12 — August 17, 2016 – September 6, 2016
INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER
PACIFIC READER
Pacific Reader 2016
PART II
The Partition of India, Astro Boy & Sewing As Therapy OR How Books Get Us Into The World Welcome to the second part of Pacific Reader, our annual summer review of books. We start it off with several feature stories and then conclude with our usual assortment of book reviews. The Partition of India in 1947 after the British Indian Empire was dissolved led to the creation and formation of India and Pakistan. Thousands of people were killed in the retributive genocide between religious groups as diverse as Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims and many others in this massive shift from colonial empire to independent countries. It is now considered the largest mass migration in human history. We take a look at a unique museum in Berkeley, California trying to record the oral history of that cataclysmic event before all the informants have passed away and a new anthology of essays on that landmark in history co-edited by local writer Nalini Iyer. Astro Boy (known as Mighty Atom in its native country) is as popular in Japan as Superman is in the United States. Yet for years, Osamu Tezuka, the creator of that series (1952-68) and often referred to in his home country as the “godfather of manga” was little known in America. That is gradually changing with the English translations of his many books and a new translation of what amounts to a biography of his life. Besides manga, Tezuka worked as a cartoonist, animator, film producer, medical doctor, and activist. We talk to the English translator, writer, and Japanese manga specialist Frederik L. Schodt about the multi-faceted activities of the man many call the “Walt Disney of Japan.” There are literally dozens of books on sewing full of diagrams and instructions for new patterns, but local writer Sanae Ishida (Little Kunoichi, the Ninja Girl) has pulled off something entirely different in Sewing Happiness (Sasquatch Books). In a more holistic approach, besides the patterns—she uses a personal narrative to suggest how the very act of sewing itself can be a healing act that promotes good health and, yes, happiness. We talk to the author about her philosophy. Enjoy your summer and wherever you go, keep a book handy. —Alan Chong Lau, IE Arts Editor and coordinator of Pacific Reader
Partition of India revisited Tomine’s Killing and Dying is a journey worth embarking on
By Bharti Kirchner IE Contributor Nearly 70 years ago, the Indian subcontinent was divided by the departing British occupiers into two nation states: Hindumajority India and Muslim-dominated Pakistan. The tumultuous event triggered sectarian violence and caused one of the biggest mass migrations in history, resulting in death and destruction on a scale never seen before. This human tragedy, documented in the following decades in the form of novels, essays, memoirs, and poems, now constitutes what is known as Partition literature. Adding to the richness of this trove is Revisiting India’s Partition, a newly released essay collection containing 19 pieces. This volume, a scholarly exploration of the long-term socio-political effects of the Partition, boasts a local connection. Nalini Iyer, professor at Seattle University and an International Examiner contributor, co-edited it along with two other academics, Amaritjit Singh and Rahul K. Gairola. Their mission is to dissect other Partition literature, widen the focus with which the heartbreaking narratives are viewed, and address those regions and issues that have not received sufficient attention. In “The Long Shadow of 1947” by Ilyas Chattha, the central issue is Kashmir, one of the still-contested regions, often called “unfinished business.” Mass violence and forced displacement continues there even
today due to the wars fought between India and Pakistan on its soil. One benefit of this continuous turmoil, however, as Chattha points out, is the unification of the citizens, who now hold on to their Kashmiri identities much more strongly. In “Difficult Choices: Work, Family, and Displaced Women in Partition Writings,” Debali Mookerjea-Leonard discusses the status of middle-class Bengali Hindu women in the post-partition period. Long considered dutiful daughters, wives, and mothers, these women had to step into the role of wage earners out of economic necessity. This disrupted family ties and initiated displacements of another sort. “The Never-Ending Partition: Pakistan’s SelfIdentification Dilemma” by Amber Fatima Riaz examines Pakistan’s development as a nation and refutes the common perception that the country is about to implode. Whereas a singular identity—one country, one religion, one voice—have proven to be a myth, Riaz holds out the hope that the country’s future may lie in the recognition and strengthening of its diverse regional identities. These accomplished essays, despite their academic leanings, can benefit serious readers in furthering their knowledge of the subcontinent or be used as reference material. Novelist, book critic, and cookbooks author Bharti Kirchner’s sixth novel Goddess of Fire was recently released.
By Misa Shikuma IE Contributor With Killing and Dying, Adrian Tomine’s latest compilation of graphic novel vignettes, the author continues to push the limits of the medium with eclectic stories about the human experience that are alternately poignant, darkly humorous and relatable. Part of the “Optic Nerve” series that Tomine first began self-publishing as a teenager, Killing and Dying continues what has become a tangible evolution of the artist’s work and style. Almost evenly split between words and pictures, the graphic novel has a distinctive literary sensibility, and yet retains the strong visual pull that has fueled his successful career. Placing seemingly normal individuals in improbable situations, Tomine explores themes including identity, love, loss, and family through the prism of a cynical worldview counterbalanced by moments of humor and levity. A certain helplessness tends to pervade the struggles of the protagonists, and yet through some expedient storytelling, the author still manages to imbue some optimism. In a word, the stories of Killing and Dying might be described as quirky, but not at all in a diminutive sense. “A Brief History of the Art Form Known as ‘Hortisculpture’” follows a father determined to establish a new art form. In “Amber Sweet,” a young woman grapples with the consequences of bearing strong physical
resemblance to a popular internet porn star. “Go Owls” centers on the unlikely relationship between two strangers who meet at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. “Translated, from the Japanese,” beautifully conveys the emotional nuances of returning home. “Killing and Dying,” the titular story, focuses on a father and daughter struggling to continue in the aftermath of a tragedy. While “Intruders” deals with the difficulty in moving on after the conclusion of a relationship. Collectively the stories epitomize Tomine’s style, and yet the book also shows off his versatility in both illustration and exposition. A treat for both longtime fans and those just getting introduced to the graphic novelist, Killing and Dying is a journey worth embarking on.