted from an outsiders perspective.
Book 11
The Ministry of Special Cases
I was turned onto this author through an NPR interview and was not disappointed by his work. This classic story line of a young son and father who can't see eye to eye and the mother who stands torn between them is set in the dangerous time period of Argentina during its coup and subsequent disappearances.
These characters were crafted with care and became real people to me, each one with their different sorrows and imperfections. As the story unfolds, the unraveling begins as this family finds itself in the middle of the nation's tragedy.
"For Kaddish, the [book]shelves were a sign of what he’d done right with his son. And this is where Pato misunderstood him. The books made Kaddish proud. He loved that Pato was educated. It was Pato’s educated attitude that made Kaddish want to wring his neck. He could dump them all if he wanted, every last book. Simpler. But he wasn’t an animal, he wasn’t being cruel. As always, as forever, Kaddish was trying his best."
"What other conclusion could the rabbi draw, listening to this maddness, talking to this madman, a son of a whore who always made trouble, who was born to it and now stood before him, filthy and stinking and wearing - Vashti-like - all his ugliness on the outside?"
"In the house, Lillian stood with her back tothe door. She let out a long slow wail and, for the first time in a long time, she let herself cry. She cried about Kaddish and the bones, about the fortune she'd never muster, and about the priest's call she knew would never come. When she was done, she wiped her face on her sleeve and mader her way to the chair by the window. She sat down and settled in. She set her gaze on the corner Pato would come around. And as she did every night, Lillian thought, He will turn."
Book 10
The Forgotten War
By Joe Haldeman
I wonder how I got to be my age without anyone turning me onto this book. A friend recommended it and I am so glad he did. It reminds me of all the wasted opportunities we have with friends and colleagues to find out the books that have moved or impacted them.
I have critiqued sci fi books or alternate reality books for not going deep enough into the worlds they are creating. This book is a shining example of how to do that simply and effectively. The story spans great expanses of time and effectively explores many different earths through future history.
This was a great book to follow my re-read of Ender's Game and will be a great set up for some of my future reads as I plan to explore more deeply the war/sci fi genre.
"So here we were, fifty men and fifty women, with IQ's over 150 and bodies of unusual health and strength, slogging elitely through the mud and slush of central Missouri, reflecting on the usefulness of our skill in building bridges on worlds where the only fluids an occasional standing pool of liquid helium." Location 269
"Sergeant Cortez was another story, a horror story." Location 319
"Relativity propped it up, at least gave it the illusion of being there the way all reality becomes illusory and observer-oriented when you study general relativity. Or Buddhism. Or get drafted." Location 714
"Desperate fun, as I said. Unless the war changed radically, our chances of surviving the next three years were microscopic. We were remarkably healthy victims of a terminal disease, trying to cram a lifetime of sensation into a half of a year." Location 2319
Book 9
I have critiqued sci fi books or alternate reality books for not going deep enough into the worlds they are creating. This book is a shining example of how to do that simply and effectively. The story spans great expanses of time and effectively explores many different earths through future history.
This was a great book to follow my re-read of Ender's Game and will be a great set up for some of my future reads as I plan to explore more deeply the war/sci fi genre.
"So here we were, fifty men and fifty women, with IQ's over 150 and bodies of unusual health and strength, slogging elitely through the mud and slush of central Missouri, reflecting on the usefulness of our skill in building bridges on worlds where the only fluids an occasional standing pool of liquid helium." Location 269
"Sergeant Cortez was another story, a horror story." Location 319
"Relativity propped it up, at least gave it the illusion of being there the way all reality becomes illusory and observer-oriented when you study general relativity. Or Buddhism. Or get drafted." Location 714
"Desperate fun, as I said. Unless the war changed radically, our chances of surviving the next three years were microscopic. We were remarkably healthy victims of a terminal disease, trying to cram a lifetime of sensation into a half of a year." Location 2319
Book 9
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Buddah's Little Finger
Stories inside of stories, time travel or insanity, metaphor stacked upon metaphor. This story is wild. Very entertaining. Very well written.
My only critique is that the whole experience of the book could be enhanced by greater character development. It sometimes felt as if the characters were all the same, just arguing amongst themselves. Which also, may have been the point.
"I thought that the construction of the automobile was most uncomfortable and, moreover, humiliating for the driver, who was always exposed to the elements - but perhaps this was a deliberate arrangement, so that the passengers could enjoy not only the view through the window, but also savor the inequality of the classes." Pg. 15
"About the fact that man is rather like this train. In exactly the same way he is doomed for all eternity to drag after him out of the past a string of dark and terrible carriages inherited from goodness knows whom. And he calls the meaningless rumbling of this accidental coupling of hopes, opinions and fears his life. And there is no way to avoid this fate." Pg. 84
"'If they wake you up from your nightmares the same they they did the Chinaman, Petka.' Chapaev said without opening his eyes, 'all that'll happen is that you'll drop from one dream into another. You've been flitting to and fro like that all eternity. But if you can understand that absolutely everything that happens to you is a dream, then it won't matter a damn what kind of dreams you have. And when you wake up afterwards you'll really wake up - for ever. If you want to, that is.'
'But why is everything that is happening to me a dream?'
'Because, Petka,' Chapaev said, 'there just isn't anything else.'" pg. 207
Book 8
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