Scan barcode
aelbergan's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.25
yaboiellis's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
raaahella's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? N/A
4.0
This was an interesting perspective to learn and I am glad I made time to read through it. How complicated a Canadian born from Japanese descendants must have been between the '30's onwards. Even decades later rhe main character still faces microagressiins and anti-feminist pushes towards needing to be married.
I am uncertain why the book was called Obasan, as her character shows little.emotuon and speaks very little so it was hard to grasp her perspective.
I am uncertain why the book was called Obasan, as her character shows little.emotuon and speaks very little so it was hard to grasp her perspective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, War, and Classism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Deportation
The very end of rhe book is very hard to read as it describes what happened in Nagasaki, Japan during WWII.andrewbrown780's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
After finishing this novel, I was quite upset that I had never read it before. With an English degree and having taken a couple university classes on Canadian literature, it seems tragic that I had never come across this novel before. Obasan is hauntingly beautiful and moving; it is a remarkably powerful novel.
emilyconstance's review against another edition
5.0
this is the most beautifully heartbreaking book i've ever read. also the best portrayal of the mother-daughter bond i've read to date. explores themes of silence as speech, grief as love, absence as betrayal... a haunting story of the boundlessness of evil... but also of resilience, and of light.
to read this at a time when racist rhetoric, violence, and displacement is rampant as people question & challenge the legitimacy of certain people's rights to land & liberty over others, made it especially impactful. the same scenes repeat themselves over and over and over again...when will it end? how can it end?
"Greed, selfishness, and hatred remain as constant as the human condition, do they not? Or are you thinking that through lobbying and legislation, speech-making and story-telling, we can extricate ourselves from our foolish ways? is there evidence for optimism?"
to read this at a time when racist rhetoric, violence, and displacement is rampant as people question & challenge the legitimacy of certain people's rights to land & liberty over others, made it especially impactful. the same scenes repeat themselves over and over and over again...when will it end? how can it end?
"Greed, selfishness, and hatred remain as constant as the human condition, do they not? Or are you thinking that through lobbying and legislation, speech-making and story-telling, we can extricate ourselves from our foolish ways? is there evidence for optimism?"
linzcat's review
3.0
The subject matter of this history is so evocative,p, the symbolism vivid and detailed in a way that creates patterns and consistencies throughout many different locations in the story, there's a fantastic twist at the end that made it all worth it, but truth be told I had the hardest time getting through this book. It's beautiful, it's written like poetry- which is why it's so DENSE and slow to read. Beautiful, but painstakingly so.
dsouash's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.75
"Ah, here we go again. Our Indian. Our Japanese. A terrible business. It's like being offered a pair of crutches while I'm striding down the street. The comments are so incessant and always so well-intentioned. How long have you been in this country? Do you like our country? You speak such good English. You do run a cafe? My daughter has a darling Japanese friend. Have you ever been back to Japan?
Back?
Does it so much matter that these questions are always asked? Particularly by strangers. These are icebreaker questions that create an awareness of ice. Where do any of us come from in this cold country?" (Chpt 34, ~8:34)
Back?
Does it so much matter that these questions are always asked? Particularly by strangers. These are icebreaker questions that create an awareness of ice. Where do any of us come from in this cold country?" (Chpt 34, ~8:34)
roeckitcody's review
2.0
2.5 Stars
I wanted so desperately to like this book...
For my summer assignment for my AP Literature class, I was tasked to read a 400 page poetry book, 10 poems from a poet of my choosing that is alive, or died within the last 20 years, Literature like a Professor, and two books to compare and contrast.
This is the first of the books I must compare, and the other is The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak (which I read when I was younger and liked but don't remember much of.)
I had been told many good and bad things about this book, and went in trying to ignore that.
Totally honest, I couldn't stand this book at the beginning, for the first six chapters I was forcing myself to read it. I didn't like the writing style, I didn't care about the characters, and it just wasn't something I would have normally continued reading. But alas, I needed to for an essay I have to write in September.
I continued, and became intrigued into this box Obasan and Naomi found in their attic. It contained letters and diaries and much more from Aunt Emily telling of her thoughts on many different political and domestic issues, which I found quite interesting. I am in love with history so this part of the story was perfect for me!
The letters went on for so long though, and they were heartfelt and emotional,yet too many of them it seemed.
This is a book that depicts the cruelty that Japanese-Canadian Internment was and does it justly. I am seeing how this book connects with The Book Thief because of the racism that both discuss. I find it quite eye-opening even if the writing can be bland.
As I continues reading it, I became more enveloped into these characters, and began caring about them. By the last five chapters I was engrossed and was actually enjoying it... But it took me over 80% of the book to feel that way.
Kagawa has written a strong story, but one that lacks entertainment of any kind. She could have found a way to make it more interesting, but instead settled for bland writing. The descriptions of different areas was great, and the imagery oh my goodness, one of the best I have read in a long time,but overall this just wasn't my book.
I wanted so desperately to like this book...
For my summer assignment for my AP Literature class, I was tasked to read a 400 page poetry book, 10 poems from a poet of my choosing that is alive, or died within the last 20 years, Literature like a Professor, and two books to compare and contrast.
This is the first of the books I must compare, and the other is The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak (which I read when I was younger and liked but don't remember much of.)
I had been told many good and bad things about this book, and went in trying to ignore that.
Totally honest, I couldn't stand this book at the beginning, for the first six chapters I was forcing myself to read it. I didn't like the writing style, I didn't care about the characters, and it just wasn't something I would have normally continued reading. But alas, I needed to for an essay I have to write in September.
I continued, and became intrigued into this box Obasan and Naomi found in their attic. It contained letters and diaries and much more from Aunt Emily telling of her thoughts on many different political and domestic issues, which I found quite interesting. I am in love with history so this part of the story was perfect for me!
The letters went on for so long though, and they were heartfelt and emotional,yet too many of them it seemed.
This is a book that depicts the cruelty that Japanese-Canadian Internment was and does it justly. I am seeing how this book connects with The Book Thief because of the racism that both discuss. I find it quite eye-opening even if the writing can be bland.
As I continues reading it, I became more enveloped into these characters, and began caring about them. By the last five chapters I was engrossed and was actually enjoying it... But it took me over 80% of the book to feel that way.
Kagawa has written a strong story, but one that lacks entertainment of any kind. She could have found a way to make it more interesting, but instead settled for bland writing. The descriptions of different areas was great, and the imagery oh my goodness, one of the best I have read in a long time,but overall this just wasn't my book.
leisurelyloner's review
Slow paced, didn't find it engaging, difficult to keep track of characters,