Empire of the Sun by J. G. Ballard
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Book Reviews of Empire of the Sun
Book Review: great Story
Summary: 5 Stars
The story is a great look through a child's eyes at the WWII experience in Eastern China for British citizens captured by the Japanese. It goes from pre-war opulence to devastating prison camp existence to liberation.Book Review: Empire of the Sun
Summary: 5 Stars
Book was delivered in excellent condition with fast reliable service from merchant.Book Review: Much better than the movie.
Summary: 4 Stars
An incredible book. While reading this book I realized I had never heard much about the WW2 in the pacific outside of the American military operations of island hoping and the movies that came out of those events. I found this book very interesting. What was more surprising is it was based of Ballard's actual events that occurred to him during this time. I found myself wanting to so bad to know that everything would turn out well in the end. There were a few missing points in the book that I wish I could know the answer to, like what happened to certain individuals after the end of the book.
I'm trying really hard not to spoil the book for anyone who has not read it yet. I felt my mind completely engrossed in the book and I found myself day dreaming during the day and finding myself at Lunghua camp and realizing how grateful I should be that my meal is more than just rice and a sweet potato.
Would I say this book changed my life? Doubtful but it has made me more interested to read other books of the same nature, I want to go and read a book of someone who was in a concentration camp in Germany and then sit and compare what they had to go through, I would also be more interested now in reading more books of the pacific world war 2.
Book Review: Better, darker than the movie
Summary: 4 Stars
The book was made into a movie a while back with the kid from _Newsies_. The movie is not as good as the book. The book is more true and as a result 'darker'. Ballard is an excellent storyteller, but one disconcerting thing is that he tells the story of his young life in the third person. Odd, you know, this creates a bit of distance but perhaps he needed it.Book Review: WWII coming-of-age story
Summary: 3 Stars
Set in Shanghai during WWII, the novel follows a young British boy named Jim as he struggles to survive after being separated from his parents. Jim is crazy about airplanes and wants to be a pilot when he grows up. He admires the bravery of the Japanese soldiers and continues to idolize them, even after he is locked up in an internment camp where he sees up close the ugliness of war.
Jim is not always the most likeable character. He can be surpisingly callous, but he is a survivor.
Empire of the Sun is a well-written and realistic portrayal of a boy's struggle for survival during a brutal war. The overwhelming brutality was a bit much for me, but readers who enjoy war stories will love this one.