Photograph copyright K. Smokey Cormier- A History of Modern Indonesia - M.C. Ricklefs
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Well, it's sort of seminal, I suppose. I mean, if you're seriously reading Indonesian history, you're going to come back to this book at some point or other. Warning: If you're Asian, your blood will boil, repeatedly.
Reread? No. Unless absolutely necessary. There's a limit to how high one's blood pressure should go in the interests of gaining an education. - Between Two Oceans - Murkett, Miskic, Farrell, & Chiang
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? I bought this book under the impression that it was a history of Singapore. It is, sort of, that is to say, it's a military history of Singapore. For those who know anything at all about Singapore, its cultural, commercial, and political history are far more interesting. Nevertheless, this book does make an important contribution to an understanding of WW II in the Pacific theatre.
Reread? Probly not. - Blood On The Golden Sands - Lim Kean Siew
Borrowed? Gift.
Recommended? Lim Kean Siew is/was born and raised in Penang, a small island off the Northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. He was active in Malaysian politics, and survived WW II, thank goodness. This is a fascinating book, although it could, frankly, have used an editor. Read it only if you have an interest in any of these subjects: history of Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia; the Baba community of Malaysia/Singapore/Indonesia; history of WW II.
Reread? Probly not. - Clay Walls - Kim Ronyoung
Borrowed? Gift.
Recommended? Highly. Kim Ronyoung is the nom de plume of Korean writer Gloria Hahn, and AFAIK this is her first and only novel. It's a very interesting look at the lives of the Korean community in America, told from several points of view.
Reread? Maybe one day, time permitting. - Force 136:Story of A Resistance Fighter in WWII - Tan Chong Tee
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Highly. This is the tale of Force 136, the force of British-trained saboteurs sent to Malaya to assist in overthrowing the Japanese imperialist aggressors, as told by one of the Asian fighters. The Asian viewpoint on this war is all too rare, and Mr. Tan has written a fascinating book, although the translators might well be faulted for an overly literal (and therefore lacking, literarily) translation.
Reread? Maybe one day, time permitting. - Gaijin - James Clavell
Borrowed? Gift.
Recommended? James Clavell is a surprisingly good writer, given that this book never really won any awards, and is the sort of fiction one reads on summer holidays or long plane journeys. His knowledge and understanding of Asia is extensive. I'm actually impressed, much as I hate to admit it, having read Clavell in my youth and discarded him for writers of a more formidable cadre. I'm beginning to think I may have been hasty in my judgement.
Reread? It's about 1,000 pages, gimme a break. - I Am America (And So Can You) - Stephen Colbert
Borrowed? Gift.
Recommended? Highly. It's Colbert. You'll laugh till you pee.
Reread? No. - Kempeitai:The Japanese Secret Service Then And Now - Richard Deacon
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? No. Deacon is the nom de plume of one Donald McCormick, a former British Intelligence employee who went on to become a journalist. McCormick's penchant for unsubstantiated claims (at least in this particular book) leads me to believe that, as someone else has said, "it is often difficult to judge the reliability" of his work. His fawning attitude towards the intelligence capabilities and activities of Imperial Japan was also rather revolting to someone reading about the war crimes committed by the myrmidons of Imperial Japan. In other words, this book is definitely NOT recommended. Don't waste your time, or money, on it. Apart from the playing fast and loose with the facts, and the unwarranted admiration of persons unworthy, there is also the complete failure of the writer to place the figures of whom he writes in a well-analyzed political context. Superficial at best, annoying at worst. The Political Cat says "Bag this book and find something more worth your while."
Reread? - Kempeitai - Raymond Lamont Brown
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Highly. Lamont-Brown's father was a Japanese PoW, and some of the stronger comments he makes about Japanese activities during the war no doubt stem from a certain degree of resentment connected therewith. In the event, he has a good, humanitarian perspective and, while scathing about the Japanese treatment of PoWs, nevertheless writes well and passionately about the activities of the dreaded Kempeitai.
Reread? Someday, I'm sure. - Krait:The Fishing Boat That Went To War - Lynette Ramsay Silver
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Only to students of WW II, maritime history, Australian/British military history, and the like. The book is a fascinating exploration of the Jaywick Incident, which resulted in horrendous war crimes committed by Japanese Kempeitai officers and military officers against the hapless prisoners of war resident in Changi Gaol, Singapore. These crimes, collectively referred to as "The Double Tenth Incident," later formed the basis of War Crimes Tribunal hearings in Singapore.
Reread? Probly not. - Lest We Forget - Alice M. Coleman & Joyce E. Williams
Borrowed? Gift.
Recommended? For those interested in the treatment of the Japanese (Issei) and Japanese-Americans (Nisei) resident in the U.S. during World War II. Williams is a sociologist and Coleman a writer and poet. Both are German-American in origin, and the book resulted from their own remembrance of, and repugnance toward, the treatment of German-Americans during the First World War. An excellent treatment of the events of that era, and invaluable for those wishing to ensure that injustice is eradicated wherever it sprouts.
Reread? Someday. - Luntaya Acheiq: An Illustrated Book of Burmese Court Textiles - Punvasa Kunlabutr
Borrowed? Yes.
Recommended? Highly. This is a beautiful book, to be enjoyed over a glass of wine. Highly readable, filled with interesting and pertinent facts (including information on how to make your own vegetable-based dyes), and accompanied by colour illustrations second to none. I would buy it for my library if I could afford it, but I can't. In the event, at least borrow it and look.
Reread? If someone will buy it for me, as often as I can. - Modern Japan, A Historical Survey - Hane Mikiso
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Highly, for anyone interested in Japanese history. Professor Hane was a distinguished scholar in the field, and his book is well worth reading.
Reread? I need a second or third life, so I'll have time to read, and reread, all the books that catch my interest. Is that too much to ask? - My Island in the Sun - Khor Cheang Kee
Borrowed? Gift.
Recommended? Khor Cheang Kee is a Penangite, born and bred, and distinguished himself by publishing a regular column in the local paper for most of his long life. This book is a compilation of his columns, and a charming look at life in Penang, an island which occupies a very special place in my heart. I was overjoyed to read of all the good hawker food discoveries of Mr. Khor, and am pleased to have added the word kedekut to my vocabulary.
Reread? Afraid not. Time.
- Operation Matador - Ong Chit Chung
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Dr. Ong's work on Operation Matador reads rather like an apologia for British Imperial military strategy in Southeast Asia. Interesting enough, and well-researched. Unfortunately, Dr. Ong is not given to in-depth political analysis, of which military history is really only one small part. Thus, while he discusses such issues as The Mukden Incident, and Japan's occupation of Korea, he fails to present them within any more substantial context, which is, I believe, a fatal flaw in his analysis. Nevertheless, if you don't know what the British Imperialists were up to before and during WW II in Asia, this is an interesting and informative book.
Reread? No. - Rehearsal for War - Ban Kah Choon & Yap Hong Kuan
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? This is a fascinating work about the MPAJA (Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army), the guerillas who fought the Japanese imperialists when the British and Australians turned tail and ran. Although it is not entirely sympathetic to the viewpoint of the MPAJA (being based on British intelligence about the guerillas, and written during the long Emergency when the British turned against these same guerillas who had aided their fight against the Japanese in an effort to quash the nascent Independence movement in Malaysia and Singapore), it is nevertheless a fascinating and hitherto-unknown aspect of the history of these nations and British Imperialism in Southeast Asia.
Reread? Probly. - Revolt in Paradise - K'tut Tantri
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? K'tut Tantri was born Muriel Stuart Walker, in Scotland. She grew up in Hollywood, USA, and by a series of extraordinary events, found herself in Indonesia — more precisely, Bali — at a time when history was at a great turning point. She was passionately involved in the Indonesian fight for independence. A hotelier in Bali under the Dutch misrule, and during the Japanese occupation, she was tortured by the Japanese (according to her account); she was personal friends with great and important persons, including Duff Cooper and Indonesia's first president, Sukarno. Her book is utterly fascinating. I read it in my teens, and was inspired by her. Upon second reading, I find her at times a little strange and fantastical, but second to none in her love for Indonesia, and especially Bali.
Reread? Periodically, I'm sure. - Singapore The Pregnable Fortress - Peter Elphick
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Elphick has written a well-researched, and overall excellent, book on the series of events, military and political, that led to the defeat of Great Britain by Japan during WW II, as it culminated in the events of the war in Malaya/Singapore. Although later military historians find fault with some of Elphick's statements, it would not be too unkind or inaccurate to describe their comments as nitpicks. Overall, an excellent book, and highly readable, to boot.
Reread? Probably. - Soldiers Alive - Ishikawa Tatsuzo
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Ishikawa Tatsuzo was a Japanese journalist who also wrote fiction. This particular work is a fictional account of the Japanese attack on China, based on real events that Ishikawa witnessed. Zeljko Cipris does an excellent job of translation, and the result is a depressing yet interesting look at very important events in world history.
Reread? Um. Maybe not. - Southeast Asia in the Age of Commerce Vol. I - Anthony Reid
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Reid is a well-respected historian whose studies have focused on Southeast Asia, and this is a gem of a book in the field. Highly readable for an academic history. In light of the many efforts of Western scholars to expound on the history of the region, I should mention that Professor Reid's efforts are more simpatico and less jarring to the nerves and blood pressure.
Reread? Undoubtedly, as time permits. - Southeast Asia in the Age of Commerce Vol. II - Anthony Reid
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Volume II of the work reviewed above.
Reread? Probly. - The Discourses - Niccolo Machiavelli
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Machiavelli really ought to be required reading for anyone interested in politics, history, especially military history, and humanity in general.
Reread? Periodically, I'm sure. - The Double Tenth Trial - C. Sleeman, S.C. Silkin, Eds.
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Transcripts of the trial of Japanese PoWs involved in the "Double Tenth" incident involving Operation Jaywick conducted by British and Australian forces. The daring sabotage of Japanese military vessels docked at Singapore was a well-kept secret of the war and had hideous consequences for the British/Australian PoWs then interned in Changi Gaol. Well worth reading, but keep your antidepressants close to hand.
Reread? Probly not. - The Dutch Seaborne Empire 1600 - 1800 - C.R. Boxer
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? An important contribution to understanding of the history of Dutch Imperialism in Southeast Asia. Guaranteed to annoy, however.
Reread? Probly not. - The Eye Over The Golden Sands - Lim Kean Siew
Borrowed? Gift.
Recommended? Mr. Lim, a lawyer and politician born in Penang, describes in detail the effects of WW II on the island. A good look at the history of the Baba community, although probably too esoteric (and rambling) for most, unless you're interested in the particular subject matter.
Reread? No. - The Gravedigger's Daughter - Joyce Carol Oates
Borrowed? Gift.
Recommended? Joyce Carol Oates is a fine writer, even if the book itself is very depressing on some levels. Well worth reading, though.
Reread? No. - The Jungle is Neutral - F. Spencer Chapman
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Spencer Chapman was one of the British who actually remained behind during the Japanese Occupation of Malaya (today known as Malaysia). This is his account of his years hiding in the jungle and working with the guerrillas of the MPAJA (Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army). Although filled with the jingoism and racism of the time, it is an interesting book. Not recommended for those with strong anti-Imperialist, anti-colonial, or anti-British sentiment, especially if suffering from high blood pressure. Not without medication, anyway.
Reread? Humph. - The Nanjing Massacre - Honda Katsuichi
Borrowed? Gift.
Recommended? A very depressing but factual and enlightening account of the war crimes of the Japanese in China, not entirely limited to Nanjing. My only criticism of this book is that its foreword is a criticism of Iris Chang's excellent book on the same topic, which I strongly feel is unwarranted.
Reread? No! Geez, how much fucking depression can I handle? - The Origins of The Second World War in Asia and the Pacific - Iriye Akira
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Professor Iriye is an expert in the specific field of American diplomatic history, and this book is a good analysis of the Washington Pact and preceding and subsequent international treaties between the U.S. and other Western powers and Japan. On the other hand, this book views the entire Pacific War in a way that is, frankly, far too sympathetic to Japan and has little, if any, criticism of the militarisation that overwhelmed any democratic reforms attempted during the Meiji Restoration. In essence, it's aimed towards an audience that seeks to understand America's legal position regarding this war, and has little useful information about either the Asian nations or the factors in Japan itself that led to this war.
Reread? No. - The Pacific War - Ienaga Saburo
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Highly. Professor Ienaga is rightly famous for his unending battle against the misinformation spread by Japanese authorities regarding their war crimes in Asia. This book is an excellent resource for those interested in understanding how and why Japan went to war in WW II. Professor Ienaga's unsparing eye and undimmed critical faculties trace the origins and consequences of Japanese imperialism and militarism. One of the best books on the Pacific war, IMNSHO.
Reread? As time allows. - The Rape of Nanking - Iris Chang
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Iris Chang's book will surely remain a seminal work on the war crimes committed by the Japanese in Nanjing. Although others have found fault with some of her statements and conclusions, there is no doubt that her passionate commitment to revealing the rapine that resulted in the death of at least 200,000 Chinese at the hands of the Japanese military is well worth reading.
Reread? Er ... with psychoactive medication. - The Scents of Eden, A History of the Spice Trade - Charles Corn
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? This is a dreadful little book that comprises a great deal of name-dropping coupled with the author's rather jingoistic assessment of the terrible pressures that forced Western imperialists to rape and loot the countries of Southeast Asia in furtherance of their territorial expansionism. One can hardly bear to read how important the author and his opinions are, and how much he has enjoyed the hospitality extended to him by the savages of those lands. Good grief.
Reread? No. - The Sky Book - Richard Misrach
Borrowed? Yes.
Recommended? Highly, if you like art, especially photography. Each photograph is like a painting. Who would've thought photographs of the sky could be so beautiful?
Reread? Alas, probably not, since it's not part of the Casa de Los Gatos Library. - The War in Malaya - A.E. Percival
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Good grief. This is nothing more or less than General Percival's apologia for the disastrous attempt at "defense" of Singapore during WW II. A greater collection of strategic blunders has rarely been assembled in a single place. Add to that the extreme deficiencies of the writing style and the utterly boring obsessions of the military mind, and one is soon convinced that "military intelligence" is the worst of oxymorons. The emphasis being on the "moron" half of that word.
Reread? Highly unlikely.
- Three Came Home - Agnes Newton Keith
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? This is a delightful and highly readable (despite the undeniably depressing nature of the subject matter) account of the author's (and her family's) experiences as prisoner of war in a Japanese PoW camp. Keith is a gifted writer indeed, and manages to find plenty of humour in a distinctly unhumorous situation.
Reread? Yes! - Tokyo Rose - Masayo Duus
Borrowed? No.
Recommended? Masayo Duus has done a fine job of discovering and telling the history of Iva Toguri, who was one of many persons to be labeled "Tokyo Rose." Duus lays out the case against Toguri with plenty of empathy, and it is clear from reading this that Ms. Toguri was simply a convenient scapegoat for a military obsessed with punishing supposed "traitors," regardless of the lack of evidence for their treason.
Reread? Perhaps, as time allows. - Wilt on High - Tom Sharpe
Borrowed? Gift.
Recommended? Tom Sharpe is one of the funniest writers in the dry style of British humourists, and Wilt is one of his best characters. One never knows when to be shocked, scandalized, or simply incapacitated from laughing. Hijinks at a college involving murder, incompetence, and the best of S&M.
Reread? Yes. Absolutely.
Next, we publish the updated reading list, which, unfortunately, has managed to accrue even more additions. I despair of finishing the lot, quite frankly.
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