This work, kingstons first in more than a decade, is an unusual weave of memoir and fiction resounding with poignant voices that speak to the search for a new lexicon of peace. The fifth book of peace is a big book, chock full of real, not self, importance. Recalling her workshop with north vietnamese veterans as her guests, kingston writes, i hoped that everyone else realized that we have arrived at peace. Her home burns to the ground, and with it, all her earthly possessions, including her novel in progress. Featuring notable asian american authors such as amy tan and david henry hwang, it explored kingstons life, paying particular attention to her commentary on cultural heritage and both sexual and racial oppression. The fifth book of peace book by maxine hong kingston 4.
Maxine hong kingston is the daughter of chinese immigrants who operated a gambling house in the 1940s, when maxine was born, and then a laundry where kingston a. The fifth book of peace by maxine hong kingston about the book 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. By the author of the bestselling the woman warrior, a magical book. The fifth book of peace derives from kingstons own view of war from a noncombatant and rather bistander perspective intertwines the issue of war and human suffering that come from thought and memory world war ii, the bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki, and the first iraq war. Kingston lost the manuscript to her fourth book of peace in a house fire in 1991, and through the process of reviving or regurgitating the contents of the book, she came up with the fifth book of peace. The fifth book of peace opens as maxine hong kingston, driving home from her fathers funeral in the. The fifth book of peace 2003 combines elements of fiction and memoir in the manner of a chinese talkstory, a tradition in which elements of both the real and. The first chapter, fire, is the introduction to the fifth book of peace, and presents an inkling of where the book will proceed. The fifth book of peace is split into four parts, fire, paper, water, and earth. A few days later, at a conference, kingston remembers the impetus for her lost novelto rediscover the vanished chinese texts of the legendary three books of peace and resolves to do two things to honor it. Maxine hong kingstons the fifth book of peace exhibits a journey through human conscience. Kingston rebuilds from the rubble, dividing this book into sections of nonfiction a powerful account of the fire and of her efforts to gather war veterans in.
The fifth book of peace by maxine hong kingston goodreads. A long time ago in china, there existed three books of peace that proved so threatening to the reigning powers that they. The fifth book of peace kingston maxine hong download. Gott mit uns written in german, is an italoyugoslavian movie from 1970 about the may 1945 german deserter execution in a canadianrun pow camp in. 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.
The fifth book of peace quotes by maxine hong kingston. The narrative style of the fifth book of peace will seem familiar to those whove read maxine hong kingstons memoir the woman warrior. The first two sections and the last chronicle kingstons journey from her house burning down with her unfinished manuscript for a novel entitled the fifth book of peace, and how this loss inspired her to create a writers workshop for war veterans, specifically of the vietnam war, to write their own books of peace. The fifth book of peace has the generosity of spirit and the luminous prose we so urgently need in this time of war after war. A firestorm blew over the oaklandberkeley hills in october of 1991, and took my house, things, neighborhood, and other neighborhoods, and forests. Mad people have only one story that they talk over and over. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. If a woman is going to write a book of peace, it is given her to know devastation.
Many years later maxine hong kingston wrote a fourth book of peace, but it too was burnedin the catastrophic berkeleyoakland hills fire of 1991, a fire that coincided with the death of her father. This remarkable book is also the narrative of the seminal years in which kingston rebuilds her life following a devastating fire, which destroyed all her possessions including her novel the fourth book of peace, and the death of her father. When, fourteen years ago, kingston embarked on a sequel to. Fifth book of peace by maxine hong kingston nook book. Kingston lost the manuscript to her fourth book of peace in a. Her home burns to the ground, and with it, all her earthly possessions, including her novelinprogress. Inside was the only copy of a manuscript of a novel called the fourth book of peace. The fifth book of peace by maxine kingston overdrive. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them.
The fifth book of peace work by kingston britannica. The fifth book of peace by maxine hong kingston excerpt. The fifth book of peace by maxine hong kingston alibris. Many years later maxine hong kingston wrote a fourth book of peace, but it too was burnedin the. The fifth book of peace ebook by maxine hong kingston. The fifth book of peace maxine hong kingston, author. By the author of the bestselling the woman warrior, a magic. In 1991, kingston had written more than 150 manuscript pages of a new novel that she called the fourth book of peace. When, fourteen years ago, kingston embarked on a sequel to her delightful novel tripmaster monkey, she called it the fourth book of peace.
The fifth book of peace book hennepin county library. Divided into four sections fire, paper, water and earth this book is neither fiction nor autobiography nor memoir, but a unique form of chinese talkstory in which real and imagined worlds intrude upon and enrich one another. Many years later maxine hong kingston wrote a fourth book of peace, but it too was burnedin the catastrophic berkeleyoakland hills fire of 1991, a fire th. Editions of the fifth book of peace by maxine hong kingston. A deliberation on violence, peace and loss, the book shifts. There is much dialogue between the characters in the book, as well as dialects and ethnic references to describe the characters and people that helped kingston write the book. Her most recent books are to be the poet and the fifth book of peace. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. The fifth book of peace by maxine kingston penguin books. The fifth book of peace by maxine hong kingston a blend of fiction and nonfiction exploring the meaning and value of pacifying the world through creative writing, play, dreams, questing, and nonviolent protest. Many years later maxine hong kingston wrote a fourth book of. The fifth book of peace begins as the author is driving home from her fathers funeral and finds the exit to her neighbourhood blocked. Leslie marmon silko a passionate plea that draws on u. The fifth book of peace by maxine hong kingston reading guide.
Maxine hong kingston 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. The fifth book of peace college of the mainland overdrive. This senior lecturer for creative writing at the university of california. The fifth book of peace has 4 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Kingstons elegant arc from the person to the global constitutes a profound act of humility and compassion. The fifth book of peace opens as maxine hong kingston, driving home from her fathers funeral in the early 1990s, discovers that her neighborhood in the oaklandberkeley hills is engulfed in flames.
Read the fifth book of peace by maxine hong kingston available from rakuten kobo. But fire holds the power to transform, and the fifth book of peace, by maxine hong kingston, the national book awardwinning author of the woman. The fifth book of peace quotes showing of 3 the difference between mad people and sane people. In 1991, kingston had written more than 150 manuscript pages of a new novel that she called the. The fifth book of peace by maxine hong kingston book.
1466 1081 1470 249 869 1264 713 1319 103 1143 1041 1222 663 1001 1242 1114 1486 1334 1341 1273 126 1413 11 668 1165 958 43 464 910 978 1102 1367 211