'The Buddha in the Attic' by Julie Otsuka is a unique and powerful novel that tells the story of Japanese picture brides who emigrated to the US in the early 20th century. Through a collective narrative style, the book explores the experiences of these women from their journey to America, marriage to strangers, raising families, and ultimately their internment during World War II. The author uses a poetic and collective voice to portray the struggles, joys, and tragedies faced by these women, providing a deep insight into their lives and the societal challenges they encountered.

Julie Otsuka's writing style in 'The Buddha in the Attic' is described as mesmerizing and impactful, with the use of a collective voice effectively capturing the varied experiences of the Japanese picture brides. The novel, despite its short length, delves into the complexities of culture, identity, and society, offering a poignant portrayal of a generation of women who navigated the challenges of immigration and discrimination in a new land.

Characters:

Characters are portrayed collectively, emphasizing shared experiences without focusing on individual storylines.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is unique, employing a first person plural perspective that reads like poetry, focusing on collective rather than individual narratives.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot details the experiences of Japanese picture brides who immigrate to America, navigating their aspirations and the disillusionment that follows before facing the upheaval of WWII.

Setting:

The setting spans between early 20th century Japan and the US, focusing on California and the impacts of WWII.

Pacing:

The pacing is quick and rhythmic, allowing for a swift yet impactful reading experience.

On the boat we were mostly virgins. We had long black hair and flat wide feet and we were not very tall. Some of us had eaten nothing but rice gruel as young girls and had slightly bowed legs, and som...

Notes:

The Buddha in the Attic is written in a unique first-person plural narrative, giving voice to a collective group of Japanese picture brides.

The book explores the experiences of these women from their journey to America to their eventual internment in camps during World War II.

It is a short novel, only 129 pages long, yet it covers a broad range of emotional experiences including despair and resilience.

Each chapter addresses specific parts of the women’s lives, such as their boat journey, first nights with husbands, raising children, and facing internment.

The narrative technique emphasizes the shared experiences of many women rather than focusing on individual characters, leading to a sense of anonymity and universality.

Otsuka's writing style is described as lyrical and poetic, blending the harsh realities of the women’s lives with moments of beauty and hope.

The women faced numerous challenges after arriving in America, including disillusionment upon meeting their husbands, who often were not as they had been portrayed in letters and photographs.

The last chapter provides the perspective of the American community as they react to the sudden absence of their Japanese neighbors during the internment.

The themes of the book touch on identity, cultural displacement, and the notion of belonging in a foreign land.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of sexism, racism, domestic abuse, loss, and the forced internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.

From The Publisher:

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

National Book Award Finalist

Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award

The acclaimed author of When the Emperor Was Divine tells the story of a group of young women brought from Japan to San Francisco as "picture brides" a century ago in this "understated masterpiece … that unfolds with great emotional power" (San Francisco Chronicle).

In eight unforgettable sections, The Buddha in the Attic traces the extraordinary lives of these women, from their arduous journeys by boat, to their arrival in San Francisco and their tremulous first nights as new wives; from their experiences raising children who would later reject their culture and language, to the deracinating arrival of war.

Julie Otsuka has written a spellbinding novel about identity and loyalty, and what it means to be an American in uncertain times.

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1 comment(s)

tamevans12825

Loved It

2 months

A riveting novel of the Japanese immigrant from the perspective of picture brides who arrive on a boat to San Francisco. The novel is divided into eight parts and covers topics from the women's arrival to San Francisco to the days of back breaking work in the fields, having children and ending with the Japanese removal from cities due to worries of collusion during World War 2. I loved how the author reflected the experiences of many women as well as their emotions at being treated differently due to being not able to communicate with their bosses and other non Japanese people. This is a great book providing an inside view on the experience of Japanese women as well as the effect of being moved to a new country, having a husband who may or may not love you as well as children who are ashamed of their Japanese heritage.

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About the Author:

JULIE OTSUKA was born and raised in California. She is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, and her first novel, When the Emperor Was Divine won the 2003 Asian American Literary Award and the 2003 American Library Association Alex Award. Her second novel, The…

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The Buddha in the Attic

Julie Otsuka