Book description
2024 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction - Longlist American Library Association Best Comics for Adults 2023 Booklist Editors' Choice: Best Graphic Novels 2023 Washington Post Book World Editors' Staff Pick 2023 The Guardian Best Graphic Novels of 2023 A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection A peaceful, independent kingdom until its annexation by the Japanese Empire in the 19th century, Okinawa was the site of the most destructive land battle of the Pacific War. Today, the archipelago is Japan's poorest prefecture and unwilling host to 75% of all US military bases in Japan. Okinawa brings together two collections of intertwined stories by the island's pre-eminent mangaka, Susumu Higa, which reflect on this difficult history and pull together traditional Okinawan spirituality, the modern-day realities of the continuing US military occupation, and the senselessness of the War. The first collection, Sword of Sand, is a ground level, unflinching look at the horrors of the Battle of Okinawa. Higa then turns an observant eye to the present-day in Mabui (Okinawan for "spirit"), where he explores how the American occupation has irreversibly changed the island prefecture, through the lens of the archipelago's indigenous spirituality and the central character of the yuta priestess. Okinawa is a harrowing document of war, but it is also a work which addresses the dreams and the needs of a people as they go forward into an uncertain future, making it essential reading for anyone interested in World War II and its effects on our lives today, as well as anyone with an interest in the people and culture of this fascinating, complicated place. Though the work is thoroughly about one specific locale, the complex relations between Okinawan and Japanese identities and loyalties, between place and history, and between humanity and violence speak beyond borders and across shores.Please note: This book is a traditional work of manga and reads back to front and right to left.
About the Author
Winner of the Japan Media Arts Grand Prize in the manga division and nominated for the Tezuka Award and the FIBD Fauve d'Or Prize for Best Album, Susumu Higa was born in Okinawa in 1953, and continues to make it his home to this day.
Sir Shove
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Rope
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Skool
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Sugar Domino
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction makes sure that background distractions don't interfere with my listening. This audiobook was neither good nor bad - simply average. The narrator's delivery was professional but uninspired, and the recording quality was clean though not exceptional. It provided satisfactory entertainment without standing out from similar titles.
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Mud Eye
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Every moment is an adventure with this app by my side. Its intuitive features and diverse format support ensure that my audiobook journey is seamless and exciting. 🌌🎧 The tone adjustment feature is an exciting touch, allowing me to immerse myself even more in the content.
Tangerine
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Pluto
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Round Kick Boomer
Book groups help me keep series together and navigate my collection more efficiently. A great feature! ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
FireBrang
The speed adjustment feature is my secret weapon for studying complex materials. Binaural audio processing really helps reduce fatigue. The statistics feature is brilliant. I love seeing how much time I spend on audiobooks with ListenBook. Middle-of-the-road experience. The audiobook was fine—good narration, decent story—but it didn’t leave a lasting impression. If you’re looking for something low-commitment, this works.
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience