East and West [Hardcover]

Green (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Green focuses on a Japanese-American coupleKenji Tamba and Julie Varnumwho marry just before Pearl Harbor. After a marriage discouraged by both sides, they are interned by the Americans and then exchanged to Japan. Family and national happenings are described in short, diary-like segments written as if at some later time with Julie; Kenji; his brother, Masao; and sister, Yuriko, providing their perspectives. Masao, who epitomizes the samurai, recognizes the manipulations of the military but remains faithful to his code. Yuriko, trapped in an arranged marriage, is torn by traditional and changing lifestyles. Although some episodes seem pat and even saccharine, others provide a better understanding of the circumstances that prompted group and individual Japanese actions. For the latter reason and for fans of Green's many novels and screenplays, libraries should consider. Ellen Kaye Stoppel, Drake Univ. Law Lib., Des Moines
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 476 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult; First Canadian edition (July 19, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 091765756X
• ISBN-13: 978-0917657566
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,180,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Personal Review, June 1, 2002

By 

D. Eichholz "bsnmsn" (Indiana USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: East and West (Mass Market Paperback)

A story of two families, one japanese and the other American, against the backdrop of pre-WW2, WW2 and a short post war period. Without seeming to take sides, the story takes the reader from Japan to the US and the Pacific Theater. We meet the young couple. He is a young Japanese academic and she is the total california blonde. From there, we read as they struggle, love, fight and find redemption...while Mr Green weaves other characters in and out, no less compelling. A good read. NOT history verbatim by any means, but good enough for me to say " and then what happened to them ? "

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Story Of Love And War, December 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: East and West (Hardcover)

I bought this book many years ago when it first came out and it was one of the best books I have ever read. It tells the story of families in both Japan and the U.S. being affected by the war. I'll never forget reading the chapters about the detention camps for ALL people of Asian descent, not just Japanese. Many were American born Chinese,Japanese,Korean,etc. The love story of Julie and Kenji survives even when together at the camp. A wonderful book if you can find it!

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars East and West by Gerald Green, January 25, 2000

By 

Lee Rash (Upland, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: East and West (Mass Market Paperback)

I am halfway through the subject book (Gerald Green's "East and West"). I have found several historical discrepancies and I'm wondering how many there are that I don't know about. 1. Mr. Green refered to Camp Pendleton, twice in the timeframe of 1941. The US governement did not buy the land for Camp Pendleton until March of 1942. 2. He refers to Japan's Imperial Marines. Japan did not have marines. They had a Special Naval Landing force often called marines by US troops, but that is not what they were. 3. He refers to a Japanese major's rank insignia as "leaves". This one I'll have to look up, but I don't believe Japan used the same type of rank insignia as the US. Has anyone else complained about authors blowing it like this ? I think it casts doubt on the credibility of his work. Can you comment as well ? Thank You, Lee Rash