Reviews

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

kitkatpanicattack's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I don't care what you say: the use of first person plural is perhaps one of the greatest literary choices ever made.

papelgren's review against another edition

4.0

Otsuka's (too) short work, details the lives of early 20th century Japanese women who came to the United States as picture brides. It attempts to tell all of their stories, which is ambitious and experimental at the same time. Almost every sentence could launch its own short story or novel all its own. If I had any disappointment it was because it felt the novel ended prematurely. But the work is elegant and achieves something far reaching and affecting.

princessklee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

schnurln's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

knasentjej's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

2024: Boken är skriven i vi-perspektiv vilket jag tycker skapar en distans till karaktärerna och händelser som inte borde vara där.

Det är japanska postorderfruar som kommer till USA och blir besvikna för att de lurats till att tro att de män som de valt var förmögna och hade en bra plats i samhället istället får de jobba hårt på t.ex. plantage. Sen sker attacken mot Pearl Harbor och allt förändras för japanerna. De ses som fiender och opålitliga. De ska helt plötsligt samlas ihop. Det kändes lite som när de samlade ihop judarna.

Jag vet inte riktigt vad jag tycker om boken. Den är inte lika bra som jag verkar ha tyckt att den var vid första läsningen.

Betyg: 2 av 5


2020: Detta var en annorlunda bok på flera sätt. Den är skriven i vi-form vilket är ovanligt. Den berättar historien om kvinnor som lämnade Japan för att gifta sig med män i USA och hur deras liv förändras efter attacken mot Pearl Harbor.

Det tar väldigt lång tid, men mot slutet så gillar jag boken och rekommenderar den varmt.

Betyg 3 av 5.

lucavarju's review against another edition

emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

aiohus's review against another edition

5.0

أكثر ما أعجبني بالكتاب هو طريقة الكتابة بالتعبير "نحن" طوال سرد القصّه ، والشفافيّه البالغه إلي خلتني أغوص بالعميق وأقشعر كأني أشوف الأحداث والناس قدّامي .

nyeran's review against another edition

2.0

"Ma non eravamo noi a cucinare, pulire e spaccare, era qualcun'altro. E spesso i nostri mariti non si accorgevano nemmeno che eravamo scomparse."

♠ È tutto vago. Non sappiamo in che anno siamo - indicativamente prima della seconda guerra mondiale e all'inizio - non sappiamo chi sta parlando - tutte e nessuna - non sappiamo dove siamo - dovunque e in nessun posto. E qual'è il senso di raccontare tutto in un unica voce se poi mi nomini ogni singola persona senza collegarla agli eventi? Mi racconti ogni evento come un elenco di cose e avvenimenti legati solo dal fatto che queste donne si sono ritrovate sulla stessa nave diretta in America. Non sapremo mai a chi succede cosa, chi va dove, chi fa cosa, chi partorisce chi e non ci è permesso di empatizzare con nessuna di loro. Non puoi raccontare la verità come fosse una storiella. Se hai fatto ricerche, hai ascoltato storie e testimonianze anche pesanti devi dargli il giusto peso e la giusta serietà, non importa se il tutto risulta poi pesante. Invece questo libro ha 80 pagine di superficialità. Non riesci a capire con chi devi empatizzare, per chi sentirti in colpa o felice e i nomi si mischiano perché non riesci a collegarli agli eventi che hai letto, non sai chi ha fatto cosa, ha subito cosa, è andata dove. 

pditke's review against another edition

informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

chloexcoy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25