Book Title: Perils and Pearls: In World War II, a Family's Story of Survival and Freedom from Japanese Jungle Prison Camps by Hulda Bachman-Neeb
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 190 pages
Genre: Memoir / Japanese History
Publisher: BristleCone Press
Release date: September, 2019
Content Rating: PG: There are mentions of decapitation and ugly jail or camp scenes and murder. No bad words, no expletives, no drug use and no drinking.
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 190 pages
Genre: Memoir / Japanese History
Publisher: BristleCone Press
Release date: September, 2019
Content Rating: PG: There are mentions of decapitation and ugly jail or camp scenes and murder. No bad words, no expletives, no drug use and no drinking.
"The story of our
Dutch family being ripped apart isn't unique. Millions suffered beyond
description during the war. However, today, I have the opportunity to
share our story with others so that they may know just how priceless
their freedom is. That is my sincerest wish in bringing this book to the
general public." - Hulda Bachmann-Neeb
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About the Book
In World War II much of Asia fell under Japanese control after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. All non-Asians were imprisoned in concentration camps until August of 1945, the end of the war in the Pacific. This is the story of a Dutch family, resident in the Dutch East Indies, that fell victim to the Japanese occupation and was interned in jungle camps throughout the war. It tells the journey from riches to rags, from fear and suffering to the joy of freedom and recovery.
My Review
Perils and Pearls Shares a Look at WWII that I Missed. I had no idea that these Japanese prison camps existed. The camps were missing from any history that I learned from the time. Through her family's memories and her childhood memories, she reveals details and images of which so many of us are unaware.
The Author's Writing Style Differs from Many Memoirs. I enjoy memoirs because of the emotions and the memories shared by the authors. Hulda writes from a more educational and informational angle. Readers learn a lot about her family's ancestry and a lot of the realities of life in the Japanese prison camps--but, it is presented in a more structured, dryer manner than most memoirs.
Would I Recommend Perils and Pearls by Hulda Bachman-Neeb? If you enjoy historically based, non-fiction autobiographies--especially those shedding light on places and times that you may never have experienced nor learned--this look into Japanese history and WWII certainly offers readers an eye-opening glimpse into the author's past. There is a lot of facts and history presented in this novel--making it a bit different than the usual, conversational, emotion-driven memoirs. I enjoyed learning about this author's experiences and would certainly recommend it to fans of historical non-fiction and Japanese history.
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Meet the Author
Hulda Bachman–Neeb was born in Indonesia of colonial Dutch parentage two years before the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. Because much of Asia fell under Japanese control, all non-Asians were imprisoned in concentration camps until August of 1945, the end of the war in the Pacific. As a member of the Dutch Foreign Service in her adult life, Hulda held assignments in twenty-five countries over a period of thirty-six years, retiring in 1996. She is married to an American, James Bachman, a historian, and author, and has dual citizenship. Hulda and her husband live in Estes Park, Colorado.
Connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ twitter
Enter the Giveaway
Thank you so much for sharing this thought-provoking memoir of a little known piece of WW2 history.
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