Asian Books

I found this book to be very interesting, albeit only the first half. The historical accounts in the book are all footnoted to the original sources, and the author lets the events and laws speak for themselves.

The Dhimmi: Jews & Christians Under Islam is required reading for any American.

The author writes, in detail, in a marvelously researched manner. The mistake that many people make is that Islam is only anti-Israel and anti-Jewish. For from it. Islam is anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-Protestant, anti-Catholic, and anti-Buddhist, anti just about everything.

Even if there was no Israel, or the US was not an ally of Israel, radical Islam would still despise the USA.

When Islam despises you, your live is in danger.

This is a horrifying book. What is most horrifying is that it is non-fiction.

Why do Arabs attack Zionism? In this book, Bat Ye'or gives a surprisingly simple answer. I think she's absolutely nailed the cause of the problem:

"It is well known that the successful revolt of the colonized frequently traumatizes the colonizer. Vengefulness and hatred express the distress of the oppressor confronted by his victim's rebellion. An equality of rights with the inferior party humiliates the dominating group which, deprived of its superiority, seeks compensation in phantasms. Such reactions have been exhaustively analyzed in books dealing with the phenomenon of racism."

The author shows these attitudes in action, as various Arabs complain that the presence of Jews in Israel defiles the land, or that the land is all Arab, with Jews being mere "dhimmis." The liberation of the Jews is sometimes considered a crime against Nature, as we see Egyptian President Nasser call it "the greatest international crime that has been committed in the entire history of mankind."

The terms applied by Arab racists to Jewish dhimmis who sought freedom are now applied to Israel itself: insolent, arrogant, and needing punishment.

I think this book is one of the best at explaining why Arabs and Jews are at odds in the Middle East. And why they'll continue to be at odds until Arabs renounce such racism and until international applause for this racism quiets down.

Bat Ye'or explains the problems of being a dhimmi. A dhimmi lacks rights and is thus dependent on the good will of, um, real people. A dhimmi has no history; actually a dhimmi has no right to have a history, and real people write any history they please regarding dhimmis. And the author shows that although Zionism is more an Oriental phenomenon than a European one, the refusal to acknowledge Zionist history tends to lead to claims that Zionism is exclusively a European movement. In addition, she implies that the refusal of many Arabs to refer to Israel or to allow it to be on Arab maps is another symptom of the tendency to refuse dhimmis the right to a historical existence.

The author contrasts the outrage of many antizionist Arabs with the relative silence of some genuine victims: Jews who were expelled from Arab nations. She attributes some of this to a tendency of dhimmis, with their history of having been exploited, servile, and silent, to think in terms of gratitude and toleration rather than in terms of rights.

In this book, Bat Ye'or does a superb job of explaining the dhimmi condition. And I think we all ought to heed her warning that those who forget history are indeed condemned to repeat it.

This is the classic study of dhimmitude - the condition of non-Muslims who are permitted to live as permanent tributaries under the dhimma, a pact of submission to Islamic conquest. A profoundly moving human document, The Dhimmi is deeply challenging to the 'Andalusian myth', that Muslim relations with those of other faiths have been the epitome of peaceful coexistence. In The Dhimmi, Bat Ye'or provides her classical definition of the psychology of dhimmitude, which is of fundamental importance for understanding the current role of Islam in its full global context.

Dhimmi history is hard to study, in part because the conquerors have written their own version, and promulgated it with supreme moral self-confidence. It is also hard to access dhimmi documents, which are written in Greek, Latin, Farsi, Coptic, Ethiopian, Hebrew, Armenian, Serbian, English, French, Hindi etc etc. A great strength of this book is it's very rich collection of translations from dhimmi and Arab documents.

A must read in these times.

This is a disturbing book which reveals what is described as a socially acceptable Islamic conduct against peoples who were classed as "inferior".

For the most part the book describes these peoples as Jews and Christians who were classed as "dhimmi". "Dhimmitude" being further elaborated as the religious, cultural, and political fate of non-Muslims living under Islamic rule, usually when their lands have been subject to Islamic conquest.

Where the politicisation/allegations of racial prejudice, segregation, apartheid and indeed genocide have become quite common-place in the Middle East against the Jewish state, a book such as this is very timely in showing another side to the story. A book that reveals the painful, disturbing policy of prejudice, racial hatred and segregation of countless people who the book describes were classed as "inferior"on the basis of their religion alone.

Many examples are referred to in this study and many issues are discussed. The book draws a number of distinctions drawn and prejudices applied upon Jews and Christians who refused to accept and bow to Islam. Just by way of a single example, page 56 of this study deals with the "Invalidity of the Dhimmi's Oath".

With legal cases being dealt with under Quranic law, every case involving a Muslim and a dhimmi received a "peculiar" treatment in that a dhimmi was forbidden to give evidence against a Muslim. The Dhimmi's oath being deemed unacceptable in an Islamic court, which made it virtually impossible for any Muslim opponent to be condemned. To further any defence, the book describes that the dhimmi would be obliged to "purchase" Muslim witnesses, often at great expense.

This refusal of Muslim religious courts to accept such testimony of the dhimmi being based on hadiths which maintained that the infidels were of a "perverse and mendacious character because they deliberately persisted in denying the superiority of Islam". The same law preventing any Muslim from being put to death on account of an infidel.

This principle alone is further elaborated in this book with the example of the frequent accusations directed at Jews and Christians of having "blasphemed" the Prophet or Islam, an offence punishable by death. In such a case, the dhimmi was clearly in no position to contradict the testimony of a Muslim making the accusation and could therefore only save his life by conversion to Islam. (Although some exceptions have been recorded, this was the abiding principle nearly always adhered to.)

This is a classic study of this subject and it is not a "light" read, but a subject which demands attention. Thank you.

Having spent two years in Korea and totally fallen in love with the food, I have a keen sense of taste for Korean food. I've tried just a few of the recipes so far and have been pleasantly surprised with all of them. While the recipes do make amazingly delicious food if you follow them exactly, I tend to alter them just a little to achieve the authentic Korean I am accustomed to.
Recipes are easy to follow and the ingredients can be food at your local Korean market.

This Korean cookbook is filled from cover-to-cover with beautiful photographs of all the traditional Korean dishes. The recipes are traditional as well and have not been modified for a Western palate. No Asian fusion here. I have purchased many of the other top-rated Korean cookbooks from Amazon.com but I consider this one probably the best so far.

This is the perfect cookbook for everything from everyday home cooking to Korean dinner parties! The recipes are straightfoward and easy to follow - I've even made two of the kimchee recipes with fantastic results! Making kimchee was always like a black-box to me--something only my mother and grandma did. But I just followed the instructions, and voila! KIMCHEE success!

I love the accompanying pictures and the picture-list of common Korean ingredients in the beginning of the book. I finally know the "American" names for some of these ingredients, which makes it easier for me to describe dishes to my friends. Anyway - I highly recommend this book!

I just got this book and its the BEST korean cookbook I have found. First of all I'm korean american and I've been looking forever and haven't found one as relevant, with all the recipes you will really use, beautiful colorful photos and how can you beat recipes from the best korean restaurants in LA?? I've been to most of them and this book has picked all the best dishes that these restaurants specialize in. I may stop my chase for anymore cookbooks because it covers all the recipes you need including kimchee! Beautiful, complete, well written like a korean martha stewart cookbook, great job finally!!!!

My Son-in-law is Korean and my daughter is learning to cook authentic Korean food at home. This book is both true to traditional Korean cooking and easy for a non-Korean cook to use. It does help having authentic taste buds at work in the kitchen to make sure everything tastes as it should. I purchased several books for my daughter and Son-in-law, this is the one they use.

This book is a great addition to this series. My daughter and I have loved this book and all the others.

The 3rd in a great series, Dragon Cauldron is the further adventures of the exiled dragon princess Shimmer and her 4 companions; the Monkey wizard, Civet the Witch, and human children Thorn and Indigo. I really enjoyed this book, though I dislike the way that Shimmer played favorites with Thorn and Indigo. It's all right to help a friend feel better, but not at the expense of another friend's feelings. I recommend this book to anyone enjoys a good tale of magic and dragons.

Much as I love all types of books, fantasy has been my favorite for as long as I can remember. So, considering that I have read extensively in this field, I have read all the cleshaes to the point where I can almost guess the ending two chapters into most books. This series I'm happy to say, is in a league all it's own. It's completely unlike any series I've ever read before, and I have to say I'm releaved that there actually is a fantasy series where male and female characters treat each other equaly, and female characters can be just as strong as male characters. Anyway, in this book (which is third in this incredible series) Monkey tells the tale as the book picks up basically where the previous one (told by Shimmer) left off, as they continue their quest to try to restore the inland sea. At first I was a little irritated at having Monkey tell this segment of the adventure; I wanted more Shimmer! but I quickly warmed up to him, and to the hillarious irony with which he tells the story. This book was also largely character based, focusing a lot of the interrelations of the characters, as Monkey begins to build a bond with Thorn, a saintly young human boy, who is very jealous of Shimmer's favoritism to newcommer Indigo. (a human girl) This book also has plenty of exciting action and adventure scenes though, and tons of suspense, so fans of action will not be dissapointed either. I would recommend reading the first two prior to this one, since it will make a lot more sense that way. Also, I would recommend these books to anyone from ten years old one up since in my opinion they are quite timeless.

The 3rd book out of a great series thata started with "Dragon of the Lost Sea", and "Dragon Steel". It uses a famous chinese character called monkey,(from "Journey to the West" {an 100-chapter book written during the chinese dynasty. *rare!*)Wise-cracking, witty, and unpredictable monkey tells the story from his point of view. Great fun, a good storybook to cuddle up with. I recommend reading the first book first to understand what is going on.

This was an extremely good book. it was a fantasy, but it had a little human touch to it. For example, two of the main characters, a monkey and a dragon, constantly tease each other. The author is very skilled, making even a monkey seem wise and dignified. The storyline is a bit overwrought, relying wholly on constant action rather than suspense. However, many people enjoy that more. All in all, I would say that it was better than a similiar book, Dragon of the Lost Sea, which happens to be by the same author. The books even have the same characters. Dragon Cauldron, however, used the mystery of magic to the better advantage of the story. This adds more fantasy to the sroryline, but it also makes parts of the book extremely confusing. In all, it was one of the best fantasies I have ever read.

This is, in my opinion, the best single volume available on the military campaigns of the Arab-Israeli wars of 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973. If you are looking for a balanced overview of the military campaigns of the four wars, this is the book you want. This is a 600+ page book packed with details about all aspects of the fighting. The campaigns are described from both a strategic and operational level. There are also more than forty maps, three line drawings, and more than 100 photos. The skirmishes (military, political, and irregular) between the wars are also described in detail. There are two things in particular about this book that I really liked. First, this work is not a thinly veiled attempt to glorify Israeli military successes, like virtually everything else written in English on this subject is. Both sides are treated evenly and fairly. Second, Dupuy explains the political causes for each of the wars as well as the campaigns themselves. Much of what is written about the causes of each of the wars (and they were all different) is little more than self-serving propaganda (on both the Arab and Israeli side), and although the combatants similar, the political situations that led up to each war were very different. If you don't know who Trever Dupuy was, a few minutes of searching on the internet would demonstrate both his knowledge of military affairs and his fecundity as an author. This book contains a cold, balanced analysis of all four wars: what all combatants did right, what they did wrong, and why they chose to do what they did. The discussion of the '73 war is particularly enlightening. It is my belief that the great improvement in the Egyptian army between '67 and '73, their well executed strategic plan, and their initial (and largely unexpected) successes they had using Soviet equipment had a profound influence on American military thinking throughout the rest of the Cold War and beyond. In any case, this is a great book, and I would have to say that it is outrageous that it is out of print. If you feel that you want to learn more about the Arab-Israeli wars from a balanced source, this is unquestionably the place to start.

The best documentary book I have ever read on the Arab Israili war. The book covers all the wars from a totally unbiased angle, and shows each and every detail throughout the war. I read the translated version fro Al-Ahram strategies center in Arabic, and I can't wait to get my hands on the original English one. Althugh I read the book, it is a must to have on your shelf. Simply it is a great reference

I've been reading military books for 14 years and this book is very good. Highly recommended

This book is a great reference for the Arab-Israeli wars. Although it is rather old (written in 1978), it is probably one of the best books on the subject. The book is very well documented and the author gives probably the most balanced and least biased account of the wars

This book is remarkable for what it is not: it is not a diatribe, it is not political, and it is not biased. It is a steadfastly-neutral account of the Arab-Israeli wars of the past sixty years and reflects the integrity and professionalism of the author. He is absolutely dedicated to presenting the perspectives of both sides of the conflict. It is meticulously researched and contains extraordinary detail about all military aspects of the conflicts. The book does not stray far into the political or diplomatic realms, and anyone interested in the personalities of the conflicts should look elsewhere. This is a professional military history that, while intended for a professional military audience, is accessible by most any reader with at least some basic knowledge of the conflict. Finally, at the risk of being repetetive, it is fair and unbiased, which is truly extraordinary, given the nature of the conflict. If you can find a copy, get it, and if you are the publisher, re-print it. Please.

Most of us understand far too little about Indonesia and yet surely this is a nation that very much matters and does warrant understanding. Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population and in fact is the 3rd most populous country in the world. It is rich in natural resources and in history and mostly well justifies it's National motto "Unity in diversity."

Three years ago a then pertinent - and perhaps today even more important and timely book was published - A very readible biography, but more than that, a book that tells the story of this nation, built about the eventful life and perceptiveness of its last founding father, H Roeslan Abdulgani.

"A Fading Dream" is full of anecdotes and first person observations that likely could only have been written by its author, Retnowati Abdulgani - Knapp, one of the daughters of this outstanding 20th century figure. The author is an investment banker, law graduate and business women who well understood her father and the context of events in the time in which he lived and acted. You know quickly that this is no desultory narritive. Rather, "A Fading Dream" is a comprehensive socio political survey that considers the period from Dutch colonial rule virtually to the present.

Dr. Abdulgani, who passed away age 91 in July, 2005, was very much an insider and a key player in Indonesi's so called "old order" and even before. He remained a principal advisor throughout Sukarno's tummultuous years and by the late 1960s he was his country's window to / from the UN at the start of the so-called "new order" under Suharto. Since then for a further generation and then for yet another generation, he was very much listened to as a wise man and a political authority during a period that was characterised by some as a time of "no order".

Dr. Abdulgani (Roeslan) was there at the creation of modern Indonesia and remained a respected part of his country's leadership for three generations and more. At his deathbed in Jakarta, tributes came from all the leaders of his nation including Suharto and the current leadership.

Roeslan was one of the very few to successfully bridge the Sukarno and Suharto regimes by positioning himself as a somehow non political politician, as a wise man in both administrations, no mean feat for Sukarno's Minister of Information charged with responsibility for the development of a revolutionary spirit among the people of Indonesia. Later he was to be Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, Foreign Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Bandung Conference of non Aligned Countries, Indonesia's UN Ambassador and counselor to all of his countries governments.

In his daughter's most readible book, Roeslan comes through as a man of reason and vision even more than as the revolutionary fighter that he had been as well. He is portrayed as someone who grew with grace and who always celebrated life. Everyone trusted him, perhaps since,as was recently said of him, "he never spoke ill of anyone."

From post war 1945 to post Bali 2002, we can now look back through his memories as related to his daughter and at her well presented contextual commentary. The sadly aptly named biography and history, "A Fading Dream", presents a well organized, personal look at the amazing shifts in the attitudes and choices taken by this country's leaders, of which Roeslan Abdulgani most certainly was one.

Like Javanese shadow puppet plays, Wati Abuldugani's biography of her father, Roeslan Abdulgani, should be viewed at many levels.

It is the life of an exceptional man, and his wife, who despite the travails and personal risks rose to the circumstances of their time to make a positive, and important impact on their country. It is the story of the birth of a modern nation, its struggle to free itself from colonialism, both European and Asian, and to become part of the community of nations. Dispersed throughout the book are insights in the social mores of Indonesia, and in particular of the Javanese, helping to provide a frame of reference for both the new and old student of Indonesia.

It is a timely book for reflection at this time of political, social and economic uncertainty in Indonesia. The concerns the writer and Roeslan Abdulgani express for Indonesia, is evident in the scope of the first chapter, which deals with the present rather than the past: Urging the current leaders to put aside personal gain for the benefit of the country, and the need for a strong leader to lead the country in the new millennium.

As a 20th century story of Indonesia, this book should not only be a required reading in Indonesian schools and universities, but also for students of Asia politics and culture.

Dr H.Roeslan Abdulgani, as he was known when I first met him, as Minister for Information, was a man whose clear-thinking views and wonderful personal demeanor were as consistent in 1965 as they were for any of the years straddling 1945 to 2003.

When Indonesia was in turmoil, Ruslan was taciturn and cool, delivering clear messages of support and elucidation. When Indonesia faced financial turmoil, Ruslan shared the trials of the poor. And when cycles of great economic prosperity arrived, Ruslan Abdulgani was one of the few who maintained his economic, simple lifestyle.

Western observors and diplomats never ceased to be amazed by his work ethnic, his tirelss writing and speaking agendas and his unfailing good manners and sense of humour.

A Fading Dream includes some wonderful surprises for even experienced Ruslan watchers. The stories of his early years in Surabaya, his anguish that Arab and Chinese traders, supported by the Colonial Dutch, were given unfair advantages, and the pen sketches of his role in early nationalist movements, are delightfully told. The book is highly recommended for those interested in Indonesia and Asian History.

review by Pat Price
> University of Indonesia Fellowship student in 1965
> Observer and student of Indonesian politics in the modern era.

A Fading Dream is not only about a great man, Roeslan Abdulgani, who is the only surviving founding father of Indonesia, but is also about Indonesia's political and cultural history, including that of recent years.
Dr. Abdulgani's daughter, Retnowati, has written a fascinating, incisive, and intimate picture of Indonesia through a combination of biography, history, political science, anecdotes, observation, and opinion.
If you were to read only one book on Indonesia, this is the one I wholeheartedly recommend.

This is a very important book by one of Indonesia's most influential, level-headed, ardent Republicans. As the years roll out, Roeslan Abdulgani's works over the past sixty years will be seen in historic context as indispensable and fundamental to the nation's survival.

It is more than the story of Roeslan Abdulgani, written by his daughter Retnowati. The early chapters discuss modern problems in Roeslan's friendly but forthright manner.

Roeslan is not the only voice now raising concerns about the Republic's wishy-washy leadership, but he is a man whom history may record as the nation's greatest Republican, even greater than founding President Soekarno, with whom Roeslan worked side-by-side to keep the young Republic afloat, to keep the diverse ethnic and geographic forces abound into a single nation with a single language and an agreed philosophy.

In October, 1965, when the Republic faced its greatest challenge from a rising, Chinese-backed Communist party, it was Roeslan's voice which clearly defined the actions of 30 September (in a
radio broadcast from Bandung, where this writer was present) as a coup d'etat, an illegal act that must be overturned. For days the nation had waited for a clear signal from other leaders, including Soekarno himself, but none came.

And now it is Roeslan who is reminding the nation that clear thinking leads to strong leadership, yet he occasionally despairs that clear thinking seems absent.

In my student days (1962-63), Ruslan's 1958 book "Pantjasila" (today written Pancasila) was the indespensable text for all young people wishing to know how and why their nation came into
being, and why Indonesia's founding fathers wisely decided Indonesia was never to become an Islamic state. (You can do an amazon search for Roeslan Abdulgani to find this and other of his books)

The wisest minds studied the constitutions of those states who chose Islam as their operating philosophy: Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen and Lebanon, and later
Pakistan. None of the above examples were considered successful (and the case persists today) as social or economic successes.

"The ideology of Islam (strongly rooted in our society) has not succeeded in solving the problems of a modern society...

"In the economic field, too, we (Indonesian leaders) have not come across an example where a country which has adopted Islam as its basis has succeeded in spreading justice and prosperity

evenly among the people."

Thus Rouslan and the founding fathers saw the dangers of alienating the entire Hindu-Balinese populations of Bali and Lombok, the Protestant Christians of the Moluccan Islands, the Catholic Christians of Flores, as well as random pockets of both Christian, Buddhist, Pagan and local religious followers.

Roeslan is arguing that to abandon the founding principles of Pancasila, the world would be a less colourful, less richly cultured and less peaceful world if Arabist sects were to be allowed - through shilly-shally leadership - to take a greater foothold within Indonesian society.

What a stark, moonscape would Indonesia be without the Borobodor and Prambanan Balinese temples,the diverse colourful arts, literature, architecture, sculpture, the fascinating regional
traditional dress. Impossible? One may have thought so until madmen got control of Cambodia and Afghanistan, sending their nations and their societies back into the Iron Age.

Roeslan Abdulgani is trying, with all his living breath, to infuse strength and clarity into an Indonesia whose leadership he feels has lost its way, whose youth has drifted from their
historic and social moorings, and whose citified bureaucrats and business people have too often crossed the line between honour and corruption, self and state interest.

And on current issues: "Just as the West maintains a distorted view of Muslim society, so too are Western values misread by our society...the mixed bag of impressions about the West, especially those obtained through American soap operas and films, bear little relation to what life is really like in the West."

Sadly, one of the greatest of Indonesia's founding fathers, is depressed as he assesses modern Indonesia. There are 50 laws and ordinances deemed discriminatoryon the grounds of ethnicity on
the books, with no move to lift them. The new leadership's inaction on acting to aid the poor during and after the disastrous 2002 floods became a symbol of the government's incompetence and corruption and the meagre share of export revenues given the provinces surely will spell trouble in Aceh, Irian Jaya and the Moluccan Islands for decades to come.

Roeslan remains deeply concerned that the officer class still has in its ranks officers who have political ambitions, refusing to take their proper place as a servant of the people.

Thus A Fading Dream is an apt title as a reflection of this important leader's state of mind as he watches his beloved Republic attempt to cope with problems of over-population, diverse and self-interests, poor infrastructure and corruption.

But perhaps more importantly, a leadership he feels has forgotten the advice of the founding fathers, leaders who do not use the compasses bequeathed them to find their way to stability and harmony, and social justice.

A very important book, A Fading Dream was not intended as literature, and is so diverse in its coverage that readers will want to know more of Ruslan's life and his thinking. History will treat kindly both the man and his work.

ends Review

Review by Frank Palmos, senior Jakarta based news correspondent 1964-1972.
> President and founder of the Jakarta Foreign Press Club.
> Opened the West's first permanent newspaper bureau (1964) for the Melbourne Herald-Sun Sydney Morning Herald group. >Contributing to The New York Times, Asahi Shimbun, the Times, the Economist, Groene Amsterdammer, the Washington Post, Vrij Nederland.

Or about living in Africa, or living in the past, or some sort of troubles (modern or historical). It's so nice to just see a family doing what families *do*. (They even recycle!)

My nieces ask me to read this book to them often. It's a very fast book, suitable both for very young children and for slightly older ones. We love looking at various details - like the fact that "five kinds of beans" includes JELLY beans, or the fact that the baby sits on a lap at dinner. It's just a quick, sweet book.

A very sweet and very simple book. Nice to see a family of color in a book for a change.... so my daughter gets a nice variety. My daughter's teacher requested books for the classroom as her Christmas Gift this year... so that should be a selling point! So sweet that the teacher wanted it! :)

My son actually pick this book out by himself in a bookstore when he was 18 months old. He fell in LOVE with it. We had to read it every morning. We loss it transit and I finally remember to get it from Amazon this summer. At 2 1/2 it is still his favorite book. He loves the counting and the actvities reminds him of when "Granny-Gran" comes to visit. Thank you so much for this book.

A sweet 1-10 counting book that has a nice rhyme scheme and builds its story by counting to ten, not once, but twice. The art designs feature a black extended family, however, this is not central to the story. What is emphasized is the feeling of family warmth and cooperation throughout as everyone pitches in to create the feast for ten. Children can also count the items in each picture that correspond to the poem. Well done.

This book has been around for a long time, but it continues to be a favorite in my classroom. It's one of those simple books that sparks so many different curriculum paths! Counting, number groupings, nutrition, cooperation, family activities, word choices, story writing, and more. It has also initiated collage art projects, quilt making, and paper mache vegetables! FEAST FOR 10 is a goldmine. I see that it's coming out in a board book soon, too. We have both the hardcover and several paperbacks in my class.

This is a different look at the war in the Pacific as told by one Japanese soldier who was trying to survive.

This is quite possibly one of the most gripping, devastating novels I've ever read, and certainly one of the most compelling books to come out of World War II from any cultural standpoint. The style of narration (and the psychology of the narrator) will be familiar to those who've read The Stranger (there's even a scene midway through that startlingly evokes Camus' masterpiece), and we not only sense, we LIVE the narrator's increasing despair, degradation, and misery as his situation steadily worsens and he is subjected to increasingly bizarre and grotesque displays of violence. The portrait of a demoralized, defeated army, literally starving and grasping at any potential straws for survival, is possibly startling for American audiences, who may be accustomed to seeing World War II from a different viewpoint altogether. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys fiction, period.

Abandoned by his company, Private Tamura wanders Leyte Island with neither a reason to live nor a reason to die. Ooka's starving Japanese soldier is absolutely captivating in his determination to analyze the horrors of warfare objectively while he witnesses them first hand. Stumbling through countless forests and mountains, the poetry that seeps from his reasoning is all the more powerful given his completely numbed and desensitized state. There's simultaneous beauty and terror in every one of Tamura's insights all the way through to his confrontations with cannibalism and his struggles to discern between God and himself. My only hope is that on second reading I might better understand some more of the abstract themes Ooka tackles. It's so beautiful...do read it!

The part that gave me a shiver was when the protagonist's own left hand stopped him from cutting up a dead soldier's body to eat the flesh and he found it God's hand, not his. Such a beautiful scene. It still makes me cry.

Both a soldier and professor of literature in his lifetime, Shohei Ooka weaves in his own experiences as a POW during WWII to present the story of Private Tamura in the unforgettable war story Fires on the Plain. Abandoned by his company on Leyte Island, in the Philippines, as it is losing in a slow, agonizing battle with American forces, Tamura has nowhere to go, nothing to do. As he becomes further and further removed from the "society" of his regiment, his peers, Tamura begins to fall apart. He has come down with consumption and as such is no longer of any use to his platoon, which is facing annihilation. Food is the primary obsession of Japanese commanders - there simply isn't enough. The dying and wounded are therefore sent to the field hospital to be kept until they expire - or are kicked out when their food supply runs out. When Tamura, however, returns from a brief visit to the hospital, his commander slaps him brutally. "You damned fool! D'you mean to say you let them send you back here?" He is thus sent back again; the hospital, however, will not let in patients who don't have their own food. Without food, patients are pronounced "cured" and sent on their way. And thus begins an existential and brutal journey into a heart of darkness.
The story focuses on the gradual and permanent removal from society of Private Tamura. Slowly but surely, his ties to society are severed. Tamura, an intelligent and decent man, is thus completely alone in a war zone. He doesn't have a reason to die, so he stumbles about the Philippine countryside in search of food. While searching for sustenance, he must avoid both the local people and American soldiers. During his trials, Tamura carries on an internal dialog on his situation, which reads like a treatise on the existence of God. The imagery is poetic and horrifying, a portrait of a man's descent into hell. Haunting and powerful.

This is the best book I have read in either Japanese or English that gives a comprehensive, easy to read and balanced overview of the lives of 37 people who contributed into making Japan into what it is today. The book presents people from diverse aspects of Japan: industry, traditional culture, history, modern writers and film directors. The people span from the first ever novelist in the world Murasaki (c.975-c.1025) to Morita Akio, the co-founder of Sony. The biographies are short and concise and are on average 10 pages long. It is not necessary to read the entire book at once, but read one biography and come back to another one at a later time. I have read and reread the book numerous times and have been inspired by the lives of each one of the people profiled.

Much has been written about the history of Japan from the point of view of society and group dynamics. This is understandable given Japan's interdependent culture. Mark Weston's Giants of Japan is one of the first that covers Japan from the point of view of it's great individuals. The subjects of the book range from well known industrialists (Konosku Matsuhita) and leaders (Tokogawa Ieyasu) to lesser known writers (Fukuzawa Yukichi) and directors (Ozu Yasujiro).

The book is good for many different types of people. Those with a deeper knowledge of Japan can pick and choose from the individuals they wish to learn more about. Those newly interested in Japan can read the book cover to cover to gain a broad knowledge of the history and people of Japan.

This book does not attempt to provide a comprehensive Japanese history, or in depth view of any aspect of Japanese society. There are other more suitable books in those genres.

This was the best book I read last year. Very informative and easy to read.

Giants of Japan is a very pleasant introduction to Japanese history, organized in a succession of biographies of the most influential figures in Japanese business, politics, arts and sports. In addition to being well-written, the book offers a good mix of key facts and anecdotes, making the reading both interesting and exciting.

Beyond information about the country itself, Weston takes good care of extracting history lessons from his biographies. For example, it is edifying to learn how (with what vision, strategems, and tricks) Mistui developed from a sake brewry into one of the worldfs largest corporations, with what political purpose tea ceremony was used, and how a single author, Fukuzawa Yukichi, precipitated Japan's westernization.

The book recounts the origins of Shintoism, Haiku, even Aikido (judofs creator, Jigoro Kano, is missing from the book). It depicts the spirit of feudal warriors (both samurais and ronins), and shows how Bushido has survived in 20th century Japan (exemplified by Mishimafs tragic death). It also deals with the dark pages of Japanese history, including Japanese military actions before and during WWII and modern political corruption.

I recommend this book to anyone who has a yet unfulfilled interest in Japan; the biographical structure of the book makes it readable even to a busy audience.

Giants Of Japan: The Lives Of Japan's Greatest Men And Women by journalist and author Mark Weston is an informed and informative biographical survey of great figures drawn from fifteen centuries of Japanese history. Ranging from the internationally famous writer Yukio Mishima and the film director Akira Kurosawa, to historical icons such as Shotoku (the prince who helped bring Buddhism to Japan), and the actress Izumo no Okuni (who created kabuki theater), Giants Of Japan effectively summarizes an eclectic collection of fascinating and remarkable lives revealed in an energetic and raptly interesting presentation. Very highly recommended reading for students of Japanese history and culture.

You would think that having everything a girl could possibly want (and that money could buy) would make life positively wonderful 24/7 and render her absolutely without care. Well, when Syrah Cheng becomes a "girl overboard," her entire worldview takes a tumble, along with her, and the slippery slopes she skis on becomes the slippery slope of her whole life. She will rehab everything, from bones to her expectations, and cross the threshold into a brand new way of life.

Justina Chen Headley's GIRL OVERBOARD is a rich, compelling and sometimes unexpected story about a girl who takes life seriously. Her enthusiastic snowboarding already has caused one very serious accident and subsequent surgery, and her favorite sport is also leading her into emotional ruin. Her boyfriend, a fop who is trying hard to impress her dad more than her, breaks her heart; a series of half-siblings finds her utterly distasteful; and her best friend's boyfriend is getting in between her and the person who she most needs to talk to during these trying times. Family obligations pull her farther and farther away from her professional aspirations, as do the repercussions of the accident for which she thinks she can buy special crutches (but she can't).

None of these problems can go away unless Syrah exercises all of her muscles --- leg, heart and brain. For a 16-year-old whose life is running in the opposite direction from what she had thought, Syrah discovers that plans are not to be put in place but rather thrown over the edge of the mountain of one's imagined life with abandon.

There are so many subplots making up the adventures of Syrah Cheng in this book that they are far too numerous to list. And besides, who wants all the fun spoiled? Suffice it to say that Syrah's journey makes stops at all the regular signposts of teen angst: social life, relationships, family situations, work, sports, the impending future. But Headley's deep-reaching prose and emotional resonance make what could have been a general young adult novel into a really special literary service to three-dimensional teen girls everywhere --- by creating a world that looks like theirs and a heroine who, although her circumstances may be more financially rewarding than most high school girls, has a heart similar to theirs beating in her chest.

Does Syrah get what she wants? Headley puts so many obstacles in her way, there is seemingly no justice to it all. Yet, in the end, the lessons learned are many, and the "Ethan Cheng Way," her father's business model, holds more truths for her than she could have realized in the beginning. It is a wondrously complicated mix of family, friends and personal desires that drives GIRL OVERBOARD and makes it a book that not only excites but also educates.

--- Reviewed by Jana Siciliano

Poised at the Edge Book Review

GIRL OVERBOARD

Justina Chen Headley


The worst part of having it all is having to deal with it all--the good, the bad, and the just plain weird. So begins the story of Syrah Cheng. Everybody assumes that life is breeze for Syrah. Her father, Ethan Cheng is famous billionaire; she lives in a veritable palace, anything she wants is at her fingertips, right? But what people don't know is she hardly ever gets to see her globe-trotting parents, her half-siblings refuse to treat her like she's part of the family, her best friend's girlfriend is sabotaging their friendship, and she just got used and humiliated by an egotistical (quasi)-pro snowboarder, who referred to her (bank account) as his "free-pass to paradise."

Life is anything but rosy for Syrah. After a serious (and seriously foolish) accident leaves Syrah with a severe knee injury, she is no longer able to escape to the mountains and snowboard. Even worse, she has to forget her dream of going pro. But down-time, and a series of astonishing events, leads Syrah down a path of self-evaluation and personal growth.

I don't want to say much more about the plot, because I want everyone to read GIRL OVERBOARD, a story so rich in plot, theme, and content, that it left my head spinning. Justina Chen Headley gracefully weaves issues of race, socio-economic class, gender, feminism, body image, complex extended family, deep-dark secrets, jealousy, and enlightenment. How did she do it? This is a smart book to be treasured by girls, and women of all ages!

Review by Melissa Jauregui

Reviewed by Emily Robbins (age 13) for Reader Views (3/08)

"Girl Overboard," by Justina Chen Headley, is about Syrah Cheng, the daughter of a billionaire, the famous Ethan Cheng. Decked out private jets, expensive designer snowboards, all of the latest hot fashions, it's all hers. She is definitely living large. The only problem is that she hates it. Instead of parties, Syrah would rather be up on the tall, snowy mountains doing what she knows best, skateboarding.

Syrah's life is just going downhill. Her best friend's girlfriend is ruining their relationship. Her knee was supposed to have healed by now, after a horrible snowboarding accident she had a while back, but it is still giving her troubles. She's also struggling with trying to figure out who her real friends are, and who she herself is.

My favorite character is definitely Lillian, one of Syrah's friends. She is energetic, kind, and seems like the best type of friend a person could have. Unlike the rest of Lillian's popular friends, she is more concerned about the sick and deathly-ill kids in the hospital than the juicy gossip her friends enjoy so greatly.

Wayne, Syrah's unkind brother, completely does not understand Syrah. He is just after his very large share in his father's very large inheritance, and making loads of cash. So, instead of trying to understand her, he is just a cruel sibling, trying to ruin her snowboarding dream. Wayne is unquestionably, my least favorite character of them all.

"Girl Overboard" was an inspiring book. I really liked how it really went into her lifestyle, trying to show you just how much she loathed it. The author did a really good job with all the diverse characters, and showing their different personalities. Some parts in the book I admit were a little dull and monotonous; in those sections I just skimmed over those paragraphs, but all in all it was an all-around great book! Two thumbs up, and I would definitely recommend "Girl Overboard," by Justina Chen Headley.

I know I am not the prime audience for which this book was written. I am many generations removed from the current youth this book was written for and about. Growing up before Title 9, I did not have the sport opportunities available to girls since that milestone legislation. Despite the lack of organized sports, I was a young female athlete, one who had set her sights on representing her country in the Olympics one day.

At that time, I chose the Olympics because it was one of the only avenues available for women athletes to perform on a high level, at least those were my dreams until I tore my ACL at age 13 and had my world tossed upside down. And so, when I meet Syrah Cheng, up and coming snowboarder, who is trying to come back from the same potentially career threatening injury, my heart is with her all the way.

I know the battles female athletes have fought and continue to fight even today and so does Justina Headley Chen, the author. Ms Headley, who says she conceived the novel as she was being trundled down a mountain by the ski patrol after having a similar accident may never have been an up and coming boarder but she knows well the struggles young girls face in our society. That is why she and several other talented YA authors have established "Readergirlz.com" a web community for "gutsy girls" wherever they may be and whatever their passions.

"Girl Overboards' Syrah Cheng has many battles to fight as she struggles to find her niche in the world. Issues of sexism, classism, and cultural identity are all handled with delicacy and power. There are no simple solutions here. Syrah may have been born into a family with many privileges but living in the spotlight of media and community scrutiny only magnifies the struggle to live up to the image of the "perfect daughter". This image includes the struggle of meeting the unhealthy demands our societiy places on the perfect, female body as well As a young female athlete trying to build a body that can meet the demands of the sport she loves, Syrah must also deal with the expectations of both her mother and potential snowboarding sponsors, an image that Syrah has subconsciously accepted until she recognizes it herself.

Which brings us to another wonderful element of the book, Syrah is also a budding illustrator and writer of Manga. In her Manga journal, Syrahs' alter ego Shiraz is able to fly high above the rest in her snowboarding exploits but also ends up teaching Syrah even more about herself.

Which brings me to my only regret about the book. It would be fantastic if future editions of the book could contain some panels representing the journal. Manga is a very hot ticket and would attract a whole other segment of readers. Perhaps there could even be a graphic novel/Manga spinoff or series based on the characters?

This is a compelling read which will speak to many girls and young women. If you have a "gutsy girl" in your life get the book for her today! She won't be sorry!

If you are looking for a rags-to-riches story, don't pick up GIRL OVERBOARD. On the other hand, if you are looking for a story about a rich girl struggling to be a normal, well-adjusted girl, than this one is for you.

Syrah Cheng is the daughter of privilege. Her father, Ethan Cheng, made the cell phone what it is today. Her mother, Betty Cheng, is the queen of charity fundraising, and demands only the best. Unfortunately, all the splendor and wealth surrounding Syrah leave her feeling uncomfortable and unloved.

Syrah's dream is to become a sponsored pro-snowboarder; however, a recent life-threatening accident has sidelined her with a bum knee. Her doctor says she is ready to resume normal activities and even some cautious snowboarding, but her globe-trotting parents have forbidden her participation in the only activity that makes her life worthwhile. She fills her days with school and manga drawings of a superheroine snowboarder named Shiraz.

Not being able to snowboard is only the beginning of trouble for Syrah. Her best friend, Age, has a new girlfriend who doesn't believe there is room in their relationship for Syrah. Bao-mu, Syrah's dedicated nanny, has announced that she is leaving to go help her granddaughter with her new baby. And to top it all off, Ethan Cheng has announced his retirement and his intention to move the family to Hong Kong.

There is never a dull moment in GIRL OVERBOARD. Syrah may seem about to give up on her dream, but she finds a way to combine her love of snowboarding with what she discovers are her many other assets, to help a new friend in need, and make her family proud of her. Author Justina Chen Headley shows her readers what truly lies beneath the glittery surface of a girl who has it all, but learns that family, friendship, and love can surprise us all.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

I started reading GIRLS FOR BREAKFAST on the half-hour bus ride home, and I smirked all the way there. There's so much wicked humor in this book. I'm not Korean and I'm certainly not a guy, but I totally identified with Nick Park. He's both flawed and sympathetic. I laughed hard at his childhood memories of teaching fake martial arts to his friends, his mom's horrible cooking, and his incredibly embarrassing moments around girls and pretty much everyone else. Many times I was smiling and sighing, "Poor guy." Nick manages to come across both awkward and sweet. He seems real enough that I might run into him one day. I very much recommend this book.

I'm not a teen, but just feel like one, reading this excellent semi-autobiographical fiction. Funny and touching, reminiscent of "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers, but for teens. This quick paced books will make you laugh, grimace in embarrassment and shared angst, and root, root, root for Nick.

David Yoo's novel feels a little overextended: did he really have to begin the saga of Nick Park from all the way back in third grade? But in general he knows how to tell a story and capture the reader's attention right away. Nick doesn't have many Korean friends, and he's ashamed of the way his mother serves Korean kimchee with her cheeseburgers, ashamed of his dad's heavy accent. "Hey Mr Park," Mitch said. "Hello, Meech," my dad said. I flinched. Mitch and Paul laughed; they thought he was hilarious. His accent sounded more pronounced around my friends. Other Asian kids in the Korean church Nick sometimes attends call him a "banana," -- yellow on the outside, white on the inside. And yet Yoo makes Nick's struggles with his contested masculinity into a rewarding and heartwarming tale.

He's good at tennis, and that makes him a few friends. And he draws well, so he gets put in the poster club at high school--a wealthy suburb where some of his pals live in actual mansions: Paul's got an bowling alley in his basement. At the same time he is sometimes tolerated, but racist bullies make his life a hell, as when one know-nothing calls him "Long Duk Dong" after the comic exchange student from SIXTEEN CANDLES. Racial epithets fly all over the place in GIRLS FOR BREAKFAST, and there's no safe place for a boy like Nick. The girls he lusts after aren't all that interested in him, but there's always Miss January from an old issue of Playboy. She's been sitting in his closet for ten years or more, and whenever life gets tough for him, he hauls her out and starts spanking it. (In one amusing scene he looks up and finds the cat, Boris, has been watching him [...], so he pulls up his shorts and tries to distract Boris from this traumatic memory. Now, that's self-effacing!)

Apparently David Yoo had the great luck to be able to work with the late, great fiction writer Lucia Berlin, a lady who died way too soon and whose books (published by Black Sparrow and other midrange presses) are pretty much out of print, and who stands the risk of being forgotten. I think Lucia Berlin, one of the finest writers in recent memory, would have been proud of Woo her student; he shares something of her intense interest in humanity, her gifts of penetrating dialogue and concrete observation, and quite a lot of her big-hearted humor, the laugh that could warm one's bones. I expect that GIRLS FOR BREAKFAST, even with its occasional lapses in taste, and its infrequent longueurs, introduces us to a masterful voice.

I was pleasantly surprised by young master Yoo's book about a young Korean boy growing up in the stogy suburbs of Connecticut, going from confrontations with "those guys" to experimentation with women and sex David Yoo has done a great job with this coming of age story, it's got everything you would want in a book, from humor to drama. If you're interested in a great read, pick it up!!!

This is a wonderfully-written, highly-entertaining, and often hilarious novel. Nick Park's just a kid and he's just trying to get by. And yeah, he likes girls. It's nice to see a young adult book tackle the subject of blooming masculinity head on, and Yoo skillfully weaves the issues of race, gender, and sexuality into an intelligent, humorous story. The book will make you laugh throughout, and the ending is beautiful.