A long time ago in China, there existed three Books of Peace that proved so threatening to the reigning powers that they had them burned. Many year...
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reviews
Mar 21, 2010
Jenny
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This book just took me in. It starts out with the fire in the Oakland Hills. She is coming home from her father's funeral and finds the hills and her home on fire. she loses the first hundred or so pages of a book she was writing. the middle of the book is her attempt to recreate that story. the rest of the book is about a writing group she begins for veterans of war. It is moving and much of it is what she says about writing, and going deeper and healing. AND she talks about being "Eldest
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Feb 10, 2011
Maggie
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Interesting combination of fiction and memoir from a Berkeley professor who lost her home in the Berkley/Oakland Hills fire in 1991 as well as the book she was writing at the time - "The Fourth Book of Peace". Here she recreates the history of the original 3 books of Peace, the fictional story of the Fourth Book and her experience working for peace as she conducts writing workshops for veterans and incorporates mindfulness meditation, Buddhist traditions and more.
The vets' More...
The vets' More...
Sep 10, 2009
Lanie
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I met Maxine at a post-play party and a few days later, while taking shelter from the pouring rain in the SF public library, this book seemed to jump off the shelf. It was the perfect time in my life to find the book.
She was working on the "4th Book of Peace" for years, and then the entire manuscript was burned in the Oakland fires. The first chapter, her description of running through the hills, trying to save her book, is impossible to put down. It's incredibly poignant More...
She was working on the "4th Book of Peace" for years, and then the entire manuscript was burned in the Oakland fires. The first chapter, her description of running through the hills, trying to save her book, is impossible to put down. It's incredibly poignant More...
Oct 30, 2007
Tia
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I couldn't finish this book. That's a first for me. Maybe in a time when I can enjoy it somewhere other than the Metro, I'll reread it; but I'm not promising anything.
This is a journey. It's more than the book Kingston lost in a fire. The reader gets the rewritten version of her lost text - a family moving to Hawaii in order to avoid the draft. Two artists raising their child to love and not fight, and they are surprised by their "welcoming" and stay. I assume the cha More...
This is a journey. It's more than the book Kingston lost in a fire. The reader gets the rewritten version of her lost text - a family moving to Hawaii in order to avoid the draft. Two artists raising their child to love and not fight, and they are surprised by their "welcoming" and stay. I assume the cha More...
Dec 16, 2009
Parag
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I have stories to tell about this book, which I'll spare for now. But I found this book for $1 on the shelves of a bookstore in the Poconos, bought a few copies, and have dispersed them hence. There's something about the combination of fiction and non-fiction in this particular book, from the story of how Kingston lost the book she was writing in the flames of the Oakland fire that consumed her house to how she was coping with her father's death before that...
And I think the way sh More...
And I think the way sh More...
Oct 06, 2011
Leigh
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One section of this is fictional and takes place in Hawaii during the Vietnam War. The rest is non-fiction and discusses ideas of peace, community and loss. She talks about the loss of her house and manuscript to a fire in Oakland. Also her involvement with a combination creative writing and meditation workshop with Vietnam veterans. Her writing is so different - fragmented and trippy, but still graceful and powerful.
Aug 03, 2011
I've been trying for months to get through this book. It is separated into five different pieces, both fiction and non-fiction. The non-fiction sections, particularly the first one were engaging, but the book she couched in the middle was pretty hard to follow and I think she knew it was lacking.
Oct 26, 2008
Alberta
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Although all of Kingston's books have had an impact on me, this had the greatest. Maybe it's because I grew up in Oakland, and although I didn't live there when the fire happened, the area is familiar to me, as Stockton, where she had been to her father's funeral.
The book is about loss and not really re-birth, but re-finding. She takes a journey with Vietnam Veterans and they all discover something within themselves. It became very emotional for me. Even though I knew people who had More...
The book is about loss and not really re-birth, but re-finding. She takes a journey with Vietnam Veterans and they all discover something within themselves. It became very emotional for me. Even though I knew people who had More...
Feb 25, 2010
Darceylaine
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This book is really 3 books
the book of how she lost her book in the Oakland Fire
the book re-written (our heros from Tripmaster Monkey)
and the book of her work with veterans.
She is very wise and her brain works in some of the strange ways mine does, and my friends and colleagues from the Bay Area. But sadly she writes in one long constant steady rhythm that lulls me to sleep and makes it hard to finish all 400 pages. I'm always glad when I read a chunk, but I have More...
the book of how she lost her book in the Oakland Fire
the book re-written (our heros from Tripmaster Monkey)
and the book of her work with veterans.
She is very wise and her brain works in some of the strange ways mine does, and my friends and colleagues from the Bay Area. But sadly she writes in one long constant steady rhythm that lulls me to sleep and makes it hard to finish all 400 pages. I'm always glad when I read a chunk, but I have More...
Apr 30, 2011
LH
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Still digesting the weight of this book. Don't understand the fictional center part of the book about the draft dodgers & sanctuary in Hawaii, but loved the rest of the non-fiction of the book.
Jul 31, 2009
Robin
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don't skip the stories from the veterans. These are at the end and well worth the wait.
Feb 05, 2009
Doctor Nurenberg
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So far, not bad. I have been a Kingston fan ever since The Woman Warrior, and in this newest book she still straddles that terrifyingly blurry line between fiction and nonfiction. Her narrator tends to wander to and from matters of her family, literature, opposition the 1991 Gulf War...but the writing is strong, literary and engaging. I look forward to seeing where she goes with this.
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Mar 08, 2008
Jennifer
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This is a book about war and peace and loss. I'd read other books by this author and saw this one, which starts out with her losing the novel she'd been writing. Her house burned down, her whole neighborhood burned down. The book is about the fire and the process of rewriting the lost book, with the rewritten book included. The writing has magical elements. It's a really compelling book that made me think a lot about war and peace and what it means to have peace, especially when you have be
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Dec 17, 2009
jo
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i find this book amazing beyond words. if i had written it, i would think that my life work is done and i'd start preparing for death. okay, this is way too morbid. let me just say that i read this book at a point in my life when life really sucked, and by the time i finished it life was a large, generous, calm river teeming with colorful boats, peace, and possibilities.
i taught it and no one liked it. there must be truly few of us who find this book amazing. at least read the first More...
i taught it and no one liked it. there must be truly few of us who find this book amazing. at least read the first More...
Feb 10, 2012
Ashanti
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Unstructured, but good. You really have to be in the mood for a meandereing story. The first part is great, but you will need a glass wone wine to slow your mind down to appreciate the rest of the book lest you miss all the hidden treasures. Whittman Ah Sing has always been difficult to fathom, yet strangley compelling. Crafty monkey...
Dec 17, 2009
The Amazing Jill
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I got to have lunch with the author, actually.
But anyway, this is really good. Mrs. Kingston has a very strange and yet unique style of writing. Her sentences are sometimes short, brief, yet meant to provoke a pause for thought. You'll pause quite often to think with this book.
We need more books of peace. Go write one.
But anyway, this is really good. Mrs. Kingston has a very strange and yet unique style of writing. Her sentences are sometimes short, brief, yet meant to provoke a pause for thought. You'll pause quite often to think with this book.
We need more books of peace. Go write one.
Feb 01, 2011
I've been reading this book for...3 or 4 years. It's very complex and moves in and out of space and time and it's something you need the time to just sit and read. It's not a causal read at all. I am determined to finish it this summer because it is beautifully written and I do want to see how the stories pan out.
Jun 18, 2008
Leslie
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a memoir that fits in nicly with my current reading list of books about China. She refers to aspects of Chinese history - that I leared about recently. There is a reason to read in depth - new information soon becomes comfortable, old information.
May 27, 2011
Kate
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This book has been incredible for me to read. It's achingly beautiful and carries such a strong message of peace. Peace in a deeper way than I have ever understood peace. Please read this book. Especially in this time of war, we need this book.
Dec 17, 2009
Venessa
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A beautiful book: Kingston's book was destroyed in a fire that swept her home in CA and she recreates it in this book, separated into five different parts. Also comments on the current Iraq War, and peace.
Jun 01, 2008
Lori
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Kingston's books have always been inspirations to me and I read and re-read them whenever I get the chance. She is a dear friend and I will always admire her.
May 09, 2008
Laura
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The first section of this book is gripping, couldn't put it down. The second section is vaguely interesting. The third section bogged down so badly I just gave up.
Dec 05, 2007
Sue
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I guess I don't have as much appreciation for literary works as I thought...the concept of this book was fascinating but too slow-paced for me to really enjoy.
Feb 10, 2012
