Speak, Okinawa

A Memoir

By: Elizabeth Miki Brina

Narrated by: Sachi Lovatt

A “hauntingly beautiful memoir about family and identity” (NPR) and a young woman's journey to understanding her complicated parents - her mother an Okinawan war bride, her father a Vietnam veteran - and her own, fraught cultural heritage.

Elizabeth's mother was working as a nightclub hostess on US-occupied Okinawa when she met the American soldier who would become her husband. The language barrier and power imbalance that defined their early relationship followed them to the predominantly white, upstate New York suburb where they moved to raise their only daughter. There, Elizabeth grew up with the trappings of a typical American childhood and adolescence. Yet even though she felt almost no connection to her mother's distant home, she also felt out of place among her peers.

Decades later, Elizabeth comes to recognize the shame and self-loathing that haunt both her and her mother, and attempts a form of reconciliation, not only to come to terms with the embattled dynamics of her family but also to reckon with the injustices that reverberate throughout the history of Okinawa and its people. Clear-eyed and profoundly humane, Speak, Okinawa is a startling accomplishment - a heartfelt exploration of identity, inheritance, forgiveness, and what it means to be an American.

©2021 Elizabeth Miki Brina (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

One of NPR's Best Books of the Year

“A hauntingly beautiful memoir about family and identity.” (NPR, Here & Now)

“Masterful...Brina’s writing is crisp, captivating, and profound. She is vulnerable, raw, and relatable, and her stories will no doubt cause readers to reflect on their relationships with their own parents. As educational as it is entertaining, Speak, Okinawa is well worth the read.” (The Associated Press)

“A gorgeous literary memoir of inner exploration and the search for identity.” (Good Morning America)

Trying to find yourself

This strong was recommended when I was last stationed in Okinawa in 2020. I found it be a lot different that what I had presume the story who entail. The story was very interesting as I tried th understand it from the view of the author. The story left me feeling that it was much more about the author finding her place in the world and coming to terms with her emotions and life experiences. An interesting listen.

great story

A great story and narration. the world needs to hear more stories like this one.

"One of us"

The history came alive to me through the author's choice of words.

I am sorry for all that I didn't know about my heritage until now, and I am deeply grateful for this book.

Exceptionally good

"Speak, Okinawa" blends a personal family story and the history of Okinawa seamlessly and poetically. The story of Okinawa is revelatory and moving. The family story is narrated by an indulged only child who resents her immigrant mother for being different and troubled and struggling in America where she is isolated from her family, culture, and language. Eventually, she grows up to realize that her father is not the only hero in the family. Delicately and respectfully told. I could have done without some of the details of her teenage life (Rated-R), but I'm glad I took the time to listen to this well-written, well thought out story, which opened up the history and culture of a different part of the world to me. The audio version is very well read.

Really loved this work

The historical aspects of the story must be told - this all really happened. I would recommend any American service member and or their families in Japan to read this and understand the context of our presence in Japan through the past decades.

The writer jumps back and forth in time, and as a listener it was a bit challenging to stay focused, but the proverbs shared were very clear.

The narrator was also great - she must also be half-Japanese to be able to speak like us!

Excellent

As a Japanese American who lived in both Japan and America I truly appreciated this story. I lived in Okinawa for a year during my first year of college and was amazed to hear about the history of Okinawa.

Tears, Laughter and Learning

Very touching memoir. Loved it. Loved learning about the Okinawa that is not taught. Appreciate her story and sharing her parents story. Thank you for your hard and necessary work.

I really loved it

This was a really nice listen. I liked the narrator and the book was sad, but not too sad, and poetic. I listened a few times.

Excellent!!

Ernest with well researched facts. Tell the story in like a poem form, very crisp, yet complete picture. I can see them, smell them, and feel them. Made me cry several times. Should read if you love Okinawa, and daughters, mothers, and husband.....

One of my favorite books of the year

Distinct and relatable. Generalizing and nuanced. Warm and familiar. A great listen and one of my favorite of the year.