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"true"... "historical"... "events"... (Reply to this comment)
by carser
Also I just noticed you said "based on true historical events"
You could leave that as it is to be bitingly ironic.
-BP
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Apr 24 '08
6:29 pm PDT
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Historiographic Metafiction (Reply to this comment)
by carser
Very good review, one slight issue though; Obasan is part if a growing... "genere" (? supposedly defies, and trancends "generes but...) that is coming to be known as historiographic metafiction. Obasan isn't so much about Japanese internment as it is an argument against mainstream history that uses the internment as an example for it's argument. The book would probably be found in the fiction section at any store, and yet is often congratulated for setting the story straight on internment. It compares the construction of history to the creation of fiction. You say it is understated, perhaps this is because the author wished to illustrate the difficulties, and restraints inherent in creating a historical narrative.
Some common themes/techniques in this "genere" are non-linear time (history defines us, and is precived in the context of the present, why pretend otherwise?), multiple points of view, crisis of ligitimation (aunt emily) of common historical views, lack of structure, self consciousness, mocks familiar conventions from within, aware of process of construction, intertexts (authorial intervention in storyline, history, alt narratives), satire, process of discovering identity (and what defines us, Naomi's journey), bends borders (the main character isnt japanese, born in canada, if I recall correctly didn't even read japanese which was why the letters couldn't be read untill the (japanese-born) elders read it for her), encourages participation, discourages resolution, denounces absolutes, ackwnolages unity of time and human condition (ie defies cartesian self.)
If you enjoyed Obasan, and really want a clear idea of what historiographic metafiction should do I would reccomend "Green Grass, Running Water" by Thomas King. King is funny, entertaining, much less depressing, pretty blunt about what his intentions are (so you can plainly see the metafic), but still has lots of subtle allusions and such. He's also Canadian. His other books are good too. And that radio show he used to do wasn't bad either.
And if you want to know just how apt King's coupling of western history with myth is, checkout the sources of western mythology as detailed in Bill Bryson's "Made in America"
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Apr 24 '08
6:18 pm PDT
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Re: I loved this book! (Reply to this comment)
by jc_hall
It is a wonderful book. Glad you think so too. I just wish more Canadians would read it, let alone Americans. We seem to be very much in denial about this shameful part of our history. Added to which the Japanese's dignity (a sense of stiff upper lip not unlike that of the British) is so strong that they themselves would prefer to keep the past as is--which, I think, is a shame, because there should be redress, and also because we need to be reminded of past mistakes, lest we forget and make those mistakes again.
As always, thanks for reading, rating and commenting!
JC
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Nov 21 '06
4:54 pm PST
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I loved this book! (Reply to this comment)
by hadassahchana,  in Books
I'm so glad you reviewed it - I just hope your wonderful review will convince some non-Canadians to pick it up and read it. Nice job.
Cindy
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Nov 05 '06
5:55 am PST
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