Writing as a collective "we" seemed odd to me, yet while reading THE BUDDHA IN THE ATTIC by Julie Otsuka, I have quickly adjusted to the voices of young Japanese women, united as mail order brides in the early part of the 20th century. Their story begins on a ship, and their voices share the common experiences of crowded conditions and unfamiliar people. Occasionally, the voice tells about one of the members and her individual thoughts and trials. In eight sections, the women's lives unfold, all of their expectations visible to each other and their disappointments hidden to society. The rest of the story, I am certain, will not be entirely pleasant, but I am glad to glimpse history through their voices.
this is a gem of a book and i, too, found the "voice" worked so compellingly to tell the story of these women (until the last chapter).
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