In what I have read so far of the novel “Obasan” by Joy Kogawa, it is seen that the outside forces are affecting Naomi in who she is. Even though I have not read the full book, and as such do not know how she ends up, throughout the novel she changes as the internment starts and then goes on. For example, while her mom is still at home, Naomi is more there as a person. Then, later through the diary we learn that slowly as the internment goes by she becomes more quiet due to the difficulties and discrimination. Almost repressing herself with the pressures she is going through. As such she changes due to the external forces that are pushing her down.
The book so far, in terms of story, has been great. I enjoy what the story is about and the pain it shows from the Japanese internment. However, the writing style has really made the book more difficult to read. Sometimes, I will read a part and then re-read it as my brain did not fully realize what I just read. It also at points was confusing with what point in time it was being told from. As it would have a part in the past then the present, then the past again and it confused me a little bit. I also feel that the book would state too much information, to the point where it would be unnecessary and just cause me to lose interest at that moment. This caused the book to feel a lot more tiring to read than normal. Although, that imagery also helped make a picture in my mind of how the places look. I think it still could have done with better conciseness in that aspect.
In the book there was also an entire section that felt kind of unnecessary. In the section Old Man Gower, from inference, violates Naomi. This, up to the point I am in the book, is not touched on again. It does not seem to affect her in any way really. When I would expect it to affect her in a much more deep way. Instead it feels that part could be omitted and the story would feel the exact same.
Citations:
Image – https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/internment-of-japanese-canadians
Image 2 – https://crosscountrymoversgroup.com/moving-mistakes/
Image 3 – https://www.homage.com.my/health/anxiety/
Featured Image – https://archive.org/details/obasannovel00koga