Reviews

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

rwilhoyte's review against another edition

3.0

This is a story where the language mars the plot. Told in first person plural, the author groups the experience of Japanese picture brides into a collective. This makes it hard to connect with any one experience and distances the reader from being able to put themselves into another's shoes. However, somehow the language is still able to evoke emotion, which is why I gave this book 3 stars.

eklsolo's review against another edition

emotional informative fast-paced

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

4.0

njean927's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated

5.0

whimsy_and_rigor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I enjoyed Swimmers more, but this is an incredibly well-researched book about Japanese “picture brides.” It has Otsuka’s distinct style, which works to capture all of the voices of all of the women represented. The parts where the women spoke of the evacuation orders was powerful and unsettling. The final chapter from a white person’s POV was an excellent idea and well executed. 

jcoryv's review against another edition

5.0

Great read. An important book, I think. A group of misled mail-order Japanese brides followed from their homeland to America in the early 1900's, on through their internment in prison camps during WWII. It provides interesting insight into the different ways individuals cope with similar circumstances, and how folks end up in widely varied positions in life from similar beginnings.

Highly recommend.

matthewchoi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

3.75

vtlism's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Such a cool book for a nerd like me. Beautiful 1st person plural voice and a collective plot. 

rileymahar's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

4.0

baconbre's review against another edition

4.0

This book was very eye opening it made me want to know more. I will definitely be researching more on the topic. The way the book ended with other people’s perspectives, and not much information about what happened to the people was disorienting. After so much in depth information, and then to be denied any knowledge was like a kick to the gut.

heidilreads's review against another edition

this book is written in a easy-to-read, interesting style. however, i chose not to finish it because i was looking for one story. i wanted a beginning, middle and end. this book wasn't about that. i think i didn't feel like i had such limited time to enjoy reading, i might re-read this because it was a cute story.