A review by katjalainen
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

A beyond beautiful story of a collective experience of immigration told from the perspective of young japanese women traveling to San Francisco to meet their japanese husbands, and the lives they led. The writing is poetic and the stories told are heartbreaking, dealing with issues such as lying husbands, hard labour, racism, poverty, raising second generation immigrants, the wish to honour traditions, the white people around them, and the anti-japanese sentiments that arose during the second World War. This book will stay with me for ever.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings