Well, no matter how many books you read about the Holocaust, you will always be horrified at the atrocities that were committed. The book is tough, anWell, no matter how many books you read about the Holocaust, you will always be horrified at the atrocities that were committed. The book is tough, and the lead-up to the concentration camps is heartbreaking, the rumors, the unease, the progressively worsening circumstances... It's a lot, and especially when you see what a toll they have taken on the father of the narrator.
Two things I liked: - The fact that the characters are portrayed by animals somehow allowed me to connect with them as people and not as "characters" in a story if you know what I mean. I also thought it was really smart how the Jewish mice put on a pig mask to "pass" for non-Jewish Poles. - The story within a story. The frame-tale timeline is in 1970s New York, where the author asks his father to tell him all that happened during the Holocaust. In this timeline we get to also meet other survivors and how they are coping with their survival and their past. In the second book, the changes between the frame-tale and the tale give you whiplash. At one point the author's dad is discussing how 200 prisoners were crammed in a train where more than 100 died of hunger, asphyxiation and crowding, surviving in their feces until few enough of them are left that there is room to sit down. And the next moment, he's telling the author some triviality of life like asking for a refund for a box of cereal from the supermarket. For me, the contrast only accentuates the trauma.
As soon as i read the first few pages of this book I knew I was going to love it. And I was right. I enjoyed the first half a lot, life in Penang befoAs soon as i read the first few pages of this book I knew I was going to love it. And I was right. I enjoyed the first half a lot, life in Penang before hell broke loose with WWII. The different cultures living together, the wide variety of trading. I was completely immersed in the lifestyle of the bustling town with all its gorgeous scenery and building. Then Endo-san comes into the picture, bringing a completely different element to the story. Japanese sophistication and a brutal dilemma for our protagonist. Fate. Duty. Though the book is set in the mid 20th century, the "actual" story takes place much later, when the protagonist, now much older meets Michiko, who shows up at his house in Penang. Also I must say I love stories where the protagonists in old age are recounting their lives. Fate vs. Free WIill is a huge theme throughout the book, and it is explored from many different angles. The Japanese perspective, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity. So is grey morality. People do horrible things and good things. Like, since Philip is narrating everything we get this picture painted of how good things were under the British rule, but we do get hints here and there about how that came at the expense of locals. Anyway, I honestly don't know how to write a review for this book, simply know that I loved it....more
It was quite an enjoyable read, with a very intriguing premise. What would you do and how would you cope if every time you left someone's gaze, they fIt was quite an enjoyable read, with a very intriguing premise. What would you do and how would you cope if every time you left someone's gaze, they forgot you? That includes your parents, friends, and everyone around you! Even things you have written down disappear! All of a sudden trying to get a job, making friends, or even eating out at a restaurant seem like impossible things to do. And that is exactly why I wish we had seen more of that, the hardships brought about by the constant amnesia , and the advantages that it perhaps comes with. I would've loved to read about some of Addie's miserable experiences and good deeds. The parts that fascinated me the most were when she is testing the limits of her condition. What counts as a "memory" or a "mark" of her existence and what doesn't. The introduction of a love story is what knocks one star for me, especially since it took so much protagonism from what I believe was the main plot towards the end. In any case, it's an enjoyable read I just wish the memory curse was explored a little more. My favourite parts were the tense moments of group meetings when someone goes to the bathroom and meeting the same person multiple times, things like that....more
I really couldn't put this one down, i was reading on the bus, on my work break, everywhere! The story of Evelyn Hugo sucked me in completely with herI really couldn't put this one down, i was reading on the bus, on my work break, everywhere! The story of Evelyn Hugo sucked me in completely with her questionable morality and complicated life. I loved how we had a view of her "public life" fabricated for the media (which is shown with newspaper cutouts and gossip magazine articles) and a very different reality of what really was happening in her life. Lying about oneself is the norm in Hollywood and everyone knows it, but nobody cares as they all benefit from the lies and the scandals. Evelyn is really so enigmatic as a character it kept me wanting to know more about her, something about the cunning calculations of covering big scandals with other scandals. The old Hollywood start with the desperation of Evelyn's escape from New York's poverty and the crazy but meticulously manufactured life of fame. Also I love stories where it's an older person narrating their life, soooooo absolutely right up my alley....more
I learnt so much from reading this book. There were a few things I knew about Hawaii and its eventual statehood in the U.S. and I also knew a few thinI learnt so much from reading this book. There were a few things I knew about Hawaii and its eventual statehood in the U.S. and I also knew a few things here and there about leprosy. Yet this combined both in such an entertaining way, it was a delight to read. Okay maybe not a delight because there is a lot of tragedy throughout the book, but you know what I mean. ...more
I give tours at a museum in Taipei, where we cover the past 100 years of Taiwan history. All the historical events in this book are something I am extI give tours at a museum in Taipei, where we cover the past 100 years of Taiwan history. All the historical events in this book are something I am extremely familiar with and have recited thousands of times to visitors all around the world. THIS book, has made me FEEL those events. Of course, it is fiction, but it doesn't make the atrocities committed in Taiwan any easier to digest. It's tough. It really is. And I cried. But seriously, I think there is enough background information that even someone who doesn't know a whole lot about Taiwan's past will be able to understand what's going on. For those more familiar, it'll be a joy to notice some of the details that we take for granted living in Taiwan (for instance, the pink plastic strings used to tie up takeaway soups). It covers everything, from the Japanese colonial period, the 228 incident, the white terror, the US' cutting ties with Taiwan, the democratization of Taiwan, the 2003 SARS epidemic (which, like, lol, reading this during COVID it felt so...mundane almost). Anyway yes, strongly recommended if you want to make history more relatable. Also, apparently the author studied at the same mandarin center as me! So if you are reading this 學姊好~...more
I loved this book from beginning to end. Made me realize how easy we have it nowadays, really. Of course, there are many frustrating moments with how I loved this book from beginning to end. Made me realize how easy we have it nowadays, really. Of course, there are many frustrating moments with how Japanese society as a whole treats Koreans and at this stuff about keeping "honour." It was still fascinating to learn about how the colonized lived in the lands of the coloniser and it made me better understand the tensions between Korea and Japan even nowadays, even touching on things like comfort women. The time passing between generation and generation of the family kept me fixated in that it doesn't matter who we are, we mean nothing to the world and it's our connections with other humans that make anything matter. I cried plenty with the book, even just the first chapter. It has filled me with so much more curiosity about Japan's occupation in Taiwan. Here, it's mostly seen in a positive light (maybe because what came afterwards was worse) but I want to learn the nitty gritty of it all. Like how did a regular Taipei citizen live under Japanese rule? Did any move to Japan? The circumstances in Korea and Taiwan were very different, but exactly how different? If any of you read this and have books to recommend please hit me up!...more
(Spoilers ahead but guys, this book has been out for 60+ years and I feel like we all know what it's about, so live with it) Anyway, I don't think I've(Spoilers ahead but guys, this book has been out for 60+ years and I feel like we all know what it's about, so live with it) Anyway, I don't think I've ever read a book that has made me so fucking uncomfortable. Humbert Humbert is such a vile person and the way he describes his passion for a 12 year old is disgusting, especially on that first time where I assume he cums in his trousers after getting her on his lap. The bad thing is how used you get to his ramblings about his dear nymphets and how normal it eventually becomes whenever a girl is "out to seduce him" in his world fantasy. The more shocking parts are when we get a break from Humbert's beautified version of reality and when it mentions Lolita cries at night, or when she straight up says something like "last time you raped me." It's moments like those that bring you back to reality and remember how fucked up it all is. On a very distant side note, I actually liked the super flowery language (although it can get tiring sometimes) and the abundance of wordplay and bilingual jokes. Also, there are some passages that are completely in French so I wonder how people who don't speak French feel about that. In conclusion strange book. I enjoyed the suffering of reading it but I don't think I'll pick it up again....more
Definitely not my cup of tea with all the drawn-out philosophical musings of some of the characters. I actually don't mind the fact that they are all Definitely not my cup of tea with all the drawn-out philosophical musings of some of the characters. I actually don't mind the fact that they are all cynical and egoistic, but like I don't need to read 10 pages of your justifications of how and why you use your disability to prey on women. The parts that were not like that I enjoyed, and especially the beginning and last few chapters. But besides all that I found it quite boring....more
I absolutely loved this book. I was intrigued from the moment I read its description on this website. For me one of the best parts is that a lot of thI absolutely loved this book. I was intrigued from the moment I read its description on this website. For me one of the best parts is that a lot of the action takes place in St. Malo, a place i have been to hundreds of times. It made the realities of WWII much more real somehow, like, these places were actually bombed! It's thinks that I knew cognitively and studied in class but didn't FEEL them. I haven't really read a lot of WWII novels but this is definitely one of the best ones. The story is filled with wonder, with children wanting to know more about the world through science. It's so innocent and pure from the beginning, and then the nightmare starts. I also have to say that I think the most shocking part that made me be like WTF was when Werner refers to a Jewish lady as a "Jewess" and is fascinated by her. Somehow reading that from one of the main characters, who is an innocent child was just like "Oh crap, he was brainwashed too!" I finished reading this several weeks ago but it's still with me. Also there came a point where I literally couldn't put it down. It's a long book, but I feel like I read the last third in one sitting....more
Out of all the Margaret Atwood books I've read, I've got to say that this one is the one I liked the least so far. The plot didn't draw me in as much Out of all the Margaret Atwood books I've read, I've got to say that this one is the one I liked the least so far. The plot didn't draw me in as much as the others. I do have to say there were parts that really got me feeling strong emotions (mostly helplessness) but then it all kind of just fizzled out....more
My favourite things about the book is just how diverse all the different stories that are encapsulated in the plot are. Like we have a story about a wMy favourite things about the book is just how diverse all the different stories that are encapsulated in the plot are. Like we have a story about a woman making collages with butterfly wings, a story of a man living in post-war Taipei, a trip down memory lane for an animal-loving Taipei resident during Japanese colonial times, a military recruit that meets a retired official with a Japanese spirit in a small bird, an Taiwan indigenous man recruited to travel to the war in Southeast Asia, a young girl caught in a bombing while pushing straw scarecrows around in the paddy fields. It's all these diverse stories and viewpoints with a common thread: bicycles. I really enjoyed the book, and I liked the hints of magical realism here and there (a bit like The Man With Compound Eyes). I like that every story was so different from each other, and the different voices of the characters, how they come in and out and the whole main storyline develops. Though there were a few tedious parts (like the description of war movements in Southeast Asia and the detailed descriptions of bicycles and their parts) there are a tonne of beautiful passages that I jotted down because I loved them so much. For me it was a great read, but perhaps if you don't know so much about Taiwanese history it might be a little bit harder to get into. Another aspect that was especially enjoyable for me was the mixture of languages, in speech, people's names and places. They represented the situation in Taiwan expertly, with the mix of Mandarin, Taiwanese, Seediq and Japanese....more
I can't really put my finger on why I liked this book so much. Maybe because of the way that everything is portrayed matter-of-factly. I loved the chaI can't really put my finger on why I liked this book so much. Maybe because of the way that everything is portrayed matter-of-factly. I loved the characters and the story had me gripped to the very end....more
This has to be one of my favourite books, i can't believe i waited so long to read it. The descriptions are dreamy, the plot won't let you put the booThis has to be one of my favourite books, i can't believe i waited so long to read it. The descriptions are dreamy, the plot won't let you put the book down. I dreamt of being in kyoto every night i read this book....more
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