Nanking: A Documentary FIlm

I studied the Nanking Massacre (1937) from my Chinese history book when I was a seventh grader. I also learned from my late father who was a young boy during the World War II. The massacre committed by the Japanese soldiers when they captured the Chinese capital, Nanking in August 1937. I have seen the historical pictures from the section of Far East War in one of the World War II books. There is no single book about the massacre until 1997, Iris Chang wrote a book called, The Rape of Nanking. Chang's research on the book was credited with the finding of the diaries of John Rabe and Minnie Vautrin, the foreigners who lived in Nanking during the World War II and witnessed the massacre.

This documentary film Nanking (2008) describes the massacre by reading the diaries and letters of John Rabe , Minnie Vautrin, and Robert Wilson - a German surgeon. The subject matter and the archival footage of the events are compelling. It includes the interviews of the survivors who tell their own horrible experience at a very young age. When I saw the testimonies of Japanese soldiers who participated in the rampage, I keep wondering what they are thinking now at their old age. Do they regret what they have done? Are they proud of their victory in Nanking? None of the Japanese soldiers say "sorry for they have done" in the interviews. They did describe how they killed 20,00 Chinese soldier without showing any emotion. That makes me cry inside of me. Is it possible for them to live without regrets?

It is a very well done film. Very good pace, brief, to the point and keep its viewers right to the film. Recommended.

An Inspirational article.

Doug Achterman and Joyce Kasman Valenza’s article, “Why Enter a Doctoral Program in Library and Information Science?” was published in February 2007 on School Library Media Activities Monthly, Vol. 3, No. 6 (pp. 56-58). Their personal stories are very inspirational. In this article, Joyce explains the reasons why she entered a doctoral program in library and information science:

“After thirty years in the library world, the certificate process didn’t seem the right step for me. I had reached a point where I didn’t need to prove myself to my administrator or to fellow professionals.”

“I wanted to add my practitioner’s voice to the intellectual dialog to combine my knowledge of practical with the theoretical. I wanted to take a leading role in the profession I adored. Without the doctorate I was cut off from making the types of contributions I longed to make.”

As I read these few beautiful lines, my heart struck. And I embrace her and admire her ultimate ambitions. I have heard some doctorate students call us, the professional librarians as the “mainstreams” who are usually NOT considered as “intellectual scholars” in the academia's ivy tower. I disagree. We are the practitioner, yet we also have the ability of doing intellectual research. That stereotype certainly needs to be re-imaged.

You Don't Look Like a Librarian

When we talk about image of librarian, we "naturally" think of a middle-aged lady who wears a pair of “special” spectacles on her nose, busy behind the desk and constantly says, “shush!” to the unsettling, noisy kids. Yap! This is stereotype. But honestly I do not remember any librarian in my hometown like that. I am so glad that FINALLY someone fights the stereotype and writes a book about the “REAL” image of librarian.

In Ruth Kneale’s You Don’t Look Like a Librarian draws a different picture of a librarian. As the subtitle suggests, this book creates a new and positive image of librarian in today’s digital era.

I think we should all “re-paint” the image of librarian in our brains!

How to Read Literature Like a Professor?

I found Thomas Foster’s How to read Literature Like Professor when I looking for an easy and practical reference book on reading for my literature class students. Once I read the Introduction chapter, I knew that’s the one I need to have for my library.

According to this book, three elements separate the general reader from the literature professor s: memory, symbol and pattern. In brief , when reading a novel or a story, readers are easily emotional attached to the characters. The literature professors, of course, have the emotional attach as well; yet they pay more attention to other elements of the story and ask questions such as what did the respond effect come from? Whom do the characters resemble? Where have I seen this situation before? And so on. – it is a very interesting analysis.

This book is full of knowledge yet it is very easy to read. A wonderful book.

East Wind Melts the Ice

I love this book! I borrowed Liza Dalby’s East Wind Mets Ice from the University library via interlibrary loan because my local public libraries do not own this item (sigh!) After reading the first two chapters, I realized that it is the book I need to buy a copy and add to my personal library.

This book is written in luminous prose, divided into 72 chapters. The books brings the readers enlightening stories of author’s person life in Kyoto Japan, as the first non-Japanese Geisha; her life as a gardener in Northern California. I also consider this book as a memoir. The 72 chapters explores lives between the east and west cultures.

It is a wonderful book.

I don't like this book.

A nursing student came to the desk and asked me whether I read Don Piper’s 90 Minutes in Heaven. She was disappointed when I told her I haven’t. So I picked the book at the local public library.

I would say this book is bout Don’s life story rather than the actual events/accident. The title of this book does not match what it is about. I disagree with some book reviewers claim, “it is an inspiring story.” I personally do not like this book. - so pick up this book and see what you think.

A documentary film: Unmistaken Child

Having seen the Seven Years in Tibet and Kundun, I picked up this film, Unmistaken Child at the library. This documentary film is about the search for a reincarnated Lama in Central Asia, Nepal. I certainly do not understand the non-scientific process of the divination, searching and verification. But I do enjoy the traveling scenes of mountains, hills, fields, rivers, ordinary people and their tradition culture in the far-reached world.