When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe

This is a rare find. Written by a Filipino about the Philippines during World War II. It really has no competition. The author collected most of her information from her father, friends and family. She delicately weaved in some of the tales she was told as a child about spirituality and ghosts and old beliefs into the elaborate threads of the Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, American and Arabian influence of the Philippine culture.
Besides all that, it is an intricate story. Tess has you wrapped up in every character, breathing with them, bleating out their painful story. Not only does she give us insight into the politics of the warring countries but insight into the pain of humanity and it's struggle to beat the odds. I realized while reading this that a culture so different, really is not so different from me.

jlw