Of War & Weddings: A Legacy of Two Fathers

Rating:
Summary: Of War, Weddings and Learning
Review: I read this book after meeting the author in summer 2000 at Volk WANGB. I should have enjoyed it, but I didn't. The reason for that is that I met the author and read the book at a time that I went through some very scary things that the book talks about. To put it in the author's words (faultily remembered): "I distrusted the Japanese when I heard about Manchuria. My distrust turned to anger when I heard about Pearl Harbor. My anger turned to hatred when I heard about Bataan. Later, I learned that we invaded Indian lands. Then I heard about how we sent troops in while we negotiated with them. Finally, I heard about the Trail of Tears, in which Indians were marched from Florida to Oklahoma and buried alive if they could not keep up."
Despite, my personal feelings coinciding with the book, I have read it several times and have recommended it to several friends, including one of my teachers- it is a must-read book!

Rating:
Summary: My Father
Review: My father wrote this book. It is an extraordinary story about an extraordinary man. It reveals to us the fact that we are all really connected on a deep level and that war is such a cruel experience for anyone to go through.

50 years my father fought against the Japanese. Now they are his in-laws. What a co-existence of opposites! This is a wonderful book about how a man can fight against a whole country and then 40 years later fall in love with the people and the culture he fought against. Be ready for an emotional ride and a wonderful ending.

Rating:
Summary: This book made me see both sides of the story.
Review: This book is very well written and easy to read. I especially liked the part where Jerry Yellin is explaining what the Baatan Death March is to Yas, his Japanese friend. Jerry askes Yas how the Japanese could be so cruel. Yas comes back with how Americans treated the American Indian during the March of Tears and they go on to discuss the bombing of Hiroshima. This part is very inlightening. I would recommend this book to teenagers and adults alike. In fact we will be selling it shortly in the bookstore of the War in the Pacific National Historical Park on the island of Guam.