When the Emperor Was Divine Audiobook

" Chosen for the one book, one community read for Loudoun County Public Libraries, this became the chosen novel for the staff book club. It was super short: I read it on a plane ride from Omaha to Dallas. I really liked the style of the book: no character names for the Japanese, a few scenes to give a glimpse and understand the shame that the characters felt. I wish that there had been more though because I did not feel invested in the characters; I just hate that the camps existed. "

" Beautiful writing, understated and far from dramatic, which made that much more of an effect. "

" Really good. Historical fiction. Fast read. "

" My brother had to read this for a high school English class, so I tackled the same challenge. It's surprisingly pretty writing, if you can get past all the burning and pet killing. "

" Another great, little book I read this year. This one went to the top of my list for IB small books. It's a wonderful piece of historical fiction, looking at the Japanese internment camps. Beyond that there is great symbolism throughout...the students will really get a lot of analytical meat out of the color white, the roaming horses, and the murdered dog. "

" When the Emperor Was Divine is a cool book to me because it has Utah history. A Japanese American family during WWII was forced to move to Delta, Utah. Their father was taken in the beginning of the book, accused of being a spy for the Japanese. I like seeing this side of WWII. There are so many innocent victims in war. This is a sad story among millions. "

" Quick, but extremely enjoyable read about the internment of a Japanese family during WWII. Perspective through the eyes of different characters. Tons of history in a brief, well-written book. "

" Poetic and vivid. A story of the nameless sacrificed to the "common good." "

" lovely writing style. Informative, loved the strength of the mother. "

" interesting short read. it was good to understand a different person's point of view & see the world through their eyes. "

" Beautifully written, spare novel about Japanese internment during WW2, told from multiple points of view. Short but powerful novel, with many heartbreaking moments.... "

" about a Japanese-American family during WWII being separated from each other and put in detention camps. Not my usual choice of fiction, but well done. "

" An incitefull little book with a last chapter that brought it all home for me. "

" This was a quick read but packed with emotion. "

" A very quick read. I liked the matter of fact tone of the book. "

" Well-written, touching, and revealing. By referring to the main characters simply as the mother, boy, girl, father, Julie Otsuka tells the story of the internment and its effects on Japanese-Americans in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and WWII. "

" I enjoy reading about this time period. This was a short powerful book. Otsuka can say a lot in very little space but I didn't think it was deep enough. It left me wanting. "

" Beautifully written. The savaging of a family by the actions the US took to protect themselves from the "enemy". The Japanese internment camps traumatized their occupants. They eventually returned to their "homes" to find themselves aliens. Sad period in our history. "

" Thoroughly enjoyed this book. As with Buddha in the Attic, I was really left wanting more but was interested and engaged the entire time. Really fast read. Can't wait to see more of her work. "

" It is an interesting little book about how discrimination during WWII affected one Japanese family in the United States. It was simple yet powerful. "

" An awesome book, highly recommend "

" So far I have really enjoyed this book. The point of view of the children in the internment camp is interesting. I have read a lot of books about the Japanese internment and I think this is one of the better ones. "

" loved the point of view from Janapese stand during ww2. Great writing and very poignant "

" This short novel with it's views of the Japanese internment during the 2nd World War from the perspective of 4 family member is thought provoking. I highly recommend it. "

" Good, but I liked Corner of Bitter and Sweet better. Sad what happens in war times, even to civilians. "

" this book was beautiful. to say more would diminish the simplicity of this tale which described a sad moment in the human experience. "

" This is a very short read.This book explores the thoughts and feelings of members of one Japanese family before, during, and after they've been shipped off to a desert camp during WW2. "

" lovely writing style. Informative, loved the strength of the mother. "

" I loved the change of perspective from the wives to the children. I think this would pair nicely with "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" to get a glimpse of the Japanese experience during WWII "

" Interesting, learned some new things, but never really connected with any of the characters. I liked the story being told by the different characters , yet it still seemed a little disjointed to me. And the last section seemed a little forced. "

" Interesting topic. Quick read. However, it left me cold. The book is written in short, simple sentences and for me, it never really got to the heart of the characters. The author seemed to have a distant, almost clinical approach to what should have been a deeply moving story. "

" it was better than i thought "

" Fascinating story about Japanese POW camp. Really liked it. "

" Julia Otsuka seamlessly creates both a personal story and one of anonymity within the context of When the Emperor Was Divine. "

" Brief, sparely written, moving account of a Japanese American family before, during, and after the internment camps. "