The End

I recently published my first edited book,  Labor of Love: A Literary Mama Staff Anthology ,  with  Small Harbor Publishing . It's an anthology of writing from  Literary Mama  staff over the past 20 years. It's a beautiful collection and I am proud of the writers and proud to share the book.  It seems a fitting moment, as I pondered sharing about the book here on the blog, to reflect on my life as a blogger, and acknowledge that it is time to officially end this blog.   I started blogging in about 2007, when my baby was learning to toddle, when I was learning how to be a mother and stepmother, when I was just starting to see my way as a writer. I needed it back then. I craved it. I had a variety of blog iterations--family, art, creativity, writing things I delved into. There's a freedom in blogging, a casualness, an easy familiarity that's lacking (for me anyway) in other kinds of writing. I loved blogging and the words came pouring out.  Ove...
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When the Emperor was Divine

When I read Julie Otsuka's novel When the Emperor as Divine, I can think only one thing... What the f#%* is wrong with us? Her novel is compelling, unique, and softly written, yet it conveys a real and common story that comes with a nail-hard edge.

When the Emperor was Divine takes place at the beginning of WWII. From the nameless and alternating perspectives of mother, daughter, and son, we slowly learn what it was like to be of Japanese ancestry living in California at that time. Basically, it was not pretty.

The story is not exactly riveting, but it is compelling, mostly in a way that makes me regret being a white American. I feel sick to my stomach at the things we people do to each other. I feel deep guilt about the masses of white folks who let Japanese Americans be packed up and carted away to a prison camp. The suffering this unjust policy caused to so many people is mind-boggling to me. Families were separated, homes were lost, and respect for life was utterly ignored. I find what America did to Japanese Americans one small step removed from Hitler's concentration camps. And in this past decade, I think many Americans were one step removed from wanting to create a similar policy in regards to Middle Eastern Americans.

It is rampant tribalism. A fierce dedication to one's own national tribe. Any person or creature or idea that does not fall into the neat little safe package must be pushed away and isolated. If we continue to treat each other, and our Earth, like this, there is no way our species will make it.

Otsuka's story follows one family. But tragically, it is everyone. It is about everyone who has been isolated, psychologically defeated, disenfranchised from the life they created for themselves, and stripped of their dignity.


When the Emperor was Divine is the Tompkins County Public Library's Community Read. It's a good one to discuss. Check out the community discussions and events here. Read this book. It is a reality check in our world of ever increasing divisions. 

Comments

Sue Heavenrich said…
Definitely on my "must read" list - as soon as I finish all my homework... (maybe December?)
September 27, 2013 at 8:33 AM
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