A review by noskills
The Grave on the Wall by Brandon Shimoda

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Grave is nominally poet Shimoda's reflection on his grandfather, but it also includes larger exploration of immigration, race, mass tragedy, and grief. Shimoda expertly weaves together observations, conversations, ruminations as he travels across the United States and Japan, tracing the lives of his grandfather and other family members. Grief is ever in the air, but Grave is a beautiful meditation on the Shimoda's relationship with his jiichan.