Book Review - The Buddha in the Attic

Book Review

The Buddha in the Attic

Julie Otsuka

I’m not sure where the old saying “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes” originated, but I can tell you that there is no advice better suited to describe Julie Otsuka’s The Buddha in the Attic than those time-honored words of wisdom.

Written in first person plural, The Buddha in the Attic is easily one of the most unique books I’ve ever read.  It tells the story of a generation of Japanese women as they come to America to pursue better lives with husbands they’ve never met. 

The entire book contains not a single line of dialogue, and there is no main character.  Rather, the main character is a collective population of first generation Japanese Americans as they discover that the “better life” they sought in the United States simply was not available to them.

Rather than reading like a traditional novel with plenty of rich characters and a clearly defined plot, story climax and resolution, The Buddha in the Attic reads more like a long essay illustrating the collective experiences and lack of equality of the Japanese immigrants in America.  And yet, in spite of (or maybe because of) the writing style, I found the book strangely compelling and absolutely fascinating.

Though there was no one main character, the collective cast of transient characters is so richly described that the reader has no difficulty being drawn into the story and identifying with every single one of the faces whose lives and experiences are described within the pages.

The Buddha in the Attic is a very short read and would be a great choice for book clubs, as the story lends itself well to thought and discussion.  Copies are available at the library in standard, e-book and audio book format.

To learn more about this book, visit the author’s website at http://www.julieotsuka.com/.

~ Catherine H. Armstrong