Review: Cross and the Floating Dragon: The Gospel in Ryukyu

Cross and the Floating Dragon: The Gospel in Ryukyu by Edward E. Bollinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is basically the history of Christianity in Okinawa. I thought it would be the most boring book I had ever read, but it turned out to be a gem, giving me a look into the history of something that touched the lives of millions of people in the island all told. It covers all types of Christianity (Catholicism, COE, Episcopalianism, Methodism, Presbyterianism, Baptists, seventh day Adventists, and others) on the island.

The whole section on Bettelheim was extremely entertaining (and it turns out he has a Wikipedia page too), especially the tactics the locals used to discourage him, and how he kept persevering.

The "Village that lives by the Bible" story was also extremely interesting, including the truth behind it.

After the war, there was a general mentality that "America won the war, so now we must become Christians" (p. 189), which undoubtedly helped the Christian movement (although it had been going very strong before the war as well).

It was also interesting to read about the conflict between ancestral rites and Christianity, and how Catholicism was the most accommodating for this practice.

All in all an interesting and unique look into a subject I otherwise would never have read about.

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Review: The Unexpected President: The Life and Times of Chester A. Arthur

The Unexpected President: The Life and Times of Chester A. Arthur by Scott S. Greenberger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All in all a very good book about a not very good person (turned better later on).

Having been brought up by an ardent abolitionist, and then having left the fold for the more profit-seeking clique of stalwarts and politicians who took "voluntary" payments from employees and bestowed offices as favors, he found himself pretty much by accident as a vice president. And then Garfield was shot by a lunatic, and he found himself president. But at that point he changed, left his crony friends behind and enacted reform to make political positions more merit-based, etc.

Aside from that turn-about, there isn't much that is fascinating about this man's life. In fact, the book talks at great length about other big names of the era, namely Roscoe Conkling, President Grant and President Garfield. It takes 2/3 of the book for Arthur to even become president.

I found the most intriguing bit to be the part about Julia Sand. I think every president could use someone like her.

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Review: South Korea's Minjung Movement: The Culture and Politics of Dissidence

South Korea's Minjung Movement: The Culture and Politics of Dissidence by Kenneth M. Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A collection of essays by various authors regarding Minjung. Overall a bit too academic for me, but definitely interesting and informative.

My favorite chapters:
Confucian Tradition and Nationalist Ideology in Korea, by Chung Chai-sik
Minjung Movements and the Minjung: Organizers and Farmers in a 1980s Farmers' Movement, by Nancy Abelmann
The Iconic Power of Modernity: Reading a Cheju Shaman's Life History and Initiation Dream, by Kim Seong Nae
Contemporary Korean Literature: From Victimization to Minjung Nationalism, by Choi Hyun-moo

There is also a speech by Paik Nak-chung

Interesting to read how the Confucianists were against Democracy, since they said it was incompatible with Confucianism.
Also very interesting to read about Nonghwal

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Review: The Conception of Terror: Tales Inspired by M. R. James - Volume 1

The Conception of Terror: Tales Inspired by M. R. James - Volume 1 by M.R. James
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm sorry. Apparently these were re-tellings of classic ghost stories (that I haven't read), but I found each one worse than the other. I actually found the dramatization ok (unlike many other reviewers), but the stories themselves seemed weak, had plot holes (even taking into account that they're fantasy stories, so you can pretty much make up the rules) and didn't really seem to end coherently.

I can't say much more without spoilers, but I guess I'm not a fan of M.R. James.

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Review: Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by James C. Collins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

By and large some good information that I plan on using. However, Collins sort of digs his own grave here by not only highlighting great companies, but discounting leaders who can't sustain greatness after they're gone (non-level 5 leaders). The issue here is that plenty of the companies he calls great have since done pretty poorly (Circuit city, Fannie mae), but he can't just say "Well they were great once but now not so much" since that goes against his Level 5 leadership attribute of continuing greatness after they are gone.

Regardless, I took some notes for takeaways I plan on applying:
- Be driven to do what's best for the company
- Hedgehog concept:
Find intersection of what I can be best in the world at, what I like, and what earns money
- Culture of discipline
- Use Technology to accelerate growth (but don't just use technology because everyone else is)
- The Flywheel: Basically compound interest in terms of added effect of small initiatives
- BHAG: Probably better motivation than small "realistic" goals


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Review: The Art and Aesthetics of Form Selections from the History of Chinese Painting

The Art and Aesthetics of Form Selections from the History of Chinese Painting by Yun-ru Ch'en
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always hesitate to read museum books, since they often tend to be essentially a collection of photos of exhibits, with basically a short description taken from the one in the exhibit itself and that's it.

However, I found this short book to be excellent as a primer into China's history of art. The examples all illustrated clearly the general narrative, which was basically about the progression of art history throughout the dynasties.

4.5 stars for now. Might change it to 5.

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Review: In the Miso Soup

In the Miso Soup by Ryū Murakami
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well that was messed up.

3.5 stars

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Review: Familiar Things

Familiar Things by Hwang Sok-yong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Funny, as I was reading this book it reminded me of another book I had read recently, but I couldn't quite remember which one. Anyway, it turns out it was "At Dusk", by the same author.

I'm not sure why it reminded me that book, since they aren't really similar.

Regardless, I enjoyed this book. It was a tad depressing, but there was so much more happening, with the odd characters (with cool nicknames), the odd living situations, the fairy people, the commentary on material waste, etc.


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Review: Midnight Son

Midnight Son by James Dommek Jr.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Basically an extended podcast, but pretty interesting. A lot of information about the Inupiaq and their beliefs and way of life, as well as of life in the small villages of Alaska.

Having said that, the story seemed like it could have been stronger. He didn't even speak to Teddy directly, and I'm not sure what the final outing he took accomplished.

Also it is odd that Teddy believes he should be judged by peers from his village, since it was peers from his village that he shot at, so I'm not sure how much better that would be.

Anyway, definitely worth the free price, and worth the time just for the information re: Alaska, Inupiaqs, and obviously Inukuns.

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Review: Goguryeo: In Search of Its Culture and History

Goguryeo: In Search of Its Culture and History by Ho-T'Ae Chon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this, although it gave me the impression of a collection of writings next to museum exhibits (it isn't). The best part was probably the paintings, and it is beyond me how they could decipher some of them, seeing how faded they are. Also, it is a pity that so many of the sites are in North Korea, since we probably could have much more details about this kingdom otherwise.

I found it odd that they left a history of the kingdom to the end, rather than start with it at the beginning.

Also odd that there wasn't a section on their language. This was one of the points I'm was most curious about. Was it closer to Korean or Manchurian? A mixture? Neither of the two? I don't know. It isn't even mentioned.



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Review: Kristin Lavransdatter

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow what a journey! This was an epic the way an epic is supposed to be written. Rather than using a tome to go through as many generations of a family as possible, it focuses on one generation (actually just one person), but we get to see all the good points and faults of the protagonist as well as many of the other characters. Hardly any cardboard cutouts, but rather people in their complexity. Oh, and it takes place in 14th century Norway.



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Review: The North Korean Revolution, 1945-1950

The North Korean Revolution, 1945-1950 by Charles K. Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is probably the best book I've come across detailing the period between the end of WWII and the beginning of the Korean War, from when North Korea was established to when it tried (and briefly succeeded) to invade the South. It was during this period that Kim Il-Sung set up North Korea as we know it today.

It was also very interesting to read about the Chondogyo religion and its spread during that time. I knew next to nothing about this before. Apparently it still exists in South Korea (with over 1 million followers!)

Highlighted passages:
"To this day, the language spoken by most Koreans in Yanbian is based on the Hamgyong dialect" (p. 18)

"In Germany as many as 2 million women were raped by members of the Soviet occupation forces". (p. 44)

"The state attempted to reverse the previous hierarchy and to put those of "good songbun", or the formerly "persecuted classes", on top." (p. 72)

"In Soviet-type economies, the state does not substitute for the working class, but rather for the exploiting class. The state then "creates" the working class, which is politically and economically dependent on the state and its officials" (p. 137)

"This helped the DPRK to remain viable after the Mongolian People's Republic, the one genuine Soviet Satellite in Asia, lost its legitimacy after the collapse of communist states in Eastern Europe" (p. 190)



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Review: Requiem per zia Domenica

Requiem per zia Domenica by Plinio Martini
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was oddly disappointing. Maybe it was just odd. It is obviously an ode to his hometown Cavergno, and to the people from his youth. However, he decided not to make it a memoir or autobiographical, but rather a novel, changing the names of the main towns, and even the name of the canton (Vedasca). I think this is usually done with memoirs in order to make them more interesting, because they can be woven around a fictitious story. However, there is no story here. It is a collection of memories and reminiscences during a funeral. The fictitious names just detracted from the story (I had to keep referring to the footnotes, which broke up the momentum), and I don't understand what was gained from using them, especially since many of the names of real people and things (the author's uncle, various priests and organizations) were kept. I must be missing something, but regardless, aside from it being quite slow (nothing really happens besides memories), and being broken up due to the fictitious names, it had some interesting points and insights into life in the middle of Valle Maggia during the early 20th century. Also some interesting terms in the local dialect.

2.5 stars.


alcuni termini:
paterare: italianizzazione del termine dial. paterá (pregare il pater noster di continuo)

forcola: stretto valico di montagna (dal lat. FURCULA, diminutivo di FURCA)

San Nicolao della Flüe: santo e patrono della Svizzera

Servisol: Self-service

Buzza: dal dial. büza. Burrasca



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Review: The Fifth Child

The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This short novel kept me interested, but I can't say I understand the main protagonist (Harriett, not Ben. I mean, obviously I don't understand Ben either, but I don't expect to). She felt it better to sacrifice her 4 other children's lives (not to mention her husband's, her own, and basically everyone around her) than the life of this one who very clearly has serious problems (or is just a monster).

Having said that, it is still an enthralling book. I couldn't really tell what Ben was supposed to look like from the description. Maybe he was a neanderthal throwback (they seemed to hinting at this a couple times)? I found myself searching for images of neanderthals to get an idea.


3.5 stars

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