This books covers George Takai’s childhood experience of being forced into a Japanese internment camp with his family in the US during WW2.
It reflectThis books covers George Takai’s childhood experience of being forced into a Japanese internment camp with his family in the US during WW2.
It reflects on his experience, from points later in his life where he is celebrated as an actor and activist speaking at Ted Talks, Comic-con, and even at FDR’s house (the very president who signed the laws to intern Japanese Americans), as well as developments including a presidential apology.
It does remarkably well capturing the experiences of a child in both the story and the artwork; while then commenting on how a child’s experience and memory differs so vastly from an adults.
“Memory is a wily keeper of the past, usually dependable, but at times, deceptive. Childhood memories are especially slippery.”
He learned more about the camps and the policies leading to it from talking with his father later in life. His love and deep admiration for his parents shines throughout the book.
It’s educational, yet tells his own personal story, and is beautifully and thoughtfully illustrated and written.
“That remains part of the problem—that we don't know the unpleasant aspects of American history...and therefore we don't learn the lesson those chapters have to teach us. So we repeat them over and over again.”...more
I had never read this before, although I had watched a mini-series of it years ago. I can tell you outright that your reactions to it differ wildly frI had never read this before, although I had watched a mini-series of it years ago. I can tell you outright that your reactions to it differ wildly from a single young person to an adult and parent.
For reading it now, however, I cannot get over how self-aware she was for her age (13-15 years old) and her writing, about herself and other people, considering their thoughts and their opinions, is amazingly mature.
The writing itself is great, there’s humour and warmth, interspersed with things we need to know about the day to day life hiding in the the annexe. I particularly like how she would switch to third person to write about herself - often to rebuke or poke fun.
It’s not an easy read in places, which is not a criticism, just that two years of entries in the same place about the same people mean there are (understandably) lots of gripes and repeated frustrations.
Also, I thought a lot about the unsung heroes, who hid and fed and lied, and lived in terror of being caught, to hide their friends and colleagues.
“It’s amazing how much these generous and unselfish people do, risking their own lives to help and save others.
They come upstairs every day . . . put on their most cheerful expressions . . . while others display their heroism in battle or against the Germans, our helpers prove theirs every day by their good spirits and affection. “
People often wonder if this book would be as famous if Frank had survived the war, and I suspect it would. It is not fiction. It is not remembrances cobbled together through a lens of emotional memory, nor edited with future knowledge. It is a true, real-time account of a horrific situation which shows humanity shine through the mundanity.
I also think we were robbed of all the future books she would have written. What a talent.
“I sometimes wonder if anyone will ever understand what I mean, if anyone will ever overlook my ingratitude and not worry about whether or not I’m Jewish and merely see me as a teenager badly in need of some good plain fun.”...more
Haynes’ knowledge of antique literature and art is phenomenal, and here she’s at her best. This book investigates and muses on (get it?) Ancient GreekHaynes’ knowledge of antique literature and art is phenomenal, and here she’s at her best. This book investigates and muses on (get it?) Ancient Greek goddess with all their complex power and passion, and how they have been represented through time. Modern entries include Alien, Terminator, Playmobil, Xanadu, and Murder in the Orient Express.
My favourite chapters were the opening Muses and Demeter, which by necessity includes a lot on Persephone. Enlightening after just reading the sanitised and modernised Lore Olympus.
“The Greek is unequivocal - aekazomenēn - against her will”.
And while Artemis’s chapter didn’t include a lot of the goddess, whilst still telling several good stories, her comparison study to Katniss Everdeen is wonderful.
I love Hayne’s writing in this and Pandora’s Jar. The quips and jokes are sparse but perfectly situated to remind us she is writing, and we are reading, through a modern lens.
I googled images of some of the art, pots, and statues to look at alongside her perceptive descriptions. ...more
Biographies are tricky things for me as I have to like the author AND the subject. Luckily this one ticks both boxes.
It is an easy to read biography,Biographies are tricky things for me as I have to like the author AND the subject. Luckily this one ticks both boxes.
It is an easy to read biography, full of insight and thought into a woman who didn’t want to be well known at all.
“Yet she loved being the hospitable country lady at Greenway so much that after a little break, she went back to producing the books to pay for it all.”
It’s not a page turner, but nor does it need to be when there is such a rich life to be discussed that spanned two centuries, two world wars, two marriages, and eleventy billion published works.
I loved that Worsley incorporated context to the time and place throughout Christie’s life, from lifestyle and fashion, to war and political change, and her contemporary writers and reviews. This is especially interesting in learning when and why some of her work was written, and opinions about Christie’s racism and classism.
I didn’t need to read Unfinished Portrait at all - this is far better, and includes the useful bits from the fictionalised autobiographical novel anyway.
It did not induce me to read anymore Westmacott novels, but did remind me I have not read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, nor Brideshead Revisited by Waugh.
This will suit fans of Christie who know her works and it does contain a lot of spoilers for her books....more
I’ve had this on my shelf for a long time, and it’s been so good to finally pick it up.
The BWB Texts tagline is “Short books on big subjects by greatI’ve had this on my shelf for a long time, and it’s been so good to finally pick it up.
The BWB Texts tagline is “Short books on big subjects by great New Zealand writers” and that’s exactly what this is: a short introduction to first defining, then discussing, what decolonisation could be.
In saying that, it took me a while month to read because it goes hand in hand with a lot of thinking. It made me consider my role as a parent, a teacher, and a land “owner”.
From the comparison in the first essay by Mike Ross of colonisation to an abusive marriage, the book tackles ideas that many New Zealanders may shy away from. Especially those that think colonisation is a finished thing that happened ages ago.
What hit home for me was understanding that we are even viewing colonisation (and all the ongoing hurt, damage, and loss) in Pākehā terms from a Pākehā viewpoint. And we can’t view decolonising this way for it to be successful.
The book doesn’t offer solutions, but is powerful nonetheless in its ability to start a discussion in coherent, thoughtful, and intelligent ways to help the reader unpack some of the concepts.
It is hopeful. And Moana Jackson’s thoughts on restoration, on justice and values in particular, show a way forward. I loved how his essay is about stories.
“From the moment that the ancestors began to know this land as the Mother, Papatūānuku, stories have had the capacity to guide and teach as well as entertain and warn.
The stories named our right to stand in this place and provided an intellectual tradition that gave us insight into the obligations that went with the right to stand.
Colonisation is an injustice that is often too painful to be told; and the relationships it has damaged and continues to damage can seem beyond repair. Yet the stories and their hope may be a guide to resolution.”
Setting out firmly to offend no one, his self-deprecating good humour makes this a fun read about his family**spoiler alert** Well this was a delight.
Setting out firmly to offend no one, his self-deprecating good humour makes this a fun read about his family growing up, his early career, and anecdotes about filming the Harry Potter movies.
Only the latter few chapters deal with the fallout of fame and mental health. While it is open and honest about his experience with rehab for addiction, which he continually states is not that bad, it feels more vague about other troubles. This part reads very quickly and seems somewhat to skim the surface - although he states outright that this is why he wanted to write the book; to help anyone else struggling.
Significantly missing is any comment, or even acknowledgement, of the HP author’s recent unpopularity due to spreading fear and hatred about the trans community. This seems a glaring omission.
But as such, it is an easy, light read from a good guy who can tell a story, perfect for a flight or day when you’ve got lots of appointments and know you’ll be waiting around. ...more
This book is infuriating. Positively rage inducing. And it should make you angry.
All the problems described in this book, from the annoying to the doThis book is infuriating. Positively rage inducing. And it should make you angry.
All the problems described in this book, from the annoying to the downright murderous, rest on the lack of information recorded for women.
I will never remember all the statistics, and there are an awful lot of them, but it is written in a way that you can read through them and take the point without it sounding like a text book. A really impressive skill.
Case after case, all around the world, the author articulately explains how using data for men does women a disservice. Even when trying to solve problems effecting women - like the clean stove initiatives.
She even finds examples where designers and decision makers have purposefully gone and talked to girls and women and the difference it makes.
What amazed me is how far reaching some of the consequences are through a woman’s life, how one things connect to the next and next like a menacing Rube Goldberg machine.
I highly recommend this; it is an amazingly accessible piece of research. ...more
This book is attractive and well laid out. There are glossy pictures aplenty, with each activity given one page of text and one page of images - splitThis book is attractive and well laid out. There are glossy pictures aplenty, with each activity given one page of text and one page of images - split into four perfect seasonal sections.
The trouble is, it looks nice, but I don’t think it is very useful ...more
This book is like a clever big sister teaching you how it is.
Clearly written, with understandable actionable steps - the author aims to take the fearThis book is like a clever big sister teaching you how it is.
Clearly written, with understandable actionable steps - the author aims to take the fear of the unknown (and sometimes purposefully complicated) out of the world of investing.
Importantly, the book tackles the myths we have absorbed that stop us investing. For me, one was thinking “investing is what people did with their wealth, instead of realising investing is how people grow wealth in the first place”.
This is an encouraging and empowering book, aiming for financial independence so you can be secure and safe.
While I have to mention the fab podcast, the book is great because it sets out a plan that you can read in chunks, think it through, do some of the actions, and when you’re ready, read the next step.
(I like that it is realistic about spending and enjoying your money, NOT about being so frugal you don’t enjoy life).
And even better, it is relevant to NZ unlike a lot of finance books!
So go and get yourself a copy, and get one for a young person in your life.
dels_bookmarks
>
Books:
non-fiction-2023
(11)
