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The Ocean in the Closet
“Yuko Taniguchi’s writing is remarkable for its music and vision. In the sounds of ice breaking in the river, silkworms eating mulberry leaves in the night, and Mahler played on the double bass, her characters hear the music of human suffering and redemption. . . . The Ocean in the Closet is a compelling and moving novel.”—Kyoko Mori
In sunny California, the Vietnam War may have just ended, but nine-year-old Helen Johnson’s world is beginning to crumble. Her father, a former POW and Vietnam veteran, has become increasingly distant; her mother, a Japanese adoptee, is struggling with mental illness; and her six-year-old brother is too young to understand what’s happening. Determined to find out more about her mother’s past and with a boldness that belies her timid self-image, Helen writes to her great-uncle Hideo in Japan, beginning a journey that will take her across the ocean and through the imperial legacies of both countries.
As Hideo and his wife recount the stories of his family’s silk business in Hiroshima, their experiences in China and Japan during and after World War II, and the fate of his sister Ume, Helen’s grandmother, they discover that although their lives have been darkened by war, their future can be healed by tending their shared roots. In this beautiful debut novel, Yuko Taniguchi creates a moving story of hope and redemption, of tragedy and resilience, and of the secrets, burdens, and ultimate strength that lie in a young girl’s heart.
Yuko Taniguchi, author of the critically acclaimed book of poetry Foreign Wife Elegy, was born in Yokohama, Japan, in 1975. At the age of fifteen, she came to the United States and attended high school in Maryland, obtaining her collegiate degrees in Minnesota, where she continues to make her home. Visit her website at www.yukotaniguchi.com.
In sunny California, the Vietnam War may have just ended, but nine-year-old Helen Johnson’s world is beginning to crumble. Her father, a former POW and Vietnam veteran, has become increasingly distant; her mother, a Japanese adoptee, is struggling with mental illness; and her six-year-old brother is too young to understand what’s happening. Determined to find out more about her mother’s past and with a boldness that belies her timid self-image, Helen writes to her great-uncle Hideo in Japan, beginning a journey that will take her across the ocean and through the imperial legacies of both countries.
As Hideo and his wife recount the stories of his family’s silk business in Hiroshima, their experiences in China and Japan during and after World War II, and the fate of his sister Ume, Helen’s grandmother, they discover that although their lives have been darkened by war, their future can be healed by tending their shared roots. In this beautiful debut novel, Yuko Taniguchi creates a moving story of hope and redemption, of tragedy and resilience, and of the secrets, burdens, and ultimate strength that lie in a young girl’s heart.
Yuko Taniguchi, author of the critically acclaimed book of poetry Foreign Wife Elegy, was born in Yokohama, Japan, in 1975. At the age of fifteen, she came to the United States and attended high school in Maryland, obtaining her collegiate degrees in Minnesota, where she continues to make her home. Visit her website at www.yukotaniguchi.com.
255 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
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313 people want to read
About the author
Yuko Taniguchi
3 books7 followersYuko Taniguchi, author of the critically acclaimed book of poetry Foreign Wife Elegy, was born in Yokohama, Japan, in 1975. At the age of fifteen, she came to the United States and attended high school in Maryland, obtaining her collegiate degrees in Minnesota, where she continues to make her home.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 30, 2015
From the book jacket: In sunny California, the Vietnam War may have just ended but nine-year-old Helen Johnson’s world is beginning to crumble. Her mother’s behavior has become increasingly erratic, her father, a recently released POW, is powerless to help, and her brother is too young to understand. Convinced that the key to keeping her family together lies in the mysteries surrounding her mother’s adoption from Japan, Helen writes to her great-uncle Hideo in the Japanese town of Kamakura, beginning a journey that will take her across the ocean and through the war-torn histories of both countries.
My reactions
This beautifully written, poignant novel tackles the aftermath of war and how those aftereffects ripple through multiple generations. The story is told from differing viewpoints, alternating between Hideo in Japan and Helen in California. It begins with Hideo receiving an airmail letter from the granddaughter of his late sister – someone he didn’t even know existed. Taniguchi then moves back several months in time to share Helen’s experiences as her mother is obviously headed for a nervous breakdown (as it was termed in 1975). The novel continues moving back and forth between the two viewpoints, with some memories of WW2 and the time immediately post war when the conquering forces (i.e. USA) occupied the major cities of Japan.
War exacts a terrible toll on the participants and on the bystanders who get in the way. But the effects of war may last much longer than the reconstruction. This isn’t the first book I’ve read about war and its aftermath. It’s not the first I’ve read about the fire bombings in Tokyo, or the atrocities committed on the civilian population by occupying military forces. But there was something about the way Taniguchi revealed these elements that just broke my heart. I rarely cry when reading a novel, but I was definitely in tears several times during this one.
I feel I learned a little of the Japanese mentality by seeing things from Hideo and his wife’s points of view. I thought Taniguchi captured the way in which a child thinks, the kind of logic a child would use in piecing together an explanation for what is going on around her. I do wish I knew more about Anna and James (Helen’s parents). Their pain and suffering was a central point in the story, yet we never hear from them directly.
I certainly don’t mean to make the book sound bleak and hopeless, because there is plenty of hope and redemption in these pages. I loved Helen – her tender heart, her courage and resilience. And Hideo’s quiet strength, endurance and healing heart. And while there is no clearly happy resolution, the novel’s ending looks to the future with hope.
My reactions
This beautifully written, poignant novel tackles the aftermath of war and how those aftereffects ripple through multiple generations. The story is told from differing viewpoints, alternating between Hideo in Japan and Helen in California. It begins with Hideo receiving an airmail letter from the granddaughter of his late sister – someone he didn’t even know existed. Taniguchi then moves back several months in time to share Helen’s experiences as her mother is obviously headed for a nervous breakdown (as it was termed in 1975). The novel continues moving back and forth between the two viewpoints, with some memories of WW2 and the time immediately post war when the conquering forces (i.e. USA) occupied the major cities of Japan.
War exacts a terrible toll on the participants and on the bystanders who get in the way. But the effects of war may last much longer than the reconstruction. This isn’t the first book I’ve read about war and its aftermath. It’s not the first I’ve read about the fire bombings in Tokyo, or the atrocities committed on the civilian population by occupying military forces. But there was something about the way Taniguchi revealed these elements that just broke my heart. I rarely cry when reading a novel, but I was definitely in tears several times during this one.
I feel I learned a little of the Japanese mentality by seeing things from Hideo and his wife’s points of view. I thought Taniguchi captured the way in which a child thinks, the kind of logic a child would use in piecing together an explanation for what is going on around her. I do wish I knew more about Anna and James (Helen’s parents). Their pain and suffering was a central point in the story, yet we never hear from them directly.
I certainly don’t mean to make the book sound bleak and hopeless, because there is plenty of hope and redemption in these pages. I loved Helen – her tender heart, her courage and resilience. And Hideo’s quiet strength, endurance and healing heart. And while there is no clearly happy resolution, the novel’s ending looks to the future with hope.
April 4, 2020
Qué dificil es escribir algo sobre un libro que impacta tanto que te mantiene en constante sensación de desasosiego a lo largo de la historia. Porque, de la mano de Helen por un lado y de su tio-abuelo por otro van desgranando los acontecimientos que afectaron a sus familias durante tres generaciones y dos guerras (el final de la II Guerra mundial y la guerra de Vietnam), con un lenguaje suave, casi tierno, pero a la vez demoledor, van desgranando hechos, sufrimientos, apegos, desapegos, secretos, sentimientos, o la carencia de ellos...
Una historia tremenda, muy dura a nivel de sentimientos, pero muy recomendable.
Una historia tremenda, muy dura a nivel de sentimientos, pero muy recomendable.
January 17, 2020
Esta saga familiar coral me ha sorprendido muy gratamente, llena de imagenes poéticas sobre un mundo interior complejo también me ha revelado unos episodios muy duros que desconocía de la guerra en Manchuria, la recomiendo.
July 1, 2017
Er is zoveel geschiedenis waar we niks van af weten. In dit boek gaat het om een stukje Japanse historie van tijdens en vlak na de tweede wereldoorlog. Vanuit de ogen van een 9-jarig Amerikaans meisje met Japanse roots en een oudere Japanse man zie je hoe historie ontstaat, wat oorlog doet met mensen en hoe ver familiebanden gaan. Goed geschreven, interessant verhaal.
October 1, 2024
La guerra, ese conflicto humano no resuelto, daña de tantas maneras a las personas que a veces no sabemos lo traumas, las consecuencias y los cambios que hay en la familia y en las personas.
Este libro nos cuenta la vida de la familia Johnson. El papá, James, tiene estrés post guerra ya que participo en Vietnam y la mamá, Ana es una migrante japonesa/americana resultado de un abuso cometido a su madre Ume durante la segunda guerra mundial. Ambos empiezan a tener depresión y los imposibilita para cuidar a sus hijos Helen y Ken, dos niños que no entienden que les pasa a sus padres.
James decide llevar a sus hijos con su hermano Steve y su esposa Mary y la vida de los niños mejora mucho. Además de que ayuda a Helen a entender que le pasa a sus padres, investigando la infancia de su Ana.
Así conocen a Hideo y Chiyo. Tío de Ana, hermano de Una, el cuál nos cuenta su vida desde niño, el paso por la guerra, y sus relaciones familiares.
Un libro hermoso, donde demuestra que el amor y la familia pueden salvar la vida. Este libro lo cuentan Helen y el tío Himeo
Este libro nos cuenta la vida de la familia Johnson. El papá, James, tiene estrés post guerra ya que participo en Vietnam y la mamá, Ana es una migrante japonesa/americana resultado de un abuso cometido a su madre Ume durante la segunda guerra mundial. Ambos empiezan a tener depresión y los imposibilita para cuidar a sus hijos Helen y Ken, dos niños que no entienden que les pasa a sus padres.
James decide llevar a sus hijos con su hermano Steve y su esposa Mary y la vida de los niños mejora mucho. Además de que ayuda a Helen a entender que le pasa a sus padres, investigando la infancia de su Ana.
Así conocen a Hideo y Chiyo. Tío de Ana, hermano de Una, el cuál nos cuenta su vida desde niño, el paso por la guerra, y sus relaciones familiares.
Un libro hermoso, donde demuestra que el amor y la familia pueden salvar la vida. Este libro lo cuentan Helen y el tío Himeo
June 14, 2019
This is a story of an extended Japanese family, and the consequences and hurt caused by two wars. The hurt and scars are obvious, and described well. The story line itself, however, is a little jumbled. Chapter to chapter begins with another character's thoughts and viewpoints; there is not a nice natural 'flow' to the writing in my opinion. I guess I was looking for some more in-depth conclusions and resolutions from the characters. I thought the ending odd, and leaving the reader hanging and curious.
April 19, 2022
Absolutely beautiful work focusing on family trauma and identity. Through the eyes of the nine-year-old, you get to see how a family struggling with the reality of identity and mental health problems following WWII and the Vietnam war. Very interesting and bittersweet.
October 3, 2017
War and peace in minds and relationships and families. This is sweet and sad and hopeful and well-written and I love it.
March 10, 2014
4.5 stars
Taniguchi writes at the intersection of human life: intersection of sanity and trauma, the intersection of history and modern life, the intersection of Japanese culture and US, and the intersection of war and peace. These places are the most interesting, and the most revealing.
The story begins with a letter from a 10 year old American girl to a great Uncle in Japan she has never met.
Little by little, this girls' life is revealed to the reader. Her helpless and PTSD father; a mother who locks her and her brother in the closet when life becomes too difficult, a complicated family history, and an American Uncle and Aunt who will do their best to shield the girl and her brother from the unfairness of having parents too traumatized by life to take care of them.
Helen's mother is the half-Japanese, half American adopted daughter of a lady Helen only knows as Mrs. Hogan. Her biological grandmother is one of the forgotten victims of World War II-- a "comfort woman"-- forced to work in a brothel for occupying American soldiers. Her great uncle has never forgotten the little baby his sister was forced to give up to an orphanage. When Helen's letter comes, the uncle remembers both the devastation his own family suffered under allied bombing, but also his wife's terrible experiences as a settler in Manchuria.
Through a visit to Japan, Helen hopes to help her mother heal, and the uncle hopes to regain some sense of his dead sister.
The prose is very straight-forward and has a naive quality to it that is reflected in Helen's character. Despite being a 10 year old, she has the wonder and belief-in-magical of a much younger child.
"I didn't know how many stamps I had to put on for this letter for going all the way to Japan. I guessed and put ten stamps. I didn't want it to go halfway and come back in the middle of the sky."
This touching innocence, along with the quite harrowing details of war-time life, are another intersection where Taniguchi's story reveals a kind of transcending truth.
While the majority of the characters kind of blur together in that they all have this deep sadness but naive trust about them, the views of Japan both from Helen's and the Uncle's eyes as well as the differing points of view on Japan's involvement in the war are very interesting.
A story about the ways people become broken.
Taniguchi writes at the intersection of human life: intersection of sanity and trauma, the intersection of history and modern life, the intersection of Japanese culture and US, and the intersection of war and peace. These places are the most interesting, and the most revealing.
The story begins with a letter from a 10 year old American girl to a great Uncle in Japan she has never met.
Little by little, this girls' life is revealed to the reader. Her helpless and PTSD father; a mother who locks her and her brother in the closet when life becomes too difficult, a complicated family history, and an American Uncle and Aunt who will do their best to shield the girl and her brother from the unfairness of having parents too traumatized by life to take care of them.
Helen's mother is the half-Japanese, half American adopted daughter of a lady Helen only knows as Mrs. Hogan. Her biological grandmother is one of the forgotten victims of World War II-- a "comfort woman"-- forced to work in a brothel for occupying American soldiers. Her great uncle has never forgotten the little baby his sister was forced to give up to an orphanage. When Helen's letter comes, the uncle remembers both the devastation his own family suffered under allied bombing, but also his wife's terrible experiences as a settler in Manchuria.
Through a visit to Japan, Helen hopes to help her mother heal, and the uncle hopes to regain some sense of his dead sister.
The prose is very straight-forward and has a naive quality to it that is reflected in Helen's character. Despite being a 10 year old, she has the wonder and belief-in-magical of a much younger child.
"I didn't know how many stamps I had to put on for this letter for going all the way to Japan. I guessed and put ten stamps. I didn't want it to go halfway and come back in the middle of the sky."
This touching innocence, along with the quite harrowing details of war-time life, are another intersection where Taniguchi's story reveals a kind of transcending truth.
While the majority of the characters kind of blur together in that they all have this deep sadness but naive trust about them, the views of Japan both from Helen's and the Uncle's eyes as well as the differing points of view on Japan's involvement in the war are very interesting.
A story about the ways people become broken.
February 11, 2023
I really enjoyed the way this story was told from Helen’s point of view by months and from Hideo’s point of view in the past and present. I wish Helen’s family would have reunited at the end but I still like how they included the mom and that’s life I guess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2011
i'm not sure why this book didn't grab me more. don't get me wrong, it was very well-written and contained some pieces of history i had no idea about. the characters are strong and clear and do occasional unexpected but internally consistent things (all to the good). the plot moves along. it's in some ways a meditative book, which is also fine, so long as the meditations are well done, and they are well done here.
i think it's two things that make me not love this book: one of two narrators is a child, and i never really feel a sense of urgency about resolving the main conflict.
to the first. the narrator is a 9-year-old girl, a good age to tell all the truth but not so good for telling it slant, a fine condition for make a narrator. there are moments in the book where this works to great effect: some of the things that are normal in her world are pretty hair-raising in mine. (nothing paranormal here, just bad parenting.) sometimes her descriptions are poetry.
but then, sometimes the reader-as-adult has a firm grasp on what's going on, and the narrator doesn't; and sometimes that just makes you want to send her to her room while we Big People get on with it.
at stake in this book is the girl's family--not life-and-death, but whether the parentals derail. this isn't something a child can really alter--you can't make Mommy stop hallucinating, for example (not in this book, just an example) or talk Daddy out of his flattened affect cocoon. neither of the main characters, in fact, has any ability to affect the central conflict one whit. for me, that makes the book lose its urgency.
of course books don't need SuperChildren who can BAM! fix mommy and daddy, save the entire world from destruction, or see through walls. i'm not looking for some indigo kid to come along and fix things. but without either the ability to alter things, or the inevitability which makes for good tragedy, this book sort of putts into harbor under slightly inadequate steam.
i think it's two things that make me not love this book: one of two narrators is a child, and i never really feel a sense of urgency about resolving the main conflict.
to the first. the narrator is a 9-year-old girl, a good age to tell all the truth but not so good for telling it slant, a fine condition for make a narrator. there are moments in the book where this works to great effect: some of the things that are normal in her world are pretty hair-raising in mine. (nothing paranormal here, just bad parenting.) sometimes her descriptions are poetry.
but then, sometimes the reader-as-adult has a firm grasp on what's going on, and the narrator doesn't; and sometimes that just makes you want to send her to her room while we Big People get on with it.
at stake in this book is the girl's family--not life-and-death, but whether the parentals derail. this isn't something a child can really alter--you can't make Mommy stop hallucinating, for example (not in this book, just an example) or talk Daddy out of his flattened affect cocoon. neither of the main characters, in fact, has any ability to affect the central conflict one whit. for me, that makes the book lose its urgency.
of course books don't need SuperChildren who can BAM! fix mommy and daddy, save the entire world from destruction, or see through walls. i'm not looking for some indigo kid to come along and fix things. but without either the ability to alter things, or the inevitability which makes for good tragedy, this book sort of putts into harbor under slightly inadequate steam.
August 20, 2023
“Los recuerdos de la guerra son como una enfermedad terminal que crece en nuestro cerebro.”
Desde la perspectiva de una niña norteamericana de 9 años y su tío abuelo japonés, un hombre que rebasa la cincuentena. Un océano en el armario habla sobre las cicatrices que dejan las guerras y como el trauma, los remordimientos, la tristeza y los sentimientos de pérdida que albergan quiénes fueron testigos de estos conflictos, pueden llegar a afectar a múltiples generaciones de una familia.
Pero además, esta novela aborda el tema de la identidad y la necesidad de conectar con las raíces. Así como el poder del amor filial y la importancia del apoyo de la familia, cuando hay parientes con problemas de salud mental.
Yuko Taniguichi, recrea de forma muy correcta y creíble la personalidad de una niña de 9 años, que convive con la apatía de su padre con trastorno por estrés postraumático y los continuos cambios de humor de su madre, pero no comprende la razón del sufrimiento de ambos. Helen piensa y se comporta como lo haría una niña, y emplea el tipo de lógica que en la infancia se usa para explicar los hechos que suceden en su entorno.
La capacidad de asombro de Helen, así como su candor, ingenuidad, valentía, su fé ciega y el profundo amor que siente por su madre, resultan realmente conmovedores. Su inocencia y la de su hermano Ken, es una especie de escudo que los ha mantenido emocionalmente a salvo de las situaciones traumáticas que han vivido en su hogar. .
Creo que habría resultado interesante conocer más sobre los padres de Helen; vistos siempre desde la perspectiva de terceros, el lector desconoce sus sentimientos.
A destacar, los episodios de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y los tiempos de posguerra, retratados desde el punto de vista japonés.
Una novela conmovedora y llena de esperanza a pesar de su tono agridulce.
Desde la perspectiva de una niña norteamericana de 9 años y su tío abuelo japonés, un hombre que rebasa la cincuentena. Un océano en el armario habla sobre las cicatrices que dejan las guerras y como el trauma, los remordimientos, la tristeza y los sentimientos de pérdida que albergan quiénes fueron testigos de estos conflictos, pueden llegar a afectar a múltiples generaciones de una familia.
Pero además, esta novela aborda el tema de la identidad y la necesidad de conectar con las raíces. Así como el poder del amor filial y la importancia del apoyo de la familia, cuando hay parientes con problemas de salud mental.
Yuko Taniguichi, recrea de forma muy correcta y creíble la personalidad de una niña de 9 años, que convive con la apatía de su padre con trastorno por estrés postraumático y los continuos cambios de humor de su madre, pero no comprende la razón del sufrimiento de ambos. Helen piensa y se comporta como lo haría una niña, y emplea el tipo de lógica que en la infancia se usa para explicar los hechos que suceden en su entorno.
La capacidad de asombro de Helen, así como su candor, ingenuidad, valentía, su fé ciega y el profundo amor que siente por su madre, resultan realmente conmovedores. Su inocencia y la de su hermano Ken, es una especie de escudo que los ha mantenido emocionalmente a salvo de las situaciones traumáticas que han vivido en su hogar. .
Creo que habría resultado interesante conocer más sobre los padres de Helen; vistos siempre desde la perspectiva de terceros, el lector desconoce sus sentimientos.
A destacar, los episodios de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y los tiempos de posguerra, retratados desde el punto de vista japonés.
Una novela conmovedora y llena de esperanza a pesar de su tono agridulce.
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November 11, 2009The Ocean in the Closet by Yuko Taniguchi
I was very excited to read Yuko Taniguchi’s novel because she is a fellow tango dancer. I met her once at a tango event in Rochester and thought she danced beautifully. When I discovered that she was also an author, I just had to read her books. I’m glad to have discovered them. Taniguchi writes in a clear voice that is different from all the authors I have been reading lately. Taniguchi creates a distinct interior world that the reader can readily enter. It was similar to walking through a Japanese garden – all the senses are alive to contemplate the beauty in stillness, rushing water or suggested nature.
The Ocean in the Closet depicts three generations of a family struggling with the separations caused by two wars. Anna Johnson, a half Japanese woman adopted by Americans, has a nervous breakdown and abandons her young children. Fueled on by love for her mother and a hope of family restoration, nine-year-old Helen seeks out her great-uncle Hideo Takagaka with encouragement from her Uncle Steve. Helen and her uncle travel to Japan in hopes that reconnecting Anna to her roots and showing that she was loved will bring healing to her heart.
The Ocean in the Closet is a story of loss, pain and hope. Taniguchi beautifully captures the voice of a child struggling to understand and cope with her feelings of abandonment and her mother’s pain. Hideo’s own struggle with the aftermath of WWII and living with the loss of his family is woven beautifully into the narrative and provides a Japanese perspective on the occupying American forces and view of war. Taniguchi explores the suffering caused by racial prejudice in both cultures and points to connection and understanding as way to making peace.
I was very excited to read Yuko Taniguchi’s novel because she is a fellow tango dancer. I met her once at a tango event in Rochester and thought she danced beautifully. When I discovered that she was also an author, I just had to read her books. I’m glad to have discovered them. Taniguchi writes in a clear voice that is different from all the authors I have been reading lately. Taniguchi creates a distinct interior world that the reader can readily enter. It was similar to walking through a Japanese garden – all the senses are alive to contemplate the beauty in stillness, rushing water or suggested nature.
The Ocean in the Closet depicts three generations of a family struggling with the separations caused by two wars. Anna Johnson, a half Japanese woman adopted by Americans, has a nervous breakdown and abandons her young children. Fueled on by love for her mother and a hope of family restoration, nine-year-old Helen seeks out her great-uncle Hideo Takagaka with encouragement from her Uncle Steve. Helen and her uncle travel to Japan in hopes that reconnecting Anna to her roots and showing that she was loved will bring healing to her heart.
The Ocean in the Closet is a story of loss, pain and hope. Taniguchi beautifully captures the voice of a child struggling to understand and cope with her feelings of abandonment and her mother’s pain. Hideo’s own struggle with the aftermath of WWII and living with the loss of his family is woven beautifully into the narrative and provides a Japanese perspective on the occupying American forces and view of war. Taniguchi explores the suffering caused by racial prejudice in both cultures and points to connection and understanding as way to making peace.
June 30, 2012
In my vast reading experience, I have yet to find many novels that really speak to the aftermath of war in the way that this one did for me. Honestly, war is one major topic I tend to shy away from in my reading. Maybe that this book focuses on the affects of war, and how they reverberate through generations is why I managed to get through it and love every page.
The story is told from two perspectives; the first is Helen, a nine year old girl living with a father suffering from PTSD (a Vietnam vet) and a mother who is disconnected from reality. When she’s sent to live with her aunt and uncle, she begins to discover things about her parents which lead her on a journey to Japan to discover more about her mother’s past.
The second is Hideo, Helen’s great-uncle. From him, we learn about Ume, Helen’s grandmother, and Helen’s mother Anna. The strict Japanese culture combined with the horrors of WWII in Japan lead Ume to make horrible decisions to give her child the best possible life. Here we see how the history of this family is passed down to Helen, and how Helen must be the one to reconnect with the past instead of being distant from it.
Language is everything in this book; from the way the image of water is depicted to the culture of Japan, every page is beautiful. It surprises you and breaks your heart with the stories revealed, but the whole time you see how the awful pasts of each character reflects in their present. It’s not always a positive reflection, but it is always honest. Rarely do you get a book that’s honesty moves you as much as this one does.
The story is told from two perspectives; the first is Helen, a nine year old girl living with a father suffering from PTSD (a Vietnam vet) and a mother who is disconnected from reality. When she’s sent to live with her aunt and uncle, she begins to discover things about her parents which lead her on a journey to Japan to discover more about her mother’s past.
The second is Hideo, Helen’s great-uncle. From him, we learn about Ume, Helen’s grandmother, and Helen’s mother Anna. The strict Japanese culture combined with the horrors of WWII in Japan lead Ume to make horrible decisions to give her child the best possible life. Here we see how the history of this family is passed down to Helen, and how Helen must be the one to reconnect with the past instead of being distant from it.
Language is everything in this book; from the way the image of water is depicted to the culture of Japan, every page is beautiful. It surprises you and breaks your heart with the stories revealed, but the whole time you see how the awful pasts of each character reflects in their present. It’s not always a positive reflection, but it is always honest. Rarely do you get a book that’s honesty moves you as much as this one does.
July 9, 2008
I randomly picked up this book at the library because it was small and lightweight and I didn't have much room in my bag at the time.
I like books told from the perspective of children. This was told partly from the perspective of a nine year old girl whose mom was adopted from Japan and her dad was a Vietnam veteran. It was also told from the perspective of her great uncle who was living in Japan. The way these two voices combined to tell the story was quite engaging.
I was also very interested in the historical context of this book. It made me want to learn more about Japan's role in World War II outside of the Pearl Harbor/atomic bombs that seems like the only things I really know much about. And it made me want to learn more about manchuria.
Hmm.. that is about it.
except that when i write reviews for books i feel like i am in fourth grade writing a book report.
oh well.
I like books told from the perspective of children. This was told partly from the perspective of a nine year old girl whose mom was adopted from Japan and her dad was a Vietnam veteran. It was also told from the perspective of her great uncle who was living in Japan. The way these two voices combined to tell the story was quite engaging.
I was also very interested in the historical context of this book. It made me want to learn more about Japan's role in World War II outside of the Pearl Harbor/atomic bombs that seems like the only things I really know much about. And it made me want to learn more about manchuria.
Hmm.. that is about it.
except that when i write reviews for books i feel like i am in fourth grade writing a book report.
oh well.
May 11, 2009
My book group didn't love this book or highly recommend this book because it's a downer, not very uplifting, which I agree but I did learn a lot about WWII from a different perspective. While most did not like the Uncle, I actually really felt for him. I don't know if it's some hidden Asian empathy or what, but I could empathize the degree of difficulty he must have had to deal with cultural/social stigma versus "doing the right thing." Don't we all think we are just trying to do the right thing the best way we know how?
Think of the torment that generations from this decade must have had--the regrets and sorrow. Though fiction, this book was insightful for me and made me ponder what I might've done in his shoes. I think with my personality, I would have chosen otherwise and dealt with the social consequences...
Nevertheless, I did not regret reading this book. It was thought-provoking for me.
Think of the torment that generations from this decade must have had--the regrets and sorrow. Though fiction, this book was insightful for me and made me ponder what I might've done in his shoes. I think with my personality, I would have chosen otherwise and dealt with the social consequences...
Nevertheless, I did not regret reading this book. It was thought-provoking for me.
January 23, 2009
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was very interesting to read a book based on the plight of half-Japanese half- American children born in Japan. This book was told mostly from the viewpoint of a young girl born to a half-Japanese half American mother and an American Father. Her mother had many issues stemming from the short time she spent in an orphanage and continuing on through the time that she was adopted and brought to America. I don't know if I agree with how her adoptive parents went about raising her, which I think is indirectly responsible for how she raises her own children. I felt such sadness for her two children, but grateful that they had such a wonderful uncle and aunt to take care of them during the most difficult time of their parents life. This book would make for some great discussions in a book group.
March 3, 2008
The Ocean in the Closet was a nice little read for me. I'm not sure it deserved 4 stars but it certainly deserved more than 2 and as I'm boycotting the 3 star rating and 3.5 stars isn't available, 4 stars it is! The story is about how many of the characters deal with the experience of war and how one woman's children are affected by her challenges and psychological wounds. I like the book best when the daughter was telling the story from her perspective, Yuko Taniguchi did a nice job of capturing her in prose. The book also affected me because it described "parents acting badly" which, as a parent, always seems to get a rise out of me. Folks who are interested in Japan will also enjoy this book.
October 2, 2010
In 1975 nine-year old Helen writes a letter to her mother's uncle living in Japan. We learn that Anna, Helen's mother, was born in Japan, but adopted and sent to America where she was raised and where she now lives with her husband James, a Vietnam veteran and two children Helen and Ken.
When Anna has a nervous breakdown and James leaves, the two children go to live with their Uncle Steve (James' brother) and Aunt Mary.
As a result of Helen's letter, Steve takes her to visit Japan, where we meet Hideo Takagawa and his wife Chiyo, who are loving and understanding people, as is Uncle Steve.
This is a very inadequate discription of a really good book.
When Anna has a nervous breakdown and James leaves, the two children go to live with their Uncle Steve (James' brother) and Aunt Mary.
As a result of Helen's letter, Steve takes her to visit Japan, where we meet Hideo Takagawa and his wife Chiyo, who are loving and understanding people, as is Uncle Steve.
This is a very inadequate discription of a really good book.
October 18, 2010
Taniguchi is very good as evoking the inner world her young narrator. It's a vivid recounting of an individual world, into which she skillfully weaves the wider world that shapes her, crossing oceans, retelling ancient tales and surveying the history of two wars. And ambitious and interesting novel.
August 14, 2009
This book opened my eyes to the many aspects of living with those who suffer from mental and emotional challenges. It also gave an interesting perspective on those who experienced the tradgies of war.
Read
July 9, 2010I reviewed this book for The Chattahoochee Review. The review appeared in the winter 2008 issue, and is reprinted < ahref="http://practicing-writing.blogspot.co....
November 14, 2007
Excellent. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a friend of the author! Lots of shamanic elements, though I doubt they're intended...
June 9, 2008
So I never made it through this, and was sick of seeing it in "Currently reading..."
February 23, 2008
Daughter of mentally ill Japanese/American mother discovers the story of her mother's life as a child... it was boring to me, and I never finished it.
Want to read
August 13, 2008A woman helps her family in the aftermath of both World War II and the Vietnam War
September 26, 2008
I enjoyed this book. It was touching to see how families can heal after surviving the difficulties of war, and much can be learned from past generations.
August 3, 2015
4.5 What a painfully beautiful novel.
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