Sometimes it’s nice to change the pace and read a short novel, particularly if you’re busy and don’t want to commit to a hefty volume. The Buddha in the Attic is about a group of Japanese picture brides immigrating to America in the early 1900s. The most striking and immediately obvious aspect of this book is that it’s told in the first person plural. As a narrative technique, the author employs this to effectively express shared experiences and a collective consciousness. However, it leaves the reader unable to identify with a central protagonist – something which might be important for some readers. I found the style refreshing and I think it works well considering the length of the story, but if the book were any longer, I feel it would soon become repetitive and tedious.
Based on true stories and thoroughly researched, this is a harrowing and poetic account of strangers lost and alienated in a deeply foreign land. The themes remain exceptionally relevant – cultural difference, migration, and perceptions and treatment of the ‘other’ – this is a book that will continue to resonate for years to come.
Tom Eden 