Asian-American Books

Eddie Fung's curiosity, sense of adventure, and generous spirit in helping others is inspiring!

He never let his small stature get in the way of anything he was determined to do, whether it was to enlist in the army, help the men on the ranches where he worked at during his teens, or (secretly) help get food and medicine for his fellow POW's during WWII.

I admire his way of sharing his adventurous life, which was often humorous: he didn't hesitate to recount the times he got in trouble or made himself look not-so-smart when he could have asked for help. I like his forthright manner! As he put it to his second wife: "What you see is what you get."

Fung's spirit shines throughout the book; it serves as reminder to me of the sacrifices made by servicemen such as himself, as well as my father, and members of their generation during WWII. Moreover, he describes how he helped his fellow POW's to survive in the most unimaginable circumstances by using his past experiences, however minor they may have seemed. Being frugal, helping his mom with household chores like making preparations for dinner, and working on the ranch provided useful skills he could share with the other prisoners.

His many adventures are nicely complemented with loving family background/memories of parents and siblings, and life, post-POW. A really enjoyable read!

Don't miss out!

"Another Little Big Man" might have been the immodest title of this too modest gentleman's autobiography. That memorable movie from 1970 told the life story of a diminutive guy who lived many different lives within the span of one and that could also describe Eddie Fung. Short on stature, big on life, that's Eddie. Born in San Francisco's Chinatown, he dropped out of high school and went to Texas at age 16 to become a cowboy just because he wanted to. There he discovered a now nearly vanished breed of everyday honest men and a challenging way of life that for him epitomized the American dream of freedom of spirit paid for by hard work. By 1940 as war raged in China and simmered in Europe he too joined the Texas National Guard just as many of the other ranch hands were doing. That one simple act put Eddie onto a path that took him through three and a half very tough years as the only Chinese American prisoner of war after his unit's capture by the Japanese Army early in 1942. You won't want to put it down once you begin Eddie's book but the beauty of it is that you can pick it up and open it nearly at random and be rewarded with simple truths as experienced by a complex man. For this we have Eddie's wife Dr. Judith Yung to thank for an excellent job of editing a number of multi-hour interview sessions. Judy is one of this nation's most well known and respected scholar/authors of the modern Chinese American experience. Be sure to read the Preface to learn how they met and married when Judy needed a WW II vet interview for a project she had begun. This memorable book has one little shortcoming, so to speak, that must be mentioned .... it comes to an end. This reader wanted Eddie's adventures to continue indefinitely. We do learn of his post war life including family and career, his eventual involvement with the Lost Battalion Association and its annual reunions, etc. so it is a well rounded effort. My wish came true recently when I discovered that YouTube offers a six part look at one of this special couple's book talks. Thank you sharing your life Eddie.

I met Eddie Fung in person last week and heard him discuss the book and his life. What a journey! He is a 10 an so is his book. There are many greatest generation stories that will never be told (my Dad's for example) so take advantage of reading this amazing story of survival from a good story teller.

Also, it is a reminder that many American minorities were in WWII who were staunch patriots, sacrificed much, and should not be overlooked.

this is a very touching story- somewhat like angela's ashes re experiences of a poor background. school dropout, becoming a cowboy then a searing 4 years as a pow -finally graduating from stanford university and moving on

I enjoyed "All eyes on Her" for a number of reasons. I live in LA so I could relate to some of the experiences in the book, I found myself eye-rolling, nodding and laughing along. I also enjoyed the characters and found them easy to get into, I loved some, hated others, all the emotions you want to come from a great book! I also appreciated the personal growth you see the main character go through. You really feel as if you are right there with her experiencing the ebbs and flows of life and the difficulty in making high-impact personal & professional decisions.

Poonam definitely captured the dynamics between women in the corporate world. Even if you're not a high powered, fashionable, independent woman, you won't be able to put this book down. I was in my own world laughing with and feeling for Monica. Great book for a vacation or just to liven up your daily train commute.

fun, feisty and fearless...after having read Girl Most Likely To, I was unsure whether or not to expect a sequel which can be *yawn* boring (take bridget jones or devil wears prada, can anyone even name the titles that followed those bestsellers?). but All Eyes on Her is a fresh, if not at times painfully honest and insightful look at the world viewed through the sexy lens of a single, successful thirtysomething woman who confronts the emotional drama that all women encounter. brava! the author has taken the bull by the horns and will hopefully ride us into a third novel.

At Steel Associates in Beverly Hills, associate divorce attorney Monica is depressed. Not so much because her fiancé is away though she misses him; or because backstabbing peer Stefanie plots to sleazily steal the promotion that Monica feels she has earned; nor just her workload involving celebrity marriages. Instead her despondency is the news that mom is moving back to town.

Monica knows she and her mom may love one another, but need different continents for a serene relationship. To stop the rat at the office Monica puts in longer hours not easy to do when you are already on 24/7. However, in spite of her effort to save the celebrity couple marriage of "Camydia" she fails at her mission learning that the truth will set you free from marital entanglements; her attempt to save the in couple leads to her appearance on TV while a former lover wants to start a second set with her.

ALL EYES ON HER is a fascinating chick lit tale that focuses on female to the death rivalries. Interestingly there are eight associates competing for two promotions with six of them males; yet the competition as Monica sees it is fair play vs. the men but a cat fight against her only female opponent because she knows Stefanie cheats to get ahead. Besides the office cut-throat competition, there is also a relationship contest in which two females seemingly battle to the death over a hunk. Rather unique and quite amusing (just who are these celebrities modeled after?), fans will have all eyes on Poonam Sharma for more Hollywood tales; chick lit style.

Harriet Klausner

I came across this book as a result of trying to find out the details of how a platoon mate from TBS was killed in RVN. I was told that the action and details were described in Ambush Valley. On the morning of 9/7/67 2/Lt Charles Ryberg was in position with the India company commander as his FO. In the initial barrage from the NVA both were hit. Lt Ryberg died of his wounds. The action is described in the book but Lt Ryberg's name is not listed. In discussions with Mr. Hamel he is certain that Lt Ryberg and the fatally wounded FO are one and the same. Lt Ryberg was a Harvard grad (graduating in 3 years) and had been "in country" less than a month. As for the rest of the narrative...compelling is the least I could say about it. I'm glad that my tour of duty was with the 1st Division and not the 3rd!

This book is very well written and very factual. It tells the story of those few days in the life of 3rd BN 26th Marines just as it happened. For most people that have never experienced combat this will open their eyes. If you had a relative or friend that served in Viet Nam and for sure if they served in the U. S. Marines you should read this account of 3/26. I served in 3/26 from August of 1966 to October of 1967 and was there at Ambush Valley. I was the 81mm mortar forward observer attached to Kilo Company during this time. I sincerly appreciate the work of Eric Hammel in telling our story.

My father Bill Wildprett, also was at Ambush Valley. As the first-born son of a Marine warrior, it was my privledge and duty to learn first-hand from him of those events from September 7-10, 1967. Reading this excellent book made it much easier for me to visualize the scope of the carnage and the heroics of 3/26. I've poured over his maps with him, which still smell like jungle rot and red clay, and seen both the pride and pain in his heart as he describes that time.

Please buy this book, and celebrate these extraordinary Marines.

Semper Fi 3/26!

Having spent some time with 1st Force Recon near 881S & 881N & Khe Sanh just prior to tet, I will have to say that what I experienced vs. what 3/26 encountered during those for intense days did not compare. The format of the book and the research the author conducted was insurmountable. This book was riveting to me and those that enjoy REAL LIFE encounters. I picked up the book and read it until I finished it in one eight hour period. I picked the book up in east Tennessee at a used book store for (price)I thought I overpaid, but after reading it I can see why it would sell for (price)instead. The author captured direct quotes from the officers and enlisted alike which made it sound like I was right in the middle of the cluster (....)It was an outstanding compilation of the events that occur in a combatzone. If the VA and other parties read this book they would realize themselves how difficult it would be to maintain their sanity in times that were discussed. THIS IS A MUST BUY BOOK. BUY THE BOOK!

This book is personal for me. It mentions by name or by anecdote, my friends, my classmates, my squadron mates. For 35 years, I neglected reading about the war I was in, as a C-130 co-pilot. This book was exactly what I was looking for, to fill in the gaps of what I knew. In any history of Vietnam, it is good to assess its bias. This book is factual and does not try to promote or debate the politics of the war. It does make a few assessments of the capabilities of the South Vietnamese army, air force, and marines, and the role of American air force and advisors on the ground. It factually describes instances when South Vietnamese army units surrendered with little or no fight, would not go out on patrol, and dropped wounded comrades to clamor on board a med-evac helicopter. Some of the strongest criticism is directed at some South Vietnamese officers who were corrupt, cowardly, or incompetent. It also tells of soldiers who bravely and effectively took on North Vietnamese Army (NVA) tanks with Light Antitank Weapons (LAWs), and who bravely fought the NVA soldiers. Some of the South Vietnamese officers are described as courageous and effective. It tells of the NVA atrocities, such as firing artillery and machine guns on civilians attempting to leave An Loc and other battlegrounds.

The stories are told mostly from the point of view of the American army advisors and, to a lesser extent, the South Vietnamese officers who were their counterparts. Andrade describes the NVA maneuvers and attacks and the South Vietnamese response, then zeroes in on the American advisors so that you get acquainted with them and become emotionally attached to their survival and success. By January 1972, almost all American combat units had left Vietnam. The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and South Vietnamese Marines were doing the fighting, with American advisers at the upper levels of command. The advisers helped the ARVN officers deploy their men, and their most essential role was to direct the air force and army helicopter support. (Also naval gunfire in I Corps.) Hue, Kontum, and An Loc all survived the NVA attacks, but would have been overrun if it were not for the B-52s and the close air support of fighters, gun ships, and helicopters. Supplies delivered by the C-130s of the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing were essential to Kontum and An Loc. Andrade does not give a lot of details on the fighting done by individual ARVN soldiers. He generally does not personalize the ARVN by introducing you to the soldiers.

Two dominant factors were the NVA artillery and American air power. The ARVN had fire support bases scattered around the enemy objectives in all three areas, and the NVA artillery was able to destroy the ARVN artillery, then pound the ARVN infantry. The ARVN artillery were in fixed defensive positions, and NVA spotters were able to direct accurate artillery onto them. The NVA concealed and frequently moved their artillery, and the ARVN did not have spotters in position to direct counterbattery fire onto the NVA artillery. American air power (plus, in I Corps, naval gunfire) filled the void of ARVN artillery. NVA anti-aircraft artillery was significant only at An Loc. On May 17, 1972, my C-130 crew delivered 15 tons of 105mm howitzer ammunition to Kontum. But on May 24, NVA artillery neutralized all of the ARVN 23rd Division's artillery (page 301), and on May 27th, the ammunition dump near the airfield was struck by mortar fire, destroying ammunition.

I have two minor criticisms, which do not significantly detract from the excellent quality of the book. It attributes the failure of the peace negotiations in December, 1972, to North Vietnam secretly inserting 17 changes into the document on December 13. (Page 479) Other accounts I have seen attribute it to South Vietnam's President Thieu rejecting the treaty, which is not mentioned here. Second, its understanding of air power is somewhat limited. It describes Combat Skyspot (Page 75) as "a high-tech method of delivering bombs using laser beams." Skyspot did not use laser beams, it used ground radar, the AN/MSQ-77. After mentioning laser beams, Andrade vaguely but more accurately mentions that Skyspot involved aircraft dropping bombs on command from a radar center on the ground. We also used Skyspot to accurately direct C-130s to the release point for air delivery of cargo.

Andrade has eloquently captured the details and meaning of the final campaign involving US Forces. In particular, he wonderfully details the herculaean effort of John Paul Vann and his outstanding Deputy, BG George Wear, USA. I served at Pleiku under these men, and sincerely appreciate Andrade's superb tribute to them--well done, Mr Andrade.

Mr. Andrade places you right in the frontline with South Vietnamese and US adivsors trying to stop the North Vietnamese "Blitzkreig" of 1972. If you still believe that the US and her allies in Vietnam fought mostly a communist peasent guerilla force armed with flintlocks and a few bags of rice, you're saddly misinformed unless you read this book!
This is one of a VERY few books which deal mostly with ARVN ground combat and about the bravery of individual South Vietnamese troops fighting NVA armored forces.
After you read this book, you will know what most ex-ARVN and many US Viet-vets have known for a long time-The North Vietnamese employed tactics and weapons which would've been more familiar to Guderian or Zhukov, not Che' or Mao.

A terrific book that covers the heroic efforts of the remaining US advisors and their ARVN compatriots to resist the North Vietnamese invasion of '72. The narrative is thrilling and Andrade's mastery of detail is marvelous.

This book has helped open the way for revisionist understanding of what actually happened to South Vietnam after the US withdrawal, two years earlier. The simple assumption that the ARVN was incompetent, which was in part used to justify the US pullout, needs reexamination.

The heroism of the ARVN and the remaining US advisors is finally brought to light. Perhaps Andrade in the future can bring us an account that focuses on the role of the ARVN during this same period--and how it performed without adequate support from the United States. It would be interesting to find out how much of the "incompetence" myth remains.

Thank you Dale Andrade.

An excellent overview of what it is to be Asian American in America today. Joann Lee writes beautifully and puts you in touch with the individual struggles and victories of her subjects. A must read.

This book by Joann Lee is an excellent book on Asian-Americans. It tells the life stories of Asian-Americans without so much stereotypical baggage found elsewhere.

It shows Asian-Americans as people. Instead of the shallow, stereotypical views found in the movies, it gave me a deeper view of what it feels like and means to be a person of Asian descent living in America. And it does so honestly. It gives the reader a view into a very intimate but often overlooked part of life in America.

I recommend this to all who are interested in this topic.The book reads well and easily.

Enjoy!

This book provided many personal accounts of Asian Americans. The people and their experiences are very different from one another, but they are all considered as one category 'Asian American' perhaps because of similar social problems they've encountered living in america. The accounts portrayed truthfuly, and give an honest look at racism and prejudice, and the complexity of the issue. very inspiring

Studs Terkel meets Asian America. The author, affiliated with Queens College at the time the book was compiled, records oral histories from first through fourth generation Asian Americans from China, Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, and Pacific Islands. (Chinese immigrants began to officially arrive in 1848; they were not allowed to apply for citizenship until 1943. Japanese and Koreans were not allowed citizenship until 1952; Filipinos and Asian Indians beat them by six years) These histories are grouped into three major section: Living In America; Americanization; and Refections on Interracial Marriage. In "Living In America", selections include Will Hao on being a true Hawaiian, and Andrea Kim on being born and raised in Hawaii, but not being Hawaiian. Sam Sue, a Chinese American lawyer, talks about growing up bitterly in Clarksdale Mississippi during a time of segregation. The Americanization section includes stories of escape and exodus, the bumpy road of acculturation, 3 stories just on run-ins with traffic cops (driving while Asian), and over 9 stories on Americanization, racism, tension, being Asian versus being American, and even on being a minority within a minority. Cao O discusses life as an ethnic Chinese in Vietnam and being Chinese-Vietnamese in America and dealing with social service agencies in Chinatown that is staffed by Hong-Kong born Chinese. In "No Tea, Thank You", Setsuko K. discusses the subtleties between the generations, such as politeness and their hidden meanings (when "no" means "yes", and "yes" means "no"). In a sub-section of nine stories about family, Cao O discusses the idea of `obligation', while Hideo K talks about the "Company as Friend". Tony Ham discusses Mah-Jonng as a family social focus. In a sub-section on religion, there is an interesting piece on Koreans and church membership. In one of eight stories on "Interracial Marriage", Jody Sandler writes talks about "So He's Not a Jewish Doctor", in which a 23 year old Woodmere Long Island Five Town girl marries an Asian America and faces pressures from family and friends, and contrasts Tony's values with those she grew up with in Five Towns.

Yachiyo is someone from a previous era whose life is very contemporary in many ways. Her struggle to assert herself and find her place in the world is constrained by her time, place, class and status as an immigrant woman. It's a bittersweet story that portrays some harsh realities about life in Hawaii in the early 20th century. Highly recommended.

i love how this play tells the story of 1919 hawaii, through the playwrites family history. very beautiful and moving.

Breathtaking. That is the single word which best describes Gotanda's "Ballad of Yachiyo". The story is very moving and, while I normally have a hard time following play scripts, Gotanda's use of imagery really allows for the reader to visualize the performance every step of the way. Each detail to the description of the scenes and the actions of the characters drew me further and further into the story. I would love to see a performance of this play! Someone please bring it to Michigan :)

A must-read, even for those who don't normally read plays. He tells a beautiful and captivating story through an exquisitely choreographed dramatic work. My complimentary words cannot do justice to him - I will just say that, as an aspiring writer, he is someone I truly admire.

I'm hapa and I got this for my little sister who is 13. She really really likes it. There's not a lot of stuff out there for hapas so I really appreciate this book!. Why can't there by more books like this out there for us???

A fresh perspective on Japanese American culture with voices from multiple generations as well as mixed ethnicities (more realistic of America today!). The author moves towards why JAs are both Japanese and American and neither all at the same time. An excellent resource for anyone interested in Asian American cultures as well as a superb guide for chronicling one's own family history.

Written by a third-generation Japanese American, being Japanese American: A JA Sourcebook for Nikkei, Hapa... & Their Friends is a straightforward introduction to the history of Japanese Americans, including the legacy of the American government's forced internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and basic Japanese culture, customs, and etiquette. An especial note reflects on the how the high rate of mixed-race marriage has and continues to affect the Japanese-American community. Being Japanese American a superb guide to avoiding breaches of tact around Japanese friends, family, or visitors, regardless of one's own ethnic heritage or background, and is also chock-full of helpful ways to embrace, preserve, and treasure one's cultural identity.

A wealth of knowledge and an amazing resource for anyone who wants to learn more about J-A culture and history. It's funny, hip, incredibly informative, and full of "I didn't know that!" details that will delight and surprise. If you've lost touch with your roots and want to rediscover them, this book is the perfect place to start.

I just wanted to comment on the book. I thought it was very good. Justin Chin writes very well and his images are so brilliant. "Bitterness comes as revolution, cyclic, a snake biting its tail scales, a dog nipping its tatil hairs, bitter, continuity avhieved by subtlety, perceptions played out, questions followed by answers, ask, answer, some days you will know..."

Reading this collection as a first generation immigrant from Malaysia (as is Chin), I was pleasantly surprised by the synergy of our experiences as I paged through the pieces.

Chin's style is raw yet sincere; a titillation of all the senses. From the sterile scent of Dettol, the taste of spicy and MCG-saturated Chinese restaurant food, to familiar alliterations of "Manglish/Singlish", Chin at times teases us with love/hate sentimentalities, and at others, unapologetically shoves the practices and nuances of his desires down our throats. The book's cover and binding fail to stem issues of sexuality, home, memory, colonialism, betrayal, obsession, race, nationality, envy, and beauty from flooding out from the pages. All this is rolled compactly like a layered piece of candy, demanding that you not suck on it, but to BITE HARD! Take it all or spit him out. He demands no compromise.

You kept me awake and happy

Wow - I loved it...

I'd first seen Chin perform in San Francisco and this book is just as dangerous - it challenged my own comfort levels and at the same time left me in hysterics. These are real experiences I could relate to. Thanks!

The poetry is wonderful; the person is great. I have the honor of working with her during the course of my studies. It's refreshing to read something contemporary that exudes warmth and engages the reader.

Meaningful prose and a beautiful style. Good surprises here!

I used this book in a class, and we enjoyed it so much I am going to assign it. It is my new gift, also, to friends and folks. Very exciting poetry, incredibly gifted new voice.

I found this book by accident, and it must have been kismet. Sharma's impressive poetry is coy, witty, and still completely soulful. A welcome refreshment--I can't wait to see a new collection of her work.

Kiri is very excited when she gets a origami kit from her aunt as a birthday gift. She tries right away to make a butterfly with the kit. After several tries she gets fustrated with it and almost gives up. As she practices she gets better and better. Instructions are included on how to make your ouw butterfly. Remember it's not easy and you will have to work on it just like Kiri but it will be really neat in the end.

The story has a great lesson. The lesson I learned from this story is that practice makes perfect and to never give up.
This book would be neat to share in the classroom or at a storytime while learning about origami and or Asian countries.

-SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:
"A Japanese American child receives an origami kit for her birthday. The brightly colored papers are "as thin as butterfly wings" and she handles them with care and reverence, spreading them out "like a rainbow." Kiri pores over the diagrams in the instruction book and tries to "Fold crisply" and "Crease sharply!" The steps become more complicated and when the delicate sheet tears, she cries in frustration. Afraid of ripping another piece, she puts the papers away. As time passes, Kiri enjoys other artistic pursuits, like painting and chalk drawing, but she is still intrigued by the art of origami and continues to practice her folds on notebook paper. When her watercolors run together on make a soggy hole in the center of her picture, she finds another use for the origami papers. she cuts out flower shapes and as she glues them on her painting, "The colors began to dance." Feeling emboldened, she selects a sheet of yellow paper and sucessfully folds a butterfly. Falwell's cut-and-torn paper collages are the perfect medium for the story. Kiri's disappointments are realistically captured, as is her creative spirit. Instructions on how to make an origami butterfly are included.
-BOOKLIST:
"Colorful and bright, this story of frustration and determination will appeal to children who have experienced both . . . . The cut-and-torn paper collages are just the right medium for this story, and Falwell uses her papers to good effect-sometimes very simply, sometimes in elaborate ways-to capture both the enthusiasm of the child and the enthusiasm apparent in Kiri's art. A final page offers instructions for making an origami butterfly; as with Kiri, it may take children awhile to master the project, but they should enjoy practicing."
MORNING NEWS:
"Butterflies gives young readers the feeling of having a book in a book with Kiri's own story of her birthday treasure. More practically, readers can try out origami using some of the instructions included in the story. Author/illustrator Cathryn Falwell cleverly spreads the joy through Kiri's own words as she calls out the instructions from her book, "'Fold crisply. Crease sharply.' the book said." Kids, try the step-by-step picture instructions at the end of the book to make your own origami butterfly. It looks easy enough even for grown-ups. -THE DALLAS

Butterflies For Kiri by author/illustrator Cathryn Falwell is the story of Kiri, a young girl who is struggling to learn the art of origami, paper folding to craft a beautiful butterfly from a square sheet of colored paper. Her first tries tear the paper, yet with inspiration, determination and perseverance, Kiri is able to achieve her goal. Instructions for young people to fold their own butterflies are included in this charming, full-color picture book.

My children and I were delighted to find this new book by one of our favorite author illustrators. Kiri struggles with learning a new skill the same way my little perfectionist 7-yr-old daughter does. The way Kiri explores her own creative expression while continuing to patiently practice the folding of the origami is really beautiful. When both of these parts come together at the end of the story, Kiri's imagination dances free. My daughter found a kindred spirit in Kiri. The illustrations are gorgeous. My younger children also enjoyed this book.