Saturday, January 16, 2016

Book Review: Daughters of the Samurai

by Janice P Nimura
 
Daughters of the Samurai
 
 
Partial Synopsis from Bas Bleu:  In 1871, as part of a grand modernization effort, the newly restored Meiji government in Japan sent five young women to the United States to study Western ways. Three of them remained for ten years, each trading her traditional samurai upbringing to live with a host family as a typical American schoolgirl.
 
 
My thoughts:  I found this book to be utterly fascinating!  When the girls first board the ship bound for America, the youngest one is only 7 years old and none of them can speak English.  How overwhelmed they must have felt!  Ten year later, when they returned to Japan, they struggled with their native language.  With their perseverance, though, girls in Japan were given educational opportunities beyond elementary school moving Japan toward much better conditions for women across their society.  I definitely recommend this book!

What have you been reading?
 
 ;-)  -Marci


6 comments:

  1. Oh, that sounds like an interesting book! I love reading history and biographies, and that sounds like a window into events I've never heard of before.

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  2. Thanks for the recommendation! Always looking for good book reviews so that I can add to my library book queue.

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  3. Marci, this book sounds so interesting! Thank you for sharing. You are one of the fan favorites at the Sunday Showcase from the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link so you can check out your feature. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2016/01/the-sunday-showcase-from-make-it-pretty_24.html Have a lovely week. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  4. Thank you for this review! Sounds like something I would enjoy.
    ~Laurie
    @MyHusbandHasTooManyHobbies.com

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  5. Very cool! Sounds super interesting. The synopsis reminds me of another favorite of mine, "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thannha Lai. Here's a review on my blog if you're interested!

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  6. This sounds so interesting. Do you think it would be appropriate for my 9 and 11-year old daughters to read when we study Japan later this year? Thanks so much for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday!
    Tina

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