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The Smallest Narrowest Places
The world watched as the giant tsunami hit Sendai, and worked its way through the very foundations of Japan. The world waited with baited breath to hear of news of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant-and those 50 brave men who risked their lives to save their country.
But what about all the events and people the world did not hear about? What about those unsung heroes, the brave men and women who did what they could to rebuild their country, and what about the foreigners who call Japan their home?
What about those who can no longer tell their story?
Those stories are full of love; despair; heart-break; disaster; even hope. Those stories are the ones that the world did not hear about. Some stories may never be told, and some simply cannot be told. Here is a collection of stories of what might have been, from before, during, and after the disaster of 3/11.
But what about all the events and people the world did not hear about? What about those unsung heroes, the brave men and women who did what they could to rebuild their country, and what about the foreigners who call Japan their home?
What about those who can no longer tell their story?
Those stories are full of love; despair; heart-break; disaster; even hope. Those stories are the ones that the world did not hear about. Some stories may never be told, and some simply cannot be told. Here is a collection of stories of what might have been, from before, during, and after the disaster of 3/11.
162 pages, Paperback
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 2, 2013
Do you remember where you were when the earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit Japan in March, 2011? I don't. Most of us don't.
But we should. We ALL should. A horrifying disaster, McPhee captures our attention in this riveting tale of before, during and after from multiple perspectives of those who lived through it. The book tackles big questions: how much do we really care about our fellow humans? About animals? About ourselves.
The title alone gives you an idea to the talented nature of this writer. I would recommend this book to anyone, no matter their interest. He's written a powerful story of a horrific events through different perspectives. I've never been to Japan, but have read quite a bit about it. This book really took me inside the culture: not the tea and cherry trees, but the reality. I didn't want to put it down and I'm still thinking about it.
Rachel Thompson, Author of Broken Pieces, Mancode: Exposed, and A Walk In The Snark
But we should. We ALL should. A horrifying disaster, McPhee captures our attention in this riveting tale of before, during and after from multiple perspectives of those who lived through it. The book tackles big questions: how much do we really care about our fellow humans? About animals? About ourselves.
The title alone gives you an idea to the talented nature of this writer. I would recommend this book to anyone, no matter their interest. He's written a powerful story of a horrific events through different perspectives. I've never been to Japan, but have read quite a bit about it. This book really took me inside the culture: not the tea and cherry trees, but the reality. I didn't want to put it down and I'm still thinking about it.
Rachel Thompson, Author of Broken Pieces, Mancode: Exposed, and A Walk In The Snark
January 18, 2013
"The wave was everywhere; it went into the smallest, narrowest places. It touched everything." Junko whispered." Derek's book is a fascinating read of seeing Japan through a foreigner's eyes in the day to day and then the shifting viewpoint of that tragic day a earthquake and tsunami struck the country in 2011. His storytelling made the events far more real to me than any media report did.
September 11, 2012
This is a great book and I enjoyed reading it. Derek did an awesome job conveying the feelings of the people effected by the tsunami that hit Japan in March of 2011. He really helps you feel what those people went through; his stories are heart warming and tragic. The Smallest Narrowest Places was a quick, easy, and enjoyable read!
April 11, 2013
The title of this book gave me goose bumps. It is a statement about the tsunami that devastated areas of Japan in 2011—it sums up how thoroughly it invaded and destroyed people’s lives and livelihoods and reminds us of the impact it had on a nation, both physical and mental.
This book is told from many different first-person points of view and the author philosophizes throughout, clearly making the points he wishes to. The characters telling the story are mainly foreigners who live in Japan. The different narratives are fragmented, which enhances the feeling of displacement and uncertainty that would have accompanied the tragic events following the earthquake and tsunami.
I learnt quite a bit about life in Japan from this book because of the author’s ability to dissect and summarise the attitudes and ideologies of the Japanese. There is a large lead-up to the event as the author sets up the background and sense of place. It creates tension because I was expecting the tsunami to happen at any moment and was waiting (I actually would have been happier if he introduced it sooner than he did).
This book delves into the attitudes and lives of the Japanese and foreigners living in Japan as much as the tragic events that occurred when the tsunami hit. If you want to know more about this event, Japan, and like philosophy, I highly recommend this book.
This book is told from many different first-person points of view and the author philosophizes throughout, clearly making the points he wishes to. The characters telling the story are mainly foreigners who live in Japan. The different narratives are fragmented, which enhances the feeling of displacement and uncertainty that would have accompanied the tragic events following the earthquake and tsunami.
I learnt quite a bit about life in Japan from this book because of the author’s ability to dissect and summarise the attitudes and ideologies of the Japanese. There is a large lead-up to the event as the author sets up the background and sense of place. It creates tension because I was expecting the tsunami to happen at any moment and was waiting (I actually would have been happier if he introduced it sooner than he did).
This book delves into the attitudes and lives of the Japanese and foreigners living in Japan as much as the tragic events that occurred when the tsunami hit. If you want to know more about this event, Japan, and like philosophy, I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews