Comments on: Obasan by Joy Kogawa http://niranjana.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/obasan-by-joy-kogawa/ Writing from Canada. Via South Asia. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:57:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Niranjana http://niranjana.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/obasan-by-joy-kogawa/#comment-4140 Niranjana Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:32:02 +0000 http://niranjana.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/obasan-by-joy-kogawa/#comment-4140 John: I think you are so right--bored teachers are the scourge of literature. But I must confess that having a book set as a text immediately set my back up against the blameless author--it was this thing about being 'forced' to read without room for negotiation. I still can't read Thomas Hardy... Teddy: Thanks for visiting! I saw Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam some years ago, and it brought the book alive for me in a really chilling way-- I guess your experience must've been similar. I hope you find Obasan as rewarding as I did. Kimiko: That's really interesting, because one of Kogawa's themes in the book is about keeping history quiet/private versus publicizing it and demanding justice. Obasan stands for silence while Aunt Emily is for speaking out. (I'll stop now before I give the story away.)I'm really eager to read your review of this book! Btw, I was trying to leave a comment on your blog but couldn't--I think non-google users aren't enabled. Anyway, I've reserved Brown Girl in the Ring at the library now! John: I think you are so right–bored teachers are the scourge of literature. But I must confess that having a book set as a text immediately set my back up against the blameless author–it was this thing about being ‘forced’ to read without room for negotiation. I still can’t read Thomas Hardy…

Teddy: Thanks for visiting! I saw Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam some years ago, and it brought the book alive for me in a really chilling way– I guess your experience must’ve been similar. I hope you find Obasan as rewarding as I did.

Kimiko: That’s really interesting, because one of Kogawa’s themes in the book is about keeping history quiet/private versus publicizing it and demanding justice. Obasan stands for silence while Aunt Emily is for speaking out. (I’ll stop now before I give the story away.)I’m really eager to read your review of this book!
Btw, I was trying to leave a comment on your blog but couldn’t–I think non-google users aren’t enabled. Anyway, I’ve reserved Brown Girl in the Ring at the library now!

]]> By: Kimiko Epp http://niranjana.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/obasan-by-joy-kogawa/#comment-4139 Kimiko Epp Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:49:27 +0000 http://niranjana.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/obasan-by-joy-kogawa/#comment-4139 My dad gave me this book for Christmas, as he is Japanese and my grandparents experienced some of those events here in Southern Alberta. I started it but have put it down a couple times, and your review has encouraged me to pick it up again and keep going! I am always interested to learn a little more about my heritage as it seems like that generation and culture tends to be quite close-mouthed and private about what they went through. My dad gave me this book for Christmas, as he is Japanese and my grandparents experienced some of those events here in Southern Alberta. I started it but have put it down a couple times, and your review has encouraged me to pick it up again and keep going! I am always interested to learn a little more about my heritage as it seems like that generation and culture tends to be quite close-mouthed and private about what they went through.

]]> By: Teddy http://niranjana.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/obasan-by-joy-kogawa/#comment-4138 Teddy Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:10:47 +0000 http://niranjana.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/obasan-by-joy-kogawa/#comment-4138 Great Review! This one is on my TBR. My husband and I visited the Slocon Vally, BC last summer and toured a old interment camp / museum. It was very cramped and there was no privacy, even in the latrine. Great Review! This one is on my TBR. My husband and I visited the Slocon Vally, BC last summer and toured a old interment camp / museum. It was very cramped and there was no privacy, even in the latrine.

]]> By: John Mutford http://niranjana.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/obasan-by-joy-kogawa/#comment-4137 John Mutford Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:44:59 +0000 http://niranjana.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/obasan-by-joy-kogawa/#comment-4137 I read, and enjoyed this, as an adult as well. It's unfortunate that so many great books are ruined in highschool. My theory is it usually has nothing to do with the maturity, or lack thereof, of the students, but it has to do with teachers being forced to teach certain books year after year. Maybe they get sick of them and their lack of enthusiasm wears off. I think if allowed teachers to pick which books they're going to cover, they'd be more inspired. But, excuse my cynicism, that'll never happen. I read, and enjoyed this, as an adult as well. It’s unfortunate that so many great books are ruined in highschool. My theory is it usually has nothing to do with the maturity, or lack thereof, of the students, but it has to do with teachers being forced to teach certain books year after year. Maybe they get sick of them and their lack of enthusiasm wears off. I think if allowed teachers to pick which books they’re going to cover, they’d be more inspired. But, excuse my cynicism, that’ll never happen.

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