Customer Reviews

Brocade

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This novel defies categorization, which confounds the marketing people. In its original form, it seemed to have a romance novel cover and appeal. On the contrary, it is in the tradition of Thornbirds or Raj Quartet. This is a tragic story of an ainoko, or Japanese son of an American GI during the U.S. Occupation. A scathing and realistic depiction of America's military presence and its ethnocentricism, it contrasts sharply with the sad life of Heinie, the half-breed who is rejected as well by the purists of the Japanese culture. The work is written by former film star,Jan Merlin, whose face is familiar to movie goers and television fans of the 50s and 60s as one of the most notorious villains. Here he shows why he won an Emmy for his writing for television in 1976. The story contains a harrowing view of Hiroshima after nuclear conflagration and the Japanese theatre world after the war. Like many great epic stories, this one defies a single label. It is for readers to rediscover and to cherish, as they surely will. Highly recommended

In 1997 in my review on amazon, I lamented the fact that this book was out of print. However, thanks to the foresight of Author22 Publishers, the book has been returned to the active file. Readers now can find a more readable edition available: print is larger and clearer. The book now resembles what it is: social commentary combined with glorious story-telling, and avoids the misleading cover of old that suggested some soap opera romance. This work is highly recommended to those with an interest in the historical Amerasian children and their sad fate. Buy this book!