Need some more reasons to part with a few bucks for a few hours of thought-provoking edu-tainment? Check out the reviews below from both bloggers and Amazon confirmed purchasers!
A Brutally Honest Take on “Hi! My Name is Loco and I am a Racist by Hikosaemon
Birth of a Legend: A review of Hi! My Name is Loco and I ama aRacist by Warren of J808…
It’s completely Loco: A review by The Foreign Salrayman
And from Amazon, we have just a few reviews below
A Very Talented Writer
Unlike other expat narratives I’ve come across that usually have the same stories of “wacky Japan”, “Japanese people are funny”, etc., Loco’s book remains focused and paints an excellent picture of his life in New York and Yokohama. The train is probably the perfect place to start when one looks at behavior and racism in Japanese society; for example, the time I felt the most Japanese (fitting in, anyway) was when I was literally pushed into a car heading back to Hiroshima and everyone was in the same state of discomfort. Loco expands on what I only had a taste of, as a white-faced foreigner spending most of his time in the inaka (countryside). A great look at an aspect of this culture few are willing to write about.
So Much More Than Expected
I was only a casual reader of Loco’s blog but I found his observations on
Japan, and the experiences he had living here, truly fascinating, if a
little depressing at times. When I saw the book and the cover / title, I
purchased it asap and devoured it in a night. I must say, I was truly
impressed by what I read. I was expecting mostly humorous rants about life
in Japan akin to some of the things I saw in the blog but I was truly
stunned at the depth that he went into and the honest look at his own
innermost thoughts; dark though they may be at times.
It’s a rare thing these days to discuss racism so openly and to really hold
our feelings up to the light of day and take a good, hard look at them.
Makes me know that I’m not really that crazy after all for harbouring
similar thoughts and feelings from time to time as well. Of course simple
logic and reason shows them to be completely irrational but it’s refreshing
to hear someone acknowledge that, regardless of the relationships and
experiences we have in life, the feelings often remain and should definitely
be confronted whenever they threaten to spill out.
Thanks to the author for sharing such an excellent and deeply personal tale with all of
us. I would definitely be recommending this to anyone interested in life in Japan and especially
to people interested in looking racism square in the face.
It’s a moving story of personal growth, from a man with a very interesting background, which has a great deal of insight concerning the specter of racism. It hides in plain sight, infecting even good people — likely including the individual in the mirror — who often have absolutely no idea of the baggage they carry. Dispelling it involves recognizing this influence, not necessarily a straightforward task, and coming to terms with the ramifications.
It’s hard not to see an echo of oneself in various parts of the narrative, even as you laugh and cry wholeheartedly along the journey.
Shine On, Loco
“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
What I love most about this book is that Loco doesn’t position himself as some kind of expert on race relations or activist, he simply tells his story, leading by example, and the effect of his sometimes self-effacing condor is just as powerful as if he were some kind of sociologist or anthropologist with a string of letters after his name, arguably more so.
Loco wears his heart on his sleeve, so much so that I found myself crying on the train, trying to secretly wipe my tears away before anyone saw. He doesn’t hold anything back.
Loco’s mission is simply to make us aware — aware of our motivations, aware of what’s going on around us, aware of “the elephant in the room”, as he puts it. By following his soul-searching journey I think we can all learn how to shake off apathy, face and maybe even triumph over the hidden darkness within.
Like A Slap In The Face, My Eyes Opened
Hard hitting from the get go Loco holds nothing back. Brutally honest with his feelings and situations he tells his story the way we harshly talk to our inner selves. His journey to a self-realization is a story ALL of us can learn from. Loco shows us first the darkness that we all make for ourselves. The boundaries we grow up with. And then shows us the person we can be. Or rather we should become. And like the title of my review, “Like a slap in the face, my eyes opened. . .”
PS: And, once you’re done, if you feel like the readers above feel, then do like they did and pass it forward! Tell your friends, family, neighbors, the people in your various networks and anyone else who respects your opinion, about this book!
They’ll thank you, too!
The highly acclaimed first book by Baye McNeil (a.k.a. Loco of Loco in Yokohama) is available from both Amazon and Barnes & Noble online!
The Kindle version of this controversial new book is available from anywhere in the world at Amazon.com. Just follow this link: Kindle Version. You don’t even need to buy a Kindle. Just go to the order page and download (for FREE) a Kindle Reader for your Mac, PC or smart phone.
Hi! My name is Loco… is also available on Barnes and Nobles’ Nook: Click here to download the Nook version. If you need a Nook Reader for you PC, Mac or Smartphone, you can click here to download a Nook App, also for FREE!