Book club selection (via Rose; session held 15 September 2019).
Really well written story of Japanese "picture brides" who came over to the U.S (in early 20th century, I believe). Starts with their high hopes on the boat coming to the U.S., moves through disappointments when they meet their actual husbands, then they settle in and build lives.
Conscious decision by author, editor, publisher - super-low key, no individual characters following a plot, short; leads up to WWII interment camps, but provides no "here's what happened after the internment."
Like poetry; incredibly dense. I was somewhat discouraged around the halfway mark, then was sorry it was ending.
It does make one think of what I'll call national traits - immigrant groups did (probably still do) bring some characteristics that can be generalized, no matter how out of fashion this might have become. Japanese immigrants thriving in California.
Also makes one think about the power of groups in general, or tribes; the "other"; mob mentality can turn on the "other" - seems like an intractable problem (though I do think there is overall progress).
The book also provided another useful take at describing being a stranger in a strange land.
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