Book Description
John Sedgwick's acclaimed first two novels, THE DARK HOUSE and THE EDUCATION OF MRS. BEMIS, introduced readers to the rarified, monied enclave of Brahmin Boston, in which privilege and elitism, handed down from one generation to the next, comes at a price. John Sedgwick discovered for himself just how great that price can be when, while writing his second novel, he spiralled into a depression so profound that it nearly resulted in suicide.
This crisis provoked for John an analysis of the source of his malaise, and the realization that, to understand himself, he had to understand where he came from. The Sedgwicks are one of America's oldest families, dating back to 1635. Theodore Sedgwick, a close friend to George Washington and John Adams, played a crucial role in drafting the Bill of Rights; John Sedgwick was among the best–loved of the Union Generals; Catherine Maria Sedgwick was America's first bestselling female novelist; Ellery Sedgwick owned and edited The Atlantic Monthly magazine for thirty years; Edie Sedgwick, who died of a drug overdose in 1971, was a famous protégé of Andy Warhol; and Kyra Sedgwick is a well–respected Hollywood actress with her own hit series, The Closer.
In IN MY BLOOD: SIX GENERATIONS OF MADNESS AND DESIRE, John Sedgwick undertakes what is both a very personal journey of self–discovery, and a broader retracing of his family's evolution, the trail of which conveys a unique portrait of our own national character.
Customer Reviews:
ONE pic of Edie?.......2007-08-24
Since interest in Edie Sedgwick is no doubt what will attract most readers to this study of mental illness in the author's family, I'm more than a little surprised on how quickly John Sedgwick glosses over the one short chapter on his famous cousin. Granted, he never knew her and has little or no firsthand memory of what she was like in person. But still, one expects some new piece of trivia or information, some clue or tidbit that only an insider could know. Instead, we get the most perfunctory outline of her general downward trajectory, all of which grabs its content from the Jean Stein book on Edie. The picture section is only a few pages long, with most of the illustrations having already been published previously, while some intriguing characters from that tome are absent in this one. I was hoping on more of beautiful actress Rosamond Pinchot--a forshadowing of Edie from an earlier generation of Sedgwicks. Nothing on Rosamond and only one picture of Edie!
Having gotten to "know" them in the Stein book, I was also looking forward to hearing more from Suky and Saucie Sedgwick--Edie's sisters--, but as this is not a history of Edie's family exclusively, but a study of mental disorders, I suppose their inclusion might have been extranneous. Still, from atleast a commercial standpoint, I'm surprised that they're not even a blip on the radar in the photo section. "In My Blood" may be of help to people for whom depression is a family trait, but anyone expecting much on Edie or her immediate kin may be in for a disappointment.
a very interesting book by a very engaging author.......2007-05-14
"In My Blood" reminded me of how few generations it takes to get from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to present times. John Sedgwick is a very engaging narrator of his family history. After experiencing an emotional breakdown and going into therapy, Mr. Sedgwick decides to delve into a treasure trove of family documents going back to Revolutionary times to examine the interplay of mental illness and success and creativity in his family. The house built by Theodore Sedgwick is still in the family, held in trust, full of old pictures, letters, and diaries. More documents from important members of the family are in library collections. This book could be stuffy and self-important, but John Sedgwick somehow manages to bring out the admirable, the deplorable, and the tragic in these generations in a loving, easygoing way that made me feel like I had sat down for a very interesting talk with a very nice person.
Written Too Soon.......2007-05-14
It was difficult to get through this book. While no fault of the prose, it just seemed too soon for this writer to tackle the subject from a biographical standpoint.The insights and personal revelations therefore had a more superficial, anecdotal feel rather than the wisdom and depth that I had expected. I wish he had waited until he himself was further along; just as that fellow who wrote "A Million Little Pieces" could have waited, and we would have been spared all that flap about authenticity.
Starts out strong... .......2007-03-10
I was very excited about this book, and the first half of the book lived up to my expectations.
The second half, the book fizzles and becomes quite boring, and feels as though the author is struggling to flesh out his book.
Nice read, not great though.
Sedgwickiness.......2007-03-01
...That's the word that the author invents to describe the existential mood among his family members, a strange mix of Brahman pride and manic-depressive despair. What's so brilliant about this multi-generational memoir is that by the end of the book you know exactly what the author means by "Sedgwickiness" and the word lingers in your mind long after you close the pages. Nowadays, I catch myself thinking, "Well, that's a very Sedgwicky person," or "Oh what a Sedgwicky thought I just had." When an author changes the way you see the world, even by one or two clicks, he has achieved greatness.
Book Description
In one of the finest novels yet in Tapplys long-running series, Nervous Water explores the previously hidden past of his much beloved character, Boston attorney Brady Coyne. Contacted by an aged relative with whom hed long lost touch, Brady agrees to help his Uncle Moze with a sensitive family matter. Having received a diagnosis of terminal cancer, Moze is looking to mend fences with his only daughter. But the daughter seems to have simply disappeared, leaving no clues or hints as to her whereabouts. As Brady tackles the seemingly impossible task of finding his cousina case that looks less and less like a simple missing person caseit becomes clear that whatever is going on now is related to a dark, undiscussed episode in his familys past: the brutal, still unsolved murder of another of Bradys uncles.
Customer Reviews:
Nervous Water.......2006-12-25
"Nervous Water" is the 21st Brady Coyne novel by William G. Tapply whom I feel is one of the finest mystery writers working today. Brady is called by his Uncle Moze in Maine to try to find his daughter Cassie who has apparently disappeared. Cassie is actually Moze's niece, but he and his wife had raised Cassie as their own. Brady begins to search for his cousin and finds that most people who are close to her are not cooperative. Her husband Richard Hurley is not helpful to Brady and he wonders if Hurley knew something of her disappearance. When Cassie's former lover is killed, Brady knows that someone will stop at nothing to keep Cassie's whereabouts a secret. He even wonders if Cassie is still alive. When Moze suffers a heart attack, Brady knows that he needs to find Cassie. There is also a suplot in which Brady's girlfriend, Evie, is acting strangely. I gave this novel a 5 star because it is a fast paced and very suspenseful read. The only thing I felt was strange about the plot was the fact that Brady had not visited his uncle in 30 years, but I overlooked that and highly recommend this book.
Another page turner by William Tapply.......2006-06-15
William Tapply has written another winner in his Brady Coyne series. All books will stand on their own. I won't give away the plot. (Read the Amazon summary and other reviewers)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and read it in two sittings. Lots of twists and turns, there are some surprises and some---well you could guess whodunit. Great book for beach, poolside or plane.
First Brady Coyne novel I have read.......2006-03-22
I enjoyed this novel-an interesting and easy read. Storyline was intriging, plot twists convincing, and character development about as deep as a book of this length can provide. I could best describe the book as Greg IIles-lite.
A Dense Family Mystery That Doesn't Quite Make Sense.......2006-02-05
Brady becomes reacquainted with is favorite uncle from Maine, whom he hasn't seen or heard from in 30 years. Already you can see one problem with this book. That's an unlikely set of circumstances.
If you get past that one, Mr. Tapply throws you another unlikely event, Brady's uncle's daughter won't talk to her father and has gone missing. Uncle Moze wants Brady to be sure Cassie is all right and to get her to call Moze. Even if Brady can succeed in finding her, will she be willing to call?
Brady finds himself drawn to do something, especially after Moze has a heart attack. Brady isn't sure that Moze will survive without seeing Cassie.
Arriving at Cassie's house, Brady finds a family that seems to be pretending that nothing's wrong . . . but something clearly is.
As Brady checks out the alternatives by visiting with her family and friends, he seems stymied when a lead suddenly appears. From there the story takes many unexpected turns that will keep you turning the pages.
If you can buy into the story of Brady's connection to Moze and Cassie's relationship with Moze, you have a four or five star book on your hand. There are marvelous scenes of lobstering and fishing that make you want to head for Maine. The title theme of "nervous water" is nicely developed in the book. The mystery itself isn't all that mysterious, but it'll do.
There's an edgy backdrop of tension between Evie and Brady that adds a little personal touch to the story without advancing the plot very much.
After reading the book, I found myself wishing that Mr. Tapply had written this book as a case involving non-relatives of Brady's. I think the story would have worked better.
A glimpse into Brady's Coyne family.......2006-01-02
His uncle who he has not seen in thirty years contacts Boston lawyer Brady Coyne. It seems his Uncle Moze had a falling out with his daughter Cassandra and he has not seen her in a year and a half. Recently finding out that he has heart problems, Moze wants to make amends before it it is too late. The problem is that Cassie cannot be found. Moze wants Brady's help in finding Cassie. Is it a missing person or is it murder?
This is another fine entry in this underrated mystery series. NERVOUS WATER gives us a glimpse into Brady's family on his mother's side. There are a few skeletons rattling around on the old family tree. The story was well plotted and very engaging. In addition to the missing person case, there are a few sub plotlines that are interesting and keep the story moving forward. Brady is not the most dynamic of characters, he is a little to laid-back for that, but the character dynamic keep the pages turning....Brady and his girlfriend, Brady and his secretary, Brady and his dog. Tappley did a great job in setting the scene in small-lakeside town Maine.
Book Description
Uncovering startling connections between the Cold War and family life, a noted historian challenges assumptions of the "happy days" of the 1950s.
Customer Reviews:
Many Shortcomings.......2007-07-10
Elaine Tyler May's Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era encapsulates the life of the average American family from the decade prior to World War II through the decade of the 1980s, primarily focusing on the Cold War period of the 1940s through the 1960s. Although the threat of the Cold War and use of atomic weapons always loomed in the background, May's work essentially emphasized the social and economic happenings of the time. Homeward Bound is an easy read with each chapter following a format that introduces the reader to the chapter's subject, backs it with statistical data, and provides a summary. And lest the reader think the book is balanced and fair to men and women, later chapters show the author's true intent which is to show how American women were trapped into becoming housewives and not being able to explore their own interests or careers in favor of their husbands'. Nine chapters guide the reader through the Great Depression, World War II, the Eisenhower years, the turbulent decade of the 1960s and ends with the election of Ronald Reagan. Since the book was originally published in 1988, there is a follow-up section for the new 1999 edition. Further, there are several appendices with statistical data describing the demographics of the people about whom it is written. Also, the questionnaire from the Kelly Longitudinal Study, which is the basis for the data provided in the text, is also included.
Vice President Richard Nixon's "kitchen debate" with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev is the opening salvo in a book that paints a bleak picture for American women in the 1940s and 1950s. Much of the information provided to support the author's thesis is from the Kelly Longitudinal Study, which consisted of surveys of six hundred white middle-class families and spanned the period from the late-1930s to about 1955. Families actually began in the 1930s and 1940s for security and economic reasons and "...laid the foundation for a commitment to a stable home life...." Even though women worked outside the home and were in many ways functional within the job market, they were discouraged from working during the time of the Great Depression, since working women took jobs away from men. This changed after America's entry into World War II where full employment existed and the need for workers to drive the military production machine required that women enter the workforce. However, once the war ended and veterans returned from overseas, many women left the job market on their own or were forced out so that men could be employed. The expectation was for women to become housewives and mothers and cater to their families rather than have a career of their own. In fact, many government officials, like FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, for example, stated that being a housewife was one of the most important careers a woman could have to provide stability in the country as an attempt to thwart the growth of communism.
Many women were not satisfied with that life. Although the marriage rate increased significantly and the birth rate jumped after WWII (producing the "Baby Boom" generation), women from the survey experienced a sense of despair in their lives due to their societal subservience to their husbands. Though many believed raising a family and keeping a happy home was quite satisfactory to them, many women were depressed and unsatisfied with their lives in general. May describes in great detail the miserable lives of many of these women whose husbands treated them badly, were not affectionate or sexually gratifying, and who were inattentive fathers. The life of the average housewife was gloomy because she worked where she lived whereas men worked away from the house and saw their home as a sanctuary for them to relax and, seemingly, be waited on hand-and-foot by their jobless wife. Certainly divorce was available for these women; but, unless their husband was abusive or adulterous, most did not exercise that option since a high social stigma was attached to it during that era. Further, from an economic standpoint, most women with children could not survive on their own. Indeed, the economic fortunes of divorced women declined while that of divorced men increased.
Consumerism and the ideal American family bring the reader back to the Nixon - Khrushchev debate. New appliances, new homes, new cars, and other "big ticket" items were the staple of American life and what separated the U.S. from the U.S.S.R. and made American appear more affluent then their Communist counterparts. Not only did Americans want more things, they also wanted more children. Couples who had no children were seen as unsuccessful. "Large families were an indication of a man's potency and ability to provide and a woman's success as a professional homemaker." Women should be able to manage a larger household, after all, because many of the appliances (e.g., washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and electric irons) were invented to make their lives easier and thus enable them to have more time to raise children and keep a clean house.
This era of the nuclear family began to unravel in the early 1960s with the publication of the best-selling book The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. In it, she questioned the status quo and "...spoke for thousands like herself whose dreams and desires withered under the weight of domesticity." Moreover, as the children of the baby boom era came of age themselves, they rebelled against the lifestyles of their parents and turned the 1960s in a decade that saw "free love" and the move away from the nuclear family. This brought about cohabitation without marriage, premarital sex, and an increase in the divorce rate. The author concluded that the conservative movement that helped Ronald Reagan to become elected president and harkened to return to the days of the nuclear family and the stable 1950s was misguided because that era actually diminished the role of women and prevented them from realizing their potential.
As stated earlier, the author shows herself as a feminist whose goal was to prove that women were kept down in subservience to men after World War II. From a statistical standpoint, since the surveyed families were mostly located in the New England area of the country it is debatable that the data the survey provided is applicable to the rest of the country. Basically, twelve hundred adults were surveyed from a 1950 population of over one hundred and fifty million. Does that really represent the American population as a whole, especially when the survey is geographic specific? Further, May is critical of the conservative movement and the supporters of Reagan which further paints her as a liberal feminist. Although there is nothing wrong with having that viewpoint, it diminishes the work in general. What starts out to be a statistical analysis of married couples during a specific time period results in a generalization of the country as a whole and sheds a negative light on men of that time. Although Homeward Bound gives the reader a glimpse of a time in recent American history, it should not be considered the decisive work for which to judge that generation.
How the Hetero-normative, Racialized, Exclusive Suburban Family Ideal Became a Unifying Aspiration of American Culture.......2006-03-25
This work contends that there was an anomalous rise in "marriage, parenthood, and traditional gender roles" in the post-World War II United States that was pan-racial, pan-economic, pan-ethnic, and pan-regional. It attributes this to social constructions of home and family that responded to governmental policy aims and cold war anxieties. The work seeks unearth what, precisely, drives the anxieties behind these social formations and why they dramatically distort the post-World War II child bearing generation from the radicalism that preceded and proceeded them.
May ascribes the geopolitical parlance of "containment" to the domestic cultural policies of the cold war United States. She asserts that the rhetoric and practice of the nuclear family served to contain subversive sexual and political behavior that might evoke contestation of gendered postwar consumerism, masculinist renderings of science qua exceptionalist prosperity, and endanger the social practices of unity, security, and stability that were understood to confer qualitative global advantage in the cold war. The author also engages the nuclear family as an aspiration that mobilized the majority of United States residents who were racially, economically, or otherwise excluded from its suburban actualization. The capacity of family to frame the intelligibility of "prosperity" for economic actors who were conferred unequal advantage is key, May suggests, to its postwar centrality in visions of an abundant and classless society.
In this context, May's suburbs emerge as liminal spaces that both enact and resolve the contradictions between pre-and postwar culture, replacing the aspiration for equal condition with the condition of uniform aspiration, reifying romance as the mutual consent of liberal individuals yet encasing it in an exclusionary propertization of private life, and substituting ethnic kinship and working class consciousness that situated life in power with a homogenous whiteness that rendered power unintelligible. This is artfully demonstrated as the text traces the dispositions and cohesions of families from the New Deal era thru the early 1960s.
The author's hybrid methodology combines statistical demographic data with qualitative analysis of cultural texts. May notes assiduously the key contradiction within this data; that while the imagery of suburban familial prosperity presented a level of prosperity that was realistically inaccessible for the majority of United States residents who encountered it, it nonetheless correlates with a strong voluntary entrance into the social formations of that aspiration that is evident across demographics. May goes as far as to entertain that the disconnect between the consumer aspirations of marginalized peoples and their social reality may have contributed to their motivation to pursue social change, also noting the strong political incentives to resolve visible racial inequality during the cold war. Indeed, the phenomenon through which the rhetoric of the Civil Rights movement became centered around an actualization of the postwar patriarchal family and economic opportunity--it was examples of consumer exclusion from diners, hotels, and municipal services as well as his daughter's weeping at a whites-only amusement park that Martin Luther King rooted his initial moral appeals in-would constitute an entirely separate study. This, if anything, is the question one is left with at the conclusion of Homeward Bound. To what extent has the lasting postwar articulation of the nuclear suburban home as the fruit of prosperity become the constantly greener grass to marginalized peoples, and how has this interfaced with social movements, rebellion, and self-destruction?
An intriguing premise.......2005-11-01
From the 1940s through the early 1960s, Americans married in greater numbers, at a younger age, and with a greater resistance to divorce than either their parents' or their children's generation. There occurred a remarkable dash into the domestic embrace of marriage and parenthood as American women abandoned their wartime jobs and joyfully rushed into the arms of returning World War II soldiers.
But what provided the impetus for this yearning? The World War II generation was raised by parents who had come of age basking in the hedonistic pleasures of the Roaring Twenties following their return from the First World War. And their Baby-Boom counter-culture offspring were certainly no traditionalists. Both of these generations had in fact challenged conventional sexual norms while pushing the divorce rate up and the birth rate down. What then made the World War II generation different? What motivated them to embrace the roles of the traditional family with such desperate fervor and commitment? Homeward Bound is Elaine Tyler May's attempt to explain this sociological phenomenon by linking it to international politics.
According to Tyler May, it was the Cold War that provided the impetus. Americans embraced domesticity during the early years of the Cold War because "the home seemed to offer a secure private nest removed from the dangers of the outside world." This mass retreat to the privacy and security of the home was in response to the twin threats of communist encroachment and potential nuclear attack by the Soviet Union. Specifically, Tyler May contends that the U.S. foreign policy of communist "containment" gave rise to the parallel societal view that the home could effectively contain the economic, sexual, and social desires of American women and men.
To this end, the dynamics of the home required the rigid adherence to gender roles. Specifically, societal pressure induced women to marry young, give birth early and often, shun career aspirations, and stay home to raise their multiple offspring. Men, for their part, were expected to provide a steady and reliable stream of income for their growing families, regardless of the frustrating and stifling constraints imposed by their employers.
Rather than painting a Norman Rockwell picture of comfortable domesticity, Tyler May chronicles a smoldering dissatisfaction with these rigid gender roles, causing guilt and resentment in the supposedly "happy days" world of the World War II generation.
The book is divided into nine chapters covering a variety of topics relating to home life, career choices, sex, reproduction, and consumerism. It concludes with a chapter relating how and why the Baby Boom generation rebelled against their parent's obsession with security.
Effective use is made of magazine articles, books (both popular and scholarly), newspaper reports, documentary films, government publications, and Hollywood movies. A revealing poll in which periodic surveys were taken among housewives and husbands - called the Kelly Longitudinal Studies - provides a wealth of fascinating and insightful data that is skillfully woven throughout the book
Tyler May makes a convincing case that the Cold War created a uneasy state of mind among Americans, fostering a "bunker mentality" that coerced the World War II generation into opting for security over independence and personal fulfillment: secure jobs, secure homes, and secure marriages in a secure country.
homeward bound.......2004-09-21
The book Homeward Bound properly illustrates the hardships that women had to endure throughout the depression, WWII, and the Cold War era. It shows that though women were given brief moments of emancipation they were always held back by a Male dominant society paranoid of their unrestrained freedom and sexuality. It was not until the feminist movement and the erosion of the Cold War Ideology that women realized they deserved more than the status quo and fought for their equality. This book illustrates that women were not housewives because they were well suited due to their differences from men; instead, it was male domination that caused difference and ultimately forced women in to submission. Elaine Tyler May is very convincing in her arguments about the ties between the various eras and their effect on the American family and gender roles/gender inequality. At times she may rely too much on the KLS study, which only covers the more affluent part of society during the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Nonetheless her book makes bold thought provoking claims that shed new light on the "Happy Days" of the 1950's.
Uneven in examining reproductive rights.......2002-11-19
I purchased this book for my graduate-level independent studies course hoping to find definitive answers to a hunch post-war controversy over reproductve rights actually had a larger tie-in to the era's blatant anti-communism.
After all, the advent of antiseptic surgery and antibiotics meant the driving reason behind 19th century anti-abortion campaigns was effectively negated by the post-war period, so opponents of women's rights had to construct a new justifcation for extending the laws beyond their original intent. Abortion was now dangerous because it increased women's autonomy and freedom.
While May does address reproductive policy, this work suprisingly does not delve heavily into how anti-communism and reproductive bias paralleled eachother.Considering many post-war restrictions (pregnancy-related job firing and school expulsion co-existed with illegality of abortion and contraception) were directly related to women's reproductive potential, a considerable amount of research was missing from her book. The research presented skimmed what I had already discovered from Solinger et al's other works and did not provide the insight I was desperatley seeking.
Because May is able to tie anti-communist objectives into television and other cultural arenas, I remain puzzled by the selective exclusion. However well written structurally, it also seemed as if she were skipping around the same argument, but electing not to explore it for whatever reason.
This book is not a good candidate for work with reproductive policy, but would be an excellent choice for a general study of American women's post-war political agency.
Book Description
The bestselling author of Stones from the River delivers her most ambitious and dramatic novel yet -- the unforgettable story of an endearing, but also flawed, Italian American family.
In December 1953 Anthony Amedeo's world is nested in his Bronx neighborhood, his parents' Studebaker, the Paradise Theater, Yankee Stadium -- and in his imagination, where he longs for a stencil kit to decorate the windows like all the other kids on his street. Instead he gets a very different present: his uncle Malcolm's family.
Malcolm is in jail for stealing -- once again -- from his latest new job, and Anthony's aunt and twin cousins settle into the Amedeos' fifth-floor walk-up. Sharing a room with girls is excruciating for Anthony, despite his affinity for the twins. But the real change in Anthony's life comes one evening when he causes the unthinkable to happen, changing each family member's life forever.
Evoking all the plenty and optimism of postwar America, Sacred Time spans three generations, taking us from the Bronx of the 1950s to contemporary Brooklyn. Keenly observing the dark side of family -- and its gracefulness -- Hegi has outdone herself with this captivating novel about childhood's tenderness and the landscape of loneliness. Ultimately she reveals how the transforming power of a singular event can reverberate through a family for generations. With gravity and poise, Hegi turns her astute yet forgiving eye on the essential frailty and dignity of the human condition in this elegant and fast-paced novel.
Download Description
"The bestselling author of Stones from the River delivers her most ambitious and dramatic novel yet -- the unforgettable story of an endearing, but also flawed, Italian American family. In December 1953 Anthony Amedeo's world is nested in his Bronx neighborhood, his parents' Studebaker, the Paradise Theater, Yankee Stadium -- and in his imagination, where he longs for a stencil kit to decorate the windows like all the other kids on his street. Instead he gets a very different present: his uncle Malcolm's family. Malcolm is in jail for stealing -- once again -- from his last new job, and Anthony's aunt and twin cousins settle into the Amedeos' fifth-floor walk-up. Sharing a room with girls is excruciating for Anthony, despite his affinity for the twins. But the real change in Anthony's life comes one evening when he causes the unthinkable to happen, changing each family member's life forever. Evoking all the plenty and optimism of postwar America, Sacred Time spans three generations, taking us from the Bronx of the 1950s to contemporary Brooklyn. Keenly observing the dark side of family as well as its gracefulness, Hegi has outdone herself with this captivating novel about childhood's tenderness and the landscape of loneliness. Ultimately she reveals how the transforming power of a singular event can reverberate through a family for generations. With gravity and poise, Hegi turns her astute yet forgiving eye on the essential frailty and dignity of the human condition in this elegant and fast-paced novel. "
Customer Reviews:
Tragedy Affects Family.......2007-03-21
Anthony, seven years old, is fairly content. His father has a good catering business and his mother and grandparents dote on him. He even likes his cousins, eight-year-old Belinda and Bianca, in small doses. Now Christmas is coming, though, and his uncle is in jail again, so his aunt and cousins have moved in with his family. Anthony is crowded out of his space. He has to share his room with his cousins, and his aunt's sewing materials are taking up much of the apartment's living room. Anthony also picks up on his mother's irritation at having to take in their relatives, which adds to his overall stress. One day while Anthony and Bianca are alone in a room, she falls out of the sixth-floor window to her death.
This tragedy affects the entire family. Anthony is guilty about his part in Bianca's death, and weighted down by his family's unspoken belief that he pushed her. Belinda is guilty of picking a fight with her twin just before her death, and she stands as a permanent reminder of what the family has lost. The twins' father is guilty of having been in prison when his daughter died, unable to even attend the funeral. Anthony's parents and aunt all feel as though they should have been able to do something to avert this tragedy.
The writing in this story was beautiful, and it was interesting to read events from different points of view. However, it was sad to read about a family that was broken and even over the course of decades, was unable to fix itself. It seems that if Anthony had been encouraged to tell his story, perhaps he, at least, could have been able to heal. Instead, his cousin's death haunted him and ended up affecting the family he started as well as the family in which he grew up.
A story of powerful emotions and family dynamics.......2006-06-07
Sacred Time" follows two lines of one Italian-American family during the last half of the 20th century as its members try to integrate and move on from a shared and tragic event.
I found this story less inspiring than Hegi's "Stones from a River", too preoccupied with loss, guilt, longing and death. But Hegi goes as deeply into the particulars of her settings and locales as she does when she's exploring the minds and hearts of her characters, or what it's like to feel tired and sweaty, or how we sometimes see in strangers reflections of something in ourselves. This impeccable depth of detail makes this book really good.
Told from the perspectives of several family members, the story opens onto urban childhoods amid popular commercial artefacts of the 1950's - Studebakers, Woolworth's jewelry packaging, Howdy Doody, Dragnet, and Davy Crockett. There's even one of those dime store pictures of Jesus that gave him too good (surely she means too orange?) a tan.
This charming coming-of-age tale suddenly shifts, catapulting the reader, along with the family, into a tragedy that affects each member forever. Hegi is able to maintin a consistently calm and lyrical tone however harrowing are the emotions she's so tenderly handling. It is this ability that inspired me rather than the story's content.
While I enjoyed its vivid characterisations, the book was overall so dark and sad that I'm now yearning for something lighthearted, such as a drive along Liguria's coast (Liguria provided one setting for Floria, a character I really felt for), or some pretty martini, or a night out swing-dancing to really happy music.
Disappointing.......2006-03-08
I found this book on an awards list and listened to it on CD. It was difficult to finish because I just didn't care about any of the characters. The only redeeming part of the book is the charming narrative with which it opens, told from the viewpoint of a little boy growing up in a close-knit Italian-American family. But the narratives of the adults, which follow, are predictable and fall hopelessly flat. There are the obligatory infidelities and a lesbian dalliance, and there is even some completely gratuitous George Bush bashing! There is much better contemporary fiction out there.
fear, recrimination, remorse intertwine in compelling novel.......2004-09-05
What should a family do when its fabric has been irreparably torn by an unintended tragic accident? Should its members seek to forget and minimize the trauma caused by sudden loss? How can those who suffer from guilt face those who have rage boiling beneath an appearance of acceptance? Ursula Hegi tackles these issues in her compelling and important novel, "Sacred Time," a work which tracks one family's journey through fifty years of suppressed mourning, recrimination and remorse.
Hegi is at her best when she focuses on Anthony Amedeo, who is at the epicenter of tremors unleashed by a fatal accident which he innocently abetted during his Bronx childhood. "Marked and isolated" by his involvement in the accident, suffused with "dread and fear," Anthony's life has been marked by his conscious repudiation of wants. He has concluded that his childhood desire -- for his own space, his own toys, his own personality -- has caused his family to fracture. Confiding to his estranged wife as an adult, Anthony's characterization of himself as "the devil" encapsulates his self-hatred, his suspicion that life offers little to hope for and much to be afraid of.
The loss of his cousin is "one huge ripple -- a tidal wave, rather" that "seized" all the members of his family and "flung" them into a territory where there is "no common focus, only conflicting angles of vision, colliding and aligning" in a "chaotic mosaic." Marraiges crumble; silences replace language, and the children affected by the tragedy struggle to regain their bearings. Anthony's cousin Belinda is haunted by the absence of her twin sister, and it is with great difficulty that she emerges as an intact adult.
Hegi is masterful in her recreation of the Bronx during the McCarthy scare of the early 1950s. Her use of dialogue advances a crisp narrative, and she seems to have a genuinely compassionate sensitivity for the life of a child whose dreams are altered first by family circumstances and then by tragedy. Anthony's mother, Leonora, is by far the most complicated and satisfying of the adult characters of the novel.
Less convincing is the author's treatment of Anthony's aunt Floria. Over one-third of the novel explores her psychological metamorphosis, and much of that simply doesn't work. Floria's extended stay in Italy devolves into maudlin melodrama; her death is depicted in a quasi-Joycean stream of consciousness that is contrived and predictable. Hegi doesn't seem to realize that the greatest strength of "Sacred Time" is its treatment of serious emotional questions through a powerful narrative. When she overwrites or gets bogged down in psychobabble, her novel becomes mundane.
Early in the novel, the child Anthony rejoices at the stories told by his family. His mother and aunt compete to retell, embellish and recreate "one thread of a story and spin it along." With "passion," family members listen, then "leap into a story and spin it along." "Sacred Time" succeeds because it advances Anthony's odyssey through the thread of a story, a thread which finds itself in the lives of the entire Amedeo family. That thread of hidden fear, unspoken grief and unforgiven remorse, when stitched properly, makes this a novel worth reading and remembering.
remarkable look at how one event has lasting impact.......2004-09-01
In 1953, seven years old Anthony Amedeo lives what he perceives is the good life in his Bronx neighborhood as the only child. His father has a thriving catering business and his stay at home mother dotes on Anthony. Anthony's idyllic childhood changes when his Uncle Malcolm is back behind bars, forcing Aunt Floria and their eight-year-old twin daughters to move into the Amedeo fifth floor apartment; the twins share Anthony's previously private room. Not long afterward, one of the twins falls out a window to her death.
The tragedy haunts Anthony over the next four plus decades as he not only witnessed the fall of his cousin and never quite got over that first touch of death, his mother and aunt believed he pushed his cousin out the window. Living with that undeclared sentencing by his beloved family, Anthony feels all alone in spite of marriage and success as a chef.
Though a bit confusing as there are three eras not smoothly transitioned, SACRED TIME is a remarkable look at how one event lasting seconds can have major impact over the lives of those immediately involved and even later on others for example spouses. On a mega level such as 9/11 this seems obvious, but Ursula Hegi's message is that on the micro family level, relationships are impacted by events such as the death of the twin. The cast is a delightful Italian-American Bronx family who never look at Anthony the same way after his cousin's death. However, the biggest bearer of misfortune besides the victim is Anthony, who perceives what his loved ones believe of him. This is a strong character study of the long term consequences of a tragedy.
Book Description
Escape to the Maine seashore, an exquisite summer sanctuary where vacations stretch out forever during long, golden days and food is the stuff from which memories are made.
The summers that acclaimed chef Rebecca Charles and her family spent swimming in the Atlantic, scouring the beach for shells, and eating shore dinners inspired her to open the famed Greenwich Village restaurant Pearl Oyster Bar. In this heartwarming memoir, Rebecca combines more than seventy of her favorite recipes with captivating family stories.
Rebecca's adventurous granduncle Sam Goldsmith first took the family from the sweltering summer streets of Brooklyn to the exclusive seaside resort of Kennebunkport. But it was his sister-in-law Pearle Goldsmith, Pearl Oyster Bar's namesake and an opera singer with the Metropolitan and New York City operas, who fell in love with the rugged coast of Maine. Pearle passed this love on to her daughter, Eleanor, and her granddaughter, Rebecca.
Now, in Lobster Rolls and Blueberry Pie, Rebecca recounts her family's three-generation love affair with the small Yankee fishing village and shares the recipes that have New Yorkers waiting in line for hours to taste what food writer Ed Levine described as "the best lobster roll I have ever eaten."
Rebecca breathes new life into classic beach food. Whether re-creating an old-time clambake or grilling a whole pompano, she imparts the expertise that has made her one of the foremost seafood chefs in the country. She teaches the secrets of clamming, demystifies the selection and preparation of fish and shellfish, and helps you make these delicious Maine favorites in your own backyard, with recipes for her famous Pearl Oyster Bar Lobster Roll, creamy Scallop Chowder, Fried Oysters on homemade tartar sauce, succulent Lobster Pot Pie laced with sherry, and, of course, her famous Blueberry Crumble Pie.
With her mouthwatering recipes and moving family stories, Rebecca will inspire everyone to create fond summer memories of their own.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book!.......2007-09-20
I really enjoyed this book, over all it is well written and the recipes look interesting too. It fills a glaring gap in the history of the Kennebunk's by providing a first person account of the Jewish experience in that famous tourist spot. It is something that has been overlooked by historians writing about the Kennebunk's largely because so little information on that subject survives or is available. Having lived in, researched, and written about the town of Kennebunk myself for over 20 years I really enjoyed the book however, it contained some really major, and embarrassing factual information. For instance, the "Brickstore museum" is really The Brick Store Museum, "Liz" Magnuson is really "Roz", there is no Kennebunk Historical Society, The Grist Mill Restaurant was spelled like that not Griste and to the best of my knowledge there was no newspaper called the "Kennebunkport Times". Also the "Main" Historical Society is really The Maine Historical Society. This may sound petty and nit picking but I think it's important especially when you thank someone in your acknowledgements and get their name wrong! I also found that in the book that the writer, Rebecca Charles, frequently interchanged Kennebunk and Kennebunkport as if they are the same town when in fact they are separate towns with separate governments. The only other issue I found annoying and distracting was her constant use of "David and me"; or "Momma and me" (for example) instead of the correct "David and I"; and "Momma and I". This is something an editor or the professional co-writer, Deborah Di Clementi, should have picked up on.
Other than the above problems this is a well written and entertaining book which I read it in one sitting. It was fascinating to read about the Forest Hill House and the people who original operated. This book will make an excellent addition to the many works of history all ready published on the Kennebunk's!
The vintage black and white family photos are lovely embellishments to a blend of memoir and cookbook........2006-10-15
From chef and owner of New York City's Pearl Oyster Bar Rebecca Charles comes Lobster Rolls & Blueberry Pie: Three Generations of Recipes and Stories from Summers on the Coast of Maine. Family history and heritage permeate a fine gathering of family recipes, from Sugar Snap Peas with Lemon and Toasted Almonds to Blackberry Nectarine Crisp. The vintage black and white family photos are lovely embellishments to a blend of memoir and cookbook.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Delightful memories.......2006-08-31
If you love Maine, you'll love this book. Rebecca Charles has written a memoire for all of us who share similar family histories. She has captured the special pull of the Maine coast that keeps so many of us going back year after year, expressing well how it remains unspoiled after nearly a century. And she's done it without being overly sentimental. My grandparents began our annual tradition of summers at Kennebunk Beach just before World War I and we now take the family's fifth generation every year. I enjoyed the book so much that I've given copies to half my family.
Great Memoirs, Touching book........2006-03-08
I'm not big fan of seafood, but this cookbook of three generations of a Scottish-Jewish-American family and their summers in Kennebunkport Maine, was captivating. Its chock full of family photos, memoirs, and touching pictures from the last century. I particularly enjoyed the text, the stories, and photos and would like to encourage the author to write a novel, or more memoirs and stories. It would be a fascinating and delightful to read more.
I cannot comment on the recipes. I do not care for seafood, but I found this book valuable for the stories alone which were touching. 5 stars.
two thumbs up!.......2005-10-17
I love narrative mixed with factual, so learning the history of a family and a place [Kennebunkport, Me.] while perusing tons of delicious recipes, was a really enjoyable experience. The subject matter, the writing style, the layout--everything was top notch. In addition to recipes, there's lots of handy food tips, like how to buy the right scallops. I would reccomend the book to anyone with interest in an enjoyable read, a good cookbook, or a beautiful coffee table book.
Customer Reviews:
Awesome.......2006-04-26
This is a fascinating book - about all three artists and also a study of artistic ability and creativity running through the family. I bought it years after enjoying the exhibition and have also given it to other art lovers. What the artists have to say about each other is interesting and the reproductions are beautiful. Don't miss this - it will only enhance your appreciation every time you encounter a Wyeth!
Average customer rating:
|
Apache Mothers and Daughters: Four Generations of a Family
Ruth McDonald Boyer , and
Narcissus Duffy Gayton
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma Press
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ASIN: 0806129220 |
Book Description
A breathtaking true story of a rescue mission undertaken by a young woman and her family in one of the most repressive countries in the world.
Helie Lee often had heard her grandmother speak of an uncle, lost decades ago when he was a child during the family’s daring escape from North Korea. As an adult, he was still living there under horrid conditions. When her grandmother began to ail, Helie became determined to reunite her with her eldest son, despite tremendous odds. Helie’s mission became even more urgent when she realized that her first book, the bestselling novel
Still Life with Rice, about the family’s escape, might have angered the North Korean government and put her uncle in danger.
Pushing through rivers and forests, fighting the cold, bribing and manipulating border guards, gangsters, and secret service agents, Helie and her father finally achieve their goal. But there are many hurdles. Her uncle is forced to make a harrowing choice: leave his North Korean family behind or continue to live in oppression and starvation away from his beloved mother. And Helie has to face her deep, sometimes ambivalent, emotions about her identity in the family and as a Korean American woman. Unmarried and outspoken, she struggles in Korea, where women marry early and keep silent, and writes eloquently about the landscape there, both literal and cultural. She comes through a heartbreaking love affair only to face an intense and confusing relationship with the Guide—the man who, despite being crude and macho, ultimately helps to save her uncle and eventually his extended family through several daring acts of heroism.
In the Absence of Sun is a riveting adventure story and a powerful tale of family bonds and reunion.
“An eerie fear crawled through my flesh as I stood on the Chinese side of the Yalu River, gazing across the murky water into one of the most closed-off and isolated countries in the world. I couldn’t believe it. Even as my boots sank into the doughy mud, I had trouble coming to terms with the fact that I was actually standing there. . . . I was not prepared for the kind of despair and insane fear I felt that day. My wizened old uncle looked nothing like the sweet-faced teenager in the faded photograph that Halmoni kept pressed between the pages of her Bible. That day, at the Yalu River, staring helplessly into his terrorized face, I hadn’t fully realized what a dangerous thing I had done the year before. I had placed him and his family in danger. By including details of my uncle’s life in a book, I had alerted North Korea’s enigmatic leadership to the identity of my relatives in a nation where it was better to remain invisible.” —From
In the Absence of Sun
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic!.......2005-10-04
I learned so much about North Korea...the conditions people are living in and the propaganda they are fed. It is heartbreaking to know so many families are still separated and that so many people are living such difficult and scary lives.
Lee does a great job telling her family's story. I highly recommend this book. Be sure to read first the wonderful "Still Life with Rice" by Lee!
Inspirational Piece.......2005-07-19
Being a Korean-American myself, this book inspired me to find who I am and what my roots are. Helie Lee, a second generation immigrant, is a writer of the book. This book expresses her journey through China and even North Korea to allow her grandma to have a last get-together with her lost uncle who disappeared during the Korean War.
I really admire Helie's courage to accept this venture, because she had to creep into the North Korea illegally and this could have been extremely dangerous--even life-threatening. She's trying to break through the most reclusive, dangerous, and unknown land on the planet. She didn't even speak Korean fluently, the information about the whereabouts of her Uncle was limited and yet she continued her journey until her grandma and Uncle finally met.
Prior to reading this book, I really recommend "Still life with Rice" which is a prequel to the book. You will feel even more deeply of how precious the reunion was if you understand the closeness and love that families shared in the Confucian culture.
Only flaw in the book in the book is that at times the writing can be bland and dull. There are some parts that just seem to drag on and on, but otherwise it's an informative and inspiring book.
powerful eye-opener!.......2004-08-25
As was the case with several other reviewers, I couldn't put the book down - which in my opinion indicates it's a terrific read. Whether or not it can be considered a well-written piece of "great literature" is beside the point. It is a powerful and compelling story with an important message. I'm not Korean and I don't think you have to be Korean to see that.
Both Lee's books on this subject opened my eyes to the enormous priveleges we enjoy in America as well as to the heartbreaking conditions that others live under. These are things I knew in my head, but often it takes more to make us feel it in our hearts. It's one thing to hear a detached news report and another to see it through the eyes of those who have experienced it firsthand. It's so easy to take things for granted and this book should be appreciated for helping us to really feel grateful for all we have. That was the case for me anyway.
I would have enjoyed hearing more from the perspective of the refugees themselves, in particular with respect to the moral issues involved in making the choice to cross when it involved leaving others behind. We get the author's thoughts on this, but I would have liked to hear about the moral struggles of the refugees themselves.
"Still Life with Rice" was much better.......2003-11-29
After reading Helie Lee's first work, "Still Life with Rice" which I thouht was very well written, I had an expectation that the sequel would also live up to her well deserved praise for the first, only to be severely dissappointed.
"Still Life with Rice" was not only well written, it had quite an insight into the lives and personal experiences and utmost difficulties that her grandmother has gone through impressively written in her grandmother's personal voice with great insights and impressive depth into her emotions by a granddaughter who never lived or experienced this park of Korea's most tragic era.
"In the Absence of Sun" however, lacked focus, intelligence, and depth. Her knowledge or understanding of Korean society, history, culture and the nature of male-female dynamic was rather shallow, imposing more of unknowledgeable Westerner's view and interpretation into the Asian culture especially in male-female dynamics. Moreover, the story was kept on interfered by often unnecessary details of her feelings and rage towards how she was being treated because she is a woman. If her intention was to show a certain development of her own awakening, she did a poor job as any character development was poorly portrayed while diverting attention from the "real" story, robbing a certain depth that this story could have carried. I wonder why she revealed so much about her often selfish and immature feelings so vividly without resolving them into any definitive closure.
It is a wonderful story, however, although I feel the Guide's role was not credited enough (somewhat due to Helie's personal relationship with him) and regrettable that his personal motivations were not tied enough behind all the risk he put himself into, which I think would made this story more inspiring.
And yes, there were several grammatical errors in the book which may dissappoint the readers farther for carelessness in the editing process.
a must read.......2003-10-17
I just read some of the comments of your readers below. I don't think they understand the importance of this book to the 21st century. This book is a must read for anyone interested and concerned about North Korean refugees. I was inspired and touched by this family's journey to be reunited.
Customer Reviews:
Unpretentious gossip.......2002-09-28
At least "Kennedy Men: Three Generations of Sex, Scandal and Secrets" never pretends to be anything but what it is: a collection of tabloid reports and gleeful gossip. The entire book has very little point except: Kennedy men are scum who break the law and treat women like dirt. But those who have ever gotten a dirty little thrill from tabloids will enjoy this easy read.
It begins with the calculating patriarch Joseph Kennedy, whose many affairs were a source of inspiration to his sons. In this book are the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy, the Good Friday rape case, Marilyn Monroe's mysterious death, drugs and alcoholism, divorce and adultery, the Mary Jo Kopechne tragedy, and dozens of other tragedies and mishaps.
Thankfully Bly doesn't buy into the sentimental goo about a family curse; in this book, it becomes evident that most of the Kennedy tragedies are, if not caused by their own actions, then nothing more than that -- accidents and tragedies. And it becomes quite evident that they did cause a lot of their own problems, such as Chappaquiddick.
With a title like "Three Generations of Sex, Scandal and Secrets," obviously as many extramarital affairs as possible are going to be gone over again. Joseph Kennedy's affairs start it off, and Bly happily retells JFK's affairs with Monroe, Inga Arvad, Angie Dickinson, Gene Tierney, and Judith Campbell Exner. While Ted Kennedy is usually a side-player in such books, he's roasted without mercy with plenty about his conquests as well -- including one humiliating anecdote where he takes a drunken prostitute to a party, where she wets an antique sofa. The next generation isn't spared as well: While most of them seem relatively okay, David Kennedy's drug addiction and Joe II's car crash and turbulent lifestyle are aired out. The most vivid of the third-generation Kennedy stories is the William Kennedy rape case. And even "John-John" doesn't get off too easily: His more flamboyant and famous girlfriends, like Madonna and Sharon Stone, are presented as well.
The entire book is written in bite-sized semi-chapters, giving the further impression of tabloid journalism. But the writing style is brisk and pleasant, never getting bogged for too long in any one area unless it's really important. There's a good array of photographs, at least half of which are onetime girlfriends of the various Kennedy men. (Look no further for one of the worst Madonna pictures I've ever seen)
Usually tabloid books are disguised with dignified covers and titles. But "Three Generations of Sex, Scandal and Secrets" is unashamed of what it is, which makes it a guilty pleasure worth the read.
Does What The Title Says.......2002-02-08
This book is essentially a collection of gossip about the three generations of the Kennedy men, starting with patriarch Joe Kennedy Sr and concluding in the present day (well, 1996). If you enjoy gossipy reads (as I do) then you'll enjoy this book.
The only problem I had was the sections devoted to John Kennedy were shorter than I would have liked. But there are dozens of bios on JFK out there, and this book wasn't entirely about him.
Reading this book, it seems like Teddy & the third generation's recklessness with drugs and women are what ended Joe Kennedy, Sr's dream of a family legacy.
To quote Lenny Briscoe:.......2001-09-19
"Thank God for the Kennedys. Without them, a lot of bad writers would be waiting tables." I heard this line on a recent rerun of Law & Order and it immediately made me think about Nellie Bly's The Kennedy Men, one of the more superflous books claiming to give us the dirt on America's prodigal sons. Basically, what Bly has done is compiled a collection of facts culled from other, better Kennedy books and recorded them in the breathless prose of a tabloid reporter. There's nothing new within this book and, despite Bly's claims to the contrary, no valuable or new insight to be gained from what is basically a list of other people's dirty laundry.
Nellie Bly pulls no punches.......2001-05-11
Nellie Bly details the peccadilloes of the Kennedy men from the 1900's to the 1990's. We get the lowdown on Gloria Swanson, Marilyn Monroe, Judith Campbell, Chappaquiddick, Joe II's jeep accident that left a young woman paralyzed, the drug use and the arrests of the third generation men, and so on. Joe Kennedy Sr. told his sons "If there's a piece of cake on your plate, take it". You have to admire the women that stuck it out with these guys. A good read for those interested in the Kennedys.
An easy, enjoyable, somewhat gossipy tale of the Kennedy men.......1998-12-23
While plenty of us already know the tale of this clan, this book is still a rather entertaining read. There are plenty of classic anecdotes about the ongoings of these men, especially Joe, Sr., JFK, Bobby and the rather pitiful Teddy, as portrayed in parts. It is often quite candid, if not humourous, however, does tend to fall into ruts at times. Overall, it's a good book with which to pass an otherwise boring weekend.
Book Description
Stubborn Twig is a classic American tale, a story of immigrants making their way in a new land. It is a living work of social history that rings with the power of truth and the drama of fiction, a moving saga about the promise and perils of America and the meaning of becoming an American.
Masuo Yasui arrived in America in 1903 with big dreams and empty pockets. He worked on the railroads, in a cannery, and as a houseboy before settling in Hood River, Oregon, to open a store, raise a large family, and become one of the area's most successful orchardists.
As Masuo broke the color barrier in the local business community, his American-born children broke it in school, scouts, and sports, excelling in most everything they tried. But none of their accomplishments could shield them from the sometimes intense racism that scarred their formative years.
December 7, 1941, changed their lives completely and forever. Forced from their homes with only what they could carry and interned in vast inland "camps," the family was shamed and broken. But the Yasuis endured, as immigrants have always endured, to claim their place as Americans in a diverse and sometimes troubled society.
Customer Reviews:
Japanese-Americans in Hood River, Oregon ??.......2001-03-12
I found this book while browsing in the stacks one day. I had no idea that Japanese had been imported to build the Railroads in the Northwest during the late 19th and early 20th centuries (this was because Chinese were not available... laws had been passed making their immigration to the US illegal), and mainly ONLY MEN. It was a real eye-opener (I have seen NO such information ever in any US History book I read in school, and I am born and educated in the US -- graduated from UC Berkeley).
This book is very easy to read and become engrossed into. I could not do anything else in my spare time other than work on finishing reading this. It goes a long way to filling in much of the missing pieces with Japan of US History before, during, and after WWI and WWII.
Most US Citizens NEVER heard of Min Yasui, a newly minted Lawyer and Japanese-American US Citizen (by birth) from Hood River, Oregon, who decided to challenge Executive Order 9066 by deliberately disobeying it, getting arrested, charged, convicted, and put into Solitary Confinement for the duration of WWII even as the US Supreme Court ruled against him regarding the Constitutionality of it. And, yes folks, Executive Order 9066 could be reissued today, against anyone (even you), without Due Process. You too could be treated just like the Yasui's, ripped out of your job and home, have your bank accounts frozen, told you had 48 hours to pack and could only bring what you personally could carry with your hands and nothing more... and then lose your property and home when you could not pay the property taxes (because your Bank Accounts had been frozen by the Federal Government).
You say you're a US Citizen? So were the Yasui's (except for Min and his wife, who were prohibited by Federal Law from ever becoming Naturalized Citizens -- a Law that was not changed until 1958!! Whites could, and Blacks after the Civil War in 1865 were added to the list. But Asians were never mentioned anywhere. It didn't say they could not, but it didn't say they could either. It just didn't say... and so the US Supreme Court ruled that Asian Immigrants were EXCLUDED from ever becoming Naturalized US Citizens. Hard to believe? Read about how the Yasui's coped with this issue. And the next time you eat an apple from a box marked HOOD RIVER, OREGON... you will know "the Rest of the Story... ".
This book should be Required Reading for anyone taking or even remotely interested in US History.
A Families Courage.......2000-04-06
I just finished reading The Stubborn Twig today. I love to spend hours in bookstores looking for different kinds of books and am pretty quick at purchasing what I know I will like. This book intrigued me just by the title - it went right to the top of the pile of books that I brought home that day. I started reading it right away.
The story deals with how the Yasui family copes with the trials and daily living of being different. It also gives a look into how they at times fit in with their white (hakujin) neighbors and no one noticed.
The story is both touching and exciting as the reader goes through the generations of Yasui's and how they feel about the world around them.
I think that Ms. Kessler did a very good job of telling the story of each family member while weaving them into the importance of the famliy as a whole. I too come from a large family with generations of history. It has inspired me to start better record-keeping for my own children and the ones to come.
I never knew of the reasons behind the internment of the Japanese Americans during the war. This book not only gives facts and history but the details of how real people had to cope to survive. I recommend this book to anyone interested in history, and an admirable approach to finding the courage to start over in life.
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