Chrysanthemums

The Chrysanthemum and the Sword: Patterns of Japanese Culture
$15.00
I am an oriental who is familiar with Chinese, Japanese, and Korean culture. This really hits the nail. Many people may say that this book is outdated - not so. The fundamental cultural undercurrent of Japan still remains as the book describes. In my opinion, this book holds key to understand motivation and reason in why Japanese do and say things that would be hard to understand by Occidental standard. Also for Chinese and Korean, the idea of 'repaying debt,' and 'duty' may not be specific as Japan and may not have strong vengeful element, but still is very much tied in with idea of filial piety creating more similar result to that of Japanese then that of the first world Western culture in terms of what is proper conduct, who to respect, how to show or not show respect, and saving the face (although some Chinese and Korean may claim that they much are different from Japanese in many respect. I would say by all means it is not identical, but similar from western standard). I have seen many westerners study Zen and Japanese tea ceremony to understand Japanese culture - this will not do. This way will never quite bring genuine understanding of Japanese because they will still be considered as a foreigner thus exception to regular application of Japanese hierarchal rule.

Many readers say that this book is not creditable because Ruth Benedict had not lived in Japan. That is irrelevant. This book cuts through craps and shows you the core of Japanese cultural mechanism.

The Chrysanthemum and the Sword
$15.00
I am an oriental who is familiar with Chinese, Japanese, and Korean culture. This really hits the nail. Many people may say that this book is outdated - not so. The fundamental cultural undercurrent of Japan still remains as the book describes. In my opinion, this book holds key to understand motivation and reason in why Japanese do and say things that would be hard to understand by Occidental standard. Also for Chinese and Korean, the idea of 'repaying debt,' and 'duty' may not be specific as Japan and may not have strong vengeful element, but still is very much tied in with idea of filial piety creating more similar result to that of Japanese then that of the first world Western culture in terms of what is proper conduct, who to respect, how to show or not show respect, and saving the face (although some Chinese and Korean may claim that they much are different from Japanese in many respect. I would say by all means it is not identical, but similar from western standard). I have seen many westerners study Zen and Japanese tea ceremony to understand Japanese culture - this will not do. This way will never quite bring genuine understanding of Japanese because they will still be considered as a foreigner thus exception to regular application of Japanese hierarchal rule.

Many readers say that this book is not creditable because Ruth Benedict had not lived in Japan. That is irrelevant. This book cuts through craps and shows you the core of Japanese cultural mechanism.

Chrysanthemum... and More Mouse Mayhem (Scholastic Storybook Treasures)
$14.95
Collect the entire library of Scholastic Storybook Treasures and read along on screen with your favorite classic children s stories, brought vividly to life on DVD.

CHRYSANTHEMUM (Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes, Narrated by Meryl Streep) Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect--until the kids at school make fun of her.

OWEN (Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes, Narrated by Sarah Jessica Parker) Owen loves his blanket, Fuzzy, but he is getting too old to carry it around all the time.

A WEEKEND WITH WENDEL (Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes, Narrated by Mary Beth Hurt) Quiet-as-a-mouse Sophie must learn to assert herself with bossy, big-mouthed Wendell

THE CATERPILLAR AND THE POLLIWOG (Written and Illustrated by Jack Kent, Narrated by Ruis Woertendyke and Melissa Leebaert) The polliwog watches the caterpillar grow up and turn into something else.

2 BONUS STORIES:
HONDO AND FABIAN (Written and Illustrated by Peter McCarty, Narrated by Jeff Brooks) Spend a day playing and having fun with Hondo the dog and Fabian the cat.

MOUSE AROUND (Live Action - based on the book by Pat Schories) A small mouse is accidentally carried away from his family and friends. How will he ever find his way home?

DVD Features: Spanish Versions of Owen and The Caterpillar and the Polliwog

Chrysanthemum Big Book
$24.99
Kevin Henkes is an incredible illustrator and has produced wonderful children's stories. However, this book is not one of them. My husband and I dread the nights when my child finds this book and asks us to read it. In short, the use of repetition in this book is unbearable. The story is okay, except that the parents' fixation of how "perfect" their daughter is, what a perfect name, and so on, is what the older generation thinks of as Gen X parents run amok with the preciousness of their progeny. (It's way too precious for this Gen X parent.) The "mean girls in kindergarten" story line is not handled in a very constructive way either. It's only through a fluke that Chrysanthemum avoids being bullied permanently by a group of 5-year-olds about her name. I look forward to better stories from this author in the future.