Japanese internment – Cannonball Read 17

“Nothing could be trusted in Chicago, especially the weather.”

Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara

November 6, 2022 by cheerbrarian Leave a Comment

In one word: Divided Cannonball Read Bingo: New I hadn’t heard of the October pick for my public library book club but as soon as my eyes peered upon the cover my expectations jumped up a notch because Mr. Sulu himself, George Takei, had good things to say about it. Known predominantly for his work on Star Trek, we also admire him in my house for his acclaimed graphic novel “They Called Us Enemy” which details his experiences as a prisoner in one of the […]

I really wish I could put Fantasy and not History as a category

Stealing Home by J. Torres

April 25, 2022 by BlackRaven 2 Comments

I had forgotten I had a copy of Stealing Home by J. Torres, with illustrations by David Namisato. I knew when I saw the online copy, I wanted to read it, had wanted to for a while, so, I read it. It was not until the day after I finished, I found my hardcover copy. So, what joy for me! I can read it again. And this is one book you do need to read more than once. There is a lot going on, a […]

True Story of Two Little Girls

Sylvia & Aki by Winifred Conkling

March 29, 2019 by faintingviolet Leave a Comment

Sometimes you read a book because you should. This is one of those books. I truly enjoy YA on the whole, but I have a tough time with Children’s or Middle Grades books. I can absolutely see their good qualities and how their intended audience would likely sink into them, but maybe I don’t enjoy them now because I didn’t read many of them when I was that age (I was a late reader and then I flew up to reading adult books in a […]

A little piece of American history that is too often overlooked

September 25, 2016 by Sophia Leave a Comment

I’ve been interested in learning more about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II for a while now. After reading The Japanese Lover earlier this year, my interest was piqued, and then I heard about The Buddha in the Attic (2011) by Julie Otsuka, Julie Otsuka tells the stories of Japanese picture brides immigrating to America in the early 1900’s. What makes this book unique but also challenging is that she writes in first person plural. The viewpoint is from an unknown number of various […]

Pointillism in the Form of a Novel

March 5, 2016 by ElCicco 6 Comments

Julie Otsuka’s The Buddha in the Attic is extraordinary. I’ve read nothing quite like it. It’s a novel that reads like a short history (130 pages) and a free-form poem. The characters are not particular individuals, but rather the Japanese American community and white America. The time frame is from the turn of the century until 1943, when Japanese Americans were rounded up and sent to internment camps. In all my years as a reader, I can think of only two novels made me truly […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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