Mariquita: A Tragedy of Guam by Chris Perez Howard Essay -- Book Revie

Mariquita A Tragedy of Guam by Chris Perez HowardThe book entitled Mariquita A Tragedy of Guam was written by author Chris Perez Howard in honor of her bring forth Mariquita Aguon Perez. The book covers the pain and sufferings of Guamanians through World War II from the billet of ane family. The book covers a period of time a weeny under a decade, beginning in 1938 while Guam was under nautical Administration.The book starts off painting the image an Howards mother Mariquita. She is depicted as somewhat a diamond in the rough, beautiful and one of a kind, even pointing out that she worked as a stenographer, an uncommon position to be held by women in this time period. The book goes on describing her daily emotional state including spending much time with her friends, competing amongst each other in the current fashions and watching the movies.The tarradiddle goes on describing her acquaintance with a puppyish soldier by the name of Edward Neal Howard that has an eye for he r. Mariquita at introductory entertained the young sailor but hesitated to pursue any relationship with Eddie. Then one night coming out of the movies, a Marine yelled a racial remark towards Mariquita and Eddie, out of the crowd, defended Mariquita. That was the turning point, and they eventually begin dating, first in secrecy then soon afterwards, they married. Mariquita and Eddie had two children, the first named Chris and the plump for named Helen. Japanese invaded and the war broke out in Guam right after the birth of Helen and Mariquita actually had to flee with her newborn into the jungle for safety. During Japanese chemical formula Guamanians were laboured to work. The Japanese also occupied any housing they needed. The Americans were forced to surrender and Eddie bec... ...dure their torture, then head home and play and laugh with her kids, it was like there were two nation playing her role. The book gave very good enough accounts of the times surrounding war, but I think Howards emotions skewed the story somewhat. This book goes against the canon in citing instances which were harmful to the Guamanians. Americanization for instance, indirectly told the people to drowse off their identity and their culture and opt for a more Westernized and modern tempered of values. Then goes the point of having separate schools and American only functions, U.S. treated the people of Guam as second class citizens. The book does a great strain in capturing all this unfairness. All in all, the book seemed better as a romance novel to me, with a great many details, of import details of World War II in Guam hidden in the background almost as a supplemental story.