Its a book, a story, a murder mystery I just pau read.
SUMMER OF THE BIG BACHI by Naomi Hirahira
So I’m in the Public Library cruising down the isles of the “mystry” section and I’m looking for certain authors right. My eyes are just skimming the shelves. I had to take a second look and pull dis book out. Does dat say “bachi?” Sure nuff it said:
So I read da back cover and skimmed da book. Hontonei, inTAH-ressing ne?
Its another historical kind of murder mystry thats based on survivors of Hiroshima. Plus da concept of BACHI yeah, what comes around goes around. I think we have all experienced that. I think it was interesting dat part of da definition of bachi was “your insides not going be good” aka guilt trip?
The story revolves around dis ojisan Mas Arai, a survivor of Hiroshima who lives in the LA area, Altadena and things that happen during and after the bombing of Hiroshima comes back around 50 years later in America.
There is something about ethnic writers story telling that I really like. Be it Mexican, Asian, Native, Hawaiian woteva there is a certain story telling voice that makes if feel very comfortable, you know like I listening to da story instead of reading it. Thats da only way I know how to explain it. Maybe cause its the mixture of ethnic words, of good English and not soo gooda English that feels familiar.
Mushroom Cloud
I think alot of kids don’t know about Hiroshima. Or perhaps to them Hiroshima is a jazz group. (love their music by the way, jazzed up traditional instruments, they are awesome) Hiroshima was and is a horrific happening. Imagine something like that could happen to day and be a million times worst. Sad. If you go to photobucket.com & search Hiroshima, you will find a picture of survivors. I couldn’t put it in here. Too sad.
I had never thought of the genetics or illness that may have been caused by the aftermath of all that radioactivity. Like the after effects of those exposed having kids and what of those kids. Much like in any chemical weapon release during war, Agent Orange and who knows what experiments people do during war time. Pray it never happens again. Pray we know better.
Hiroshima Memorial
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August 1st, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I thought she did a really good job of portraying all those old guys hanging out at the lawnmower shop. Sometimes it’s hardest to be the survivor. Hirahara has written 2 other books: Gasa-gasa Girl, and Snakeskin Shamisen. Don’t know how good they are.
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:09 am
I’m going to read Gasa-gasa next.
I know huh, all da Grandpas hanging out…kinda reminded me of when I use to go watch aikido practice at “orange park” there would be all these Grandpas sitting down watching too. Dey would tell us kids all dese different stuf and talkstory. One G’pa saw dat my nails was kinda long. He told me when I go put rice in da pot, make sure I stick all my fingahs straight down in da rice a couple of times, da raw rice good fo’da nails makem’ strong.