3 comments about Letters to the Valley: A Harvest of Memories (Great Valley Book) (Great Valley Book).

1. Excellent very personal approach to life in the San Jaquine Valley. The art work integrated into the letters made the book even more enjoyable.



2. Through letters to his dad, neighbors, friends and sons, Mas Masumoto has show us a glimps of organic farm life in California. Farm life is hard, long hours during harvest seasons under the hot Valley sun, in return, it gives little financial rewards. What makes Mas choose such hard way of life: the family tradition, a good harvest after hard labor, memory of good, delicious, mouth watering sun crest peaches, the smell of his father's shirt, or the values that he will pass on to his sons. I am not sure, but I sure taste the sweet, delicious sun crest peach and feel the joy after seeing people savoring his labor of love.
   After reading this book and other books from Mas, I feel the urge to shop more organic products and help out local farmers. This is a good read for us city folks who never experience the hard life of farming and wish we also have memories of good delicious fruits picked at the perfect time, not riped from a truck.



3. "Past Tents: The Way We Camped" by Susan Snyder (director of Access Services in The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley) is a photographic and descriptive history of family outings during the first years of the automobile, and of campgrounds and campfires against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada, of the special gear and `helpful' hints for vacationing in the newly formed state and national parks and forests. "Past Tents" is a work of nostalgia, memory, and a yesteryear that saw the beginnings of ordinary people being able to sample and experience the extraordinary outdoors. An informed and entertaining history of early camping in the American West, "Past Tents" is superbly enhanced with historic photos and makes a welcome and much appreciated addition to academic and community library Popular Culture and American History collections.

No comments about Wild Daisies in the Sand: Life in a Canadian Internment Camp.

2 comments about Good-Bye To Old Peking: The Wartime Letters Of U.S. Marine Captain John Seymour Letcher, 1937-1939.

1. Life in Peking (Beijing) China before World War II was the ultimate big frog in a small pond experience for Europeans and Americans. Persons of modest means and position, such as Marine Captain John Letcher, could live like pashas on a modest salary. Moreover, Peking had fabulous art, architecture, food, and a glorious culture to enjoy.
   
   Life was not nearly so good for the Chinese and that was why Letcher was there. He was a member of a US Marine Corps contingent with the mission of protecting foreigners and property. The Chinese had the disconcerting habit of rising up occasionally and killing the Westerners enjoying their bounty. Captain Letcher's tour in Peking was made memorable by the beginning of World War II when Japanese and Chinese troops clashed at Marco Polo Bridge, just outside Peking. What is perhaps most remarkable is how little the war between China and Japan disrupted the good life of the foreigners inside the walls of Peking although there is a sense of gathering doom in Letcher's account.
   
   This book consists of Letcher's letters and diary entries from 1936 to 1939. A lengthy introduction, a few photos and maps, extensive footnotes, and a bibliography supplement the text. Letcher has no startling insights or wisdom to impart, but his stories of daily life conjure up life in Peking pretty well and his eye-witness observations of the war are interesting. "Goodbye Old Peking" is a well done book of interest to scholars and those of us who are fascinated by old time China and the Westerners who lived there.
   
   Smallchief



2. Mr. Letcher's letters were written in a style that gives the reader a "visual" description of pre World War II China. Although some of his opinions may not be politically correct by todays standards, I think he honestly expresses his feelings of the people and surroundings at the time. Some of his predictions regarding the upcoming war are almost right on--however his prediction that California would eventually be captured by the Japanese happily did not come true. Regardless of Mr. Letcher's personal opinions, his letters are well written and gives the reader the feeling of being there. A good story. The editors did a great job of keeping the story on track, and the footnote information was very informative (Their references led me to several other publications which I subsequently read). The copy I read was from the public library. I plan to buy the book for my collection in the near future.

No comments about Mitsui Madhouse: Memoir of a U.S. Army Air Corps POW in World War II.

1 comments about Land of the Morning: A Civilian Internee's Poignant Memories of Sunshine and Shadows.

1. Great book about Jean McMurdie's time at an internment camp in the Phillipines during WWII, and her life before and after. A touching, captivating read!!!

2 comments about Prisoner of the Turnip Heads: The Fall of Hong Kong and the Imprisionment by the Japanese.

1. This is a very moving and well-written memoire; given the tragic events, it is not possible for such a book to do other than include some very sad & brutal stories. I have visited Hong Kong on numerous occasions and it was interesting to relate the events described in this book to the places I knew.



2. The cruelty and depravity demonstrated by the Japanese during their occupation of Hong Kong between 1941 and 1945 is one of the less well-documented chapters of the Second World War. Yet, as George Wright-Nooth demonstrates with such freshness and clarity in this autobiographical account, it is as great a story of heroism, endurance, and poignancy as any other of its time. The image of 33 individuals, British, Chinese and Indian, preparing to be executed by beheading, and being comforted from among their own group by an Sandhurst-trained Indian officer and a Hong Kong Chinese man leading prayers will long remain in the mind. What also brings the book to life are the diary extracts and the author's excellent memory for detail, which superbly capture the sense of a young Englishman caught in the sweep and suffering of a wider tragedy, but somehow retaining his spirit, his inquisitiveness and that uniquely British sense of humour that shines undimmed through fifty years and the terrible things he saw and experienced.

No comments about Changing Song: The Marxist Manifestos of Nakano Shigeharu.

4 comments about Tsuchino: My Japanese War Bride.

1. I found My Japanese War Bride to be very enlightening. It shows how the right combination of two people can overcome any adversity and come out stronger. It takes us through Mike and Tsuchino's struggle to go from nothing to being able to have anything they want, and I found myself rooting for them against the military and both their families. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to sit down and just be entertained by two peoples faith and hope.



2. 
   I found the book to be entertaining and humerous. It brought to mind memories of post-world war II attitudes and bureaucratic obfuscation that will be familiar to anyone who served in the military or worked for the government. Both Mike and Tsuchino come across as likeable, intelligent and determined people.



3. I enjoyed the book. Very easy read . I learned a few things about bureaucracy in the military that were disturbing.... dare to question and you pay for it, even if you are right.
   The author by his life shows how to succeed by hard work , by giving 110% and by being well prepared so when an opportunity arose he was able to jump at it. Tsuchino is his perfect mate; expecting him to so his best always and willing to back him and follow him wherever his path led. A very inspiring love story .



4. There is little literature available about Japanese War Brides and this book gives an excellent first-person accounting of a husband and wife's strengths and devotion. I read the book in efforts to gain information for research, but found that I could not put it down, not because of my interests, but because it is a true story of overcoming the odds and finding success/happiness in love and marriage!
   
   Michael Forrester has a provided his life story in an easy to follow, chronological manner that gives one a sense of understanding of the time and events. It is real, interesting, humorous and most of all heartwarming! I would suggest this book to all readers.

No comments about Japanese Film Directors.

2 comments about A Spy in Their Midst: The World War II Struggle of a Japanese-American Hero.

1. This is one of those books that makes you wake up everyday and appreciate everything you have, espeically your freedom. Sakakida's inner strength must have been tremendous to stand up to the torture, stress, starvation and disease that he endured. And he still continued to do his duty and send intellegence back to the US forces.

   The author presented the material in a good straight forward manner that included other sources to back up and bring context to Sakakida's story. Especially interesting was the subtle nuances of Japanese culture and tradition that brought out how complex their social interaction is. Also that in every nationality there are good soldiers and bad soldiers and kindness and respect can be found even in the worst of circumstances.

   I highly recommend this book, a very good read.




2. A vivid tale of horrifying torture told by a man who experienced it all. Richard Sakakida was a true hero. For those who love books on survival, war, adventure, or the American spirit.