Reviews

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

astound's review against another edition

3.0

While I was skeptical of a book that didn't have any characters, I was pleasantly surprised. Otsuka masterfully weaves the stories of many Japanese immigrants together seamlessly to deliver a story that really makes readers think about the suffering of these women. Although the ending was satisfying, I still felt it was lacking due to the fact that the issues it raises are not resolved. Although I haven't read her other book, When the Emperor was Divine, it seems that it picks up where this book leaves off, which might make for a more fulfilling ending to the story.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this quick read, but don't misinterpret a quick read for an easy read. It's definitely heartbreaking.

noajasmine's review against another edition

2.0

2.75⭐️

I found the "we" format to be a bit annoying and definitely made it hard to connect to any character because there isn't just one person to follow. It made it a lot more impersonal. However, I do think the story tells important stories of Japanese immigrants and their experience in the US. But only just.

mrk_eastbay's review against another edition

4.0

An absolutely breathtaking book - written entirely in the first-person - which is both peculiar and hauntingly direct. The effect is poetic and isolating, clearly making the point at the heart of the book, i.e. that we (as readers, Americans, Californians) are complicit in the racism which kept these stories hidden for so long. The descriptions of life in the Central Valley and San Joaquin Delta are particularly haunting.

_lexie_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

1.0

spiffy6985's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

tarynwanderer's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

dianamarie2009's review against another edition

3.0

I really loved the story and found it fascinating. The writing style though I found very annoying. I wish it was written differently because it is amazing to see what these people went through. I would give this four stars if it was just written differently.

zhzhang's review against another edition

4.0

Love this small yet heavy book! A lot of comparative sentences are used in the book, giving a powerful feeling yet in a poetic way.

nachomatt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

julia_ph's review against another edition

informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

The writing style was abstract but interesting. I've never read a book with such broad strokes or mass-narration before.

This book somehow managed to tell the stories of 100 women without giving me any character desciptions or more than a name in passing, yet I still found it was easy to connect to the women and their feelings and actions.