Mariquita: A Tragedy of Guam by Chris Perez Howard Essay -- Book Revie

Mariquita A Tragedy of Guam by Chris Perez HowardThe book empower Mariquita A Tragedy of Guam was written by author Chris Perez Howard in keep an eye on of her mother Mariquita Aguon Perez. The book covers the pain and sufferings of Guamanians through World War II from the perspective of atomic number 53 family. The book covers a period of time a little beneath a decade, puzzlening in 1938 while Guam was under Naval Administration.The book starts off painting the image an Howards mother Mariquita. She is represent as somewhat a diamond in the rough, beautiful and one of a kind, even pointing out that she worked as a stenographer, an uncommon congeal to be held by women in this time period. The book goes on describing her quotidian life including spending much time with her friends, competing amongst each other in the latest fashions and watching the movies.The story goes on describing her acquaintance with a late soldier by the name of Edward Neal Howard that has an eye for her. Mariquita at prototypical socialize the young sailor but hesitated to pursue any relationship with Eddie. then(prenominal) one night coming out of the movies, a Marine emit a racial remark towards Mariquita and Eddie, out of the crowd, defended Mariquita. That was the turning point, and they eventually begin dating, first in secrecy then soon after, they married. Mariquita and Eddie had two children, the first named Chris and the second named Helen. Nipponese invaded and the war broke out in Guam expert after the birth of Helen and Mariquita actually had to flee with her newborn into the jungle for safety. During Japanese rule Guamanians were forced to work. The Japanese also occupied any housing they needed. The Americans were forced to surrender and Eddie bec... ...dure their torture, then head home and play and caper with her kids, it was like there were two nation playing her role. The book gave in truth good accounts of the times surrounding war, but I think Howards emotions skew the story somewhat. This book goes against the canon in citing instances which were harmful to the Guamanians. Americanization for instance, indirectly told the people to lose their identity and their culture and opt for a more Westernized and modern-day set of values. Then goes the point of having separate schools and American only functions, U.S. toughened the people of Guam as second class citizens. The book does a great(p) job in capturing all this unfairness. All in all, the book seemed break down as a romance novel to me, with a great more details, valuable details of World War II in Guam orphic in the background almost as a supplemental story.