The Sun Gods

Ever since I read "Silent Honor" by Danielle Steel quite few years ago, I was drawn into the fact of war time Japanese Internee and awaited more of that from American authors, American point of view.As a Japanese myself, I regret the fact that I didn't get taught this side of war history in our school.I have read quite few other internee story of Japanese Americans, as well as English POW of Japan in East Asia, this book shows me another aspect of human error. But what really makes this book interesting is that it focuses the "error" is done by so called Christian people and Christianity world. Human makes mistakes in a name of god, and we haven't learnt the lesson after 70 years.Mitsuko the leading lady who married to Christian Pastor, once dedicate her life to Christianity, yet loses everything during the war in the end and this almost remind me of Madam butterfly.Beauty of this book is Jay Rubin didn't make her commit suicide like chocho-san, but bringing "sunlight " in through the dark corridor, which will never betray her and the human world.Yes, Jesus is the light of the world, he never makes mistakes, but we do.I think all human must realise that fact and at least try to learn something from war time legacy.I would love to read this book in Japanese translation one day which title is "Daily Light".

Loved this novel, emotional page turner. I've been reading a lot of Asian content or Asian authors lately. I picked up this book cause I'm a Japanese American born and raised in Seattle who's parents both were sent to Minidoka with their families when they were three and four years old. The historical descriptions of Camp Harmony and interment in Minidoka gave me a better understanding of what my grandparents had experienced. My parents were so young they didn't remember much and my grandparents didn't talk about this time of their life understandably. Enjoyed reading the descriptions of Seattle. Maneki still exists and I've been there for dinner with my family.

I don't toss around the term "masterpiece" very often, but this book epitomizes it. I love reading novels, and I like to think I read a fair number of them. I can honestly say this is the best book I've ever read.I was already a big fan of Jay Rubin from "Making Sense of Japanese." Despite it being a grammar book, it was so well-written that I actually laughed out loud multiple times while reading through. I got really curious to see what else he had written, and I discovered "The Sun Gods" was published just last year.This novel is a scorching critique of America during World War II, delving heavily into the American concentration camps for Japanese, the unfathomable evil of the atomic bombs, and the racism against all things Japanese as a whole which swept through the country. This is of monumental importance, because America is always looked back on as purely heroic during World War II. Real history is much more complicated. This book doesn't romanticize the Japanese, either. It reminds readers of the Nanking Massacre, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and their own equally ugly racism.On a purely story based-level, this book is still an absolute triumph. In the midst of its powerful subject matter lies a profoundly touching story about the love between a Caucasian boy and his adoptive Japanese mother. Each and every character is portrayed with remarkable humanism and multi-dimensions, which is a quality very important to me. I was so moved by the ending that I was brought to tears.Thank you, Jay Rubin, for sharing this with the world. I eagerly look forward to the future novels you'll hopefully bestow upon us.

Jay Rubin's The Sun Gods. Outstanding novel with fictional and convincing characters who are presented effectively against an authentic historical background. Once into the flow of the story it is almost impossible to put this book down. The tragic handling of the Japanese in America after Pearl Harbor provides a pathetic picture of the flagrant ugly actions of friends and neighbors and religious figures. One bad deed causes another evil act until incredible suffering ensues and until the next generation seeks the truth and brings a little relief and light to the story. Ever so well written and conceived. Omedeto gozaimashita. Bravo.

I was deeply taken by this novel... a real page-turner... It covers a sad episode in our US history when we "imprisoned" American citizens... who were Japanese. I learned a great deal while being swept away with the very intense dramas that unfolded over a # of decades. Clearly Rubin has his eye on Japanese culture and his heart tuned to love - lost and found. Highly recommended.

Poignant, sentimental story of relationship between youngster and mother figure, loss of that relationship due to circumstances and search to reconnect in adulthood. Plot involves Caucasian boy and Japanese "mother." and tragedy of WWII. Absorbing story.