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

4.0

This was a fascinating read, albeit not always enjoyable. Forsaking a single protagonist in favor of the collected experiences of many (“some of us” did this; “some of us” did that) provided a more thorough accounting of this immigrant group than might otherwise have been possible. Some have likened it to a Norse saga. It felt more to me like an anthropological survey. It was dense. Reading the stories of so many people simultaneously was exhausting. No down time in this narrative. Good thing the book is as short as it is. Julie Otsuka’s writing serves her material well. Some of her historical details are poignant, some heart-rending. All are interesting.