Book Review: The Color of Air
Read the Powells interview with the author.
The Color of Air is historical fiction, which isn’t my usual genre of choice, but Gail Tsukiyama is an exception, because I liked her novels Women of the Silk and Dreaming Water so much. Those came out in 1991 and 2002, respectively, so I now realize how far I’ve gotten behind with her novels; I haven’t even read The Language of Threads, which is the sequel to Women of the Silk, published in 1999.
The Color of Air has a strong contemporary story line with the return of former sweethearts Daniel and Maile to the small sugar town of Hilo, Hawaii, from the mainland (where their separate lives had both fallen apart at the same time), back home, where much has changed since they left, yet many memories and mysteries of childhood remain. Family and what it means is a theme that runs through the book, as Daniel, now a doctor, struggles with unresolved emotion over his father’s long-ago disappearance and with grief over the recent death of his mother.
Daniel’s mother’s death has left a large hole in many lives in Hilo – not just Daniel’s – but she has a presence in the book by means chapters called “Ghost Voices” by the author. Other characters’ memories and flashbacks to the life of earlier days bring out the history of the Japanese American immigrant community on Hawaii in the early part of the 20th century – families lured to backbreaking labor on the sugar plantations by the promise of a better life.
NPR: The Final Days of Hawaiian Sugar
The title of The Color of Air comes from the novel’s epigraph, a quote from a Japanese novelist:
“[T]he very color of the air in the place I was born was different, the smell of the earth was special, redolent with memories of my parents.”
Natsume Sōseki
I didn’t know anything about the harvesting of sugar cane or Hawaiian sugar plantations before reading this eye-opening novel. One of the main characters, who plays a large role in the past and the present of the book, grew up on the sugar plantation that the town of Hilo grew up around. While the author clearly researched the time and place thoroughly, the historical background is written into the story; there are no long passages of info-dumping.
I would recommend The Color of Air to anyone who enjoys stories with multiple narrators, and likes historical fiction that centers on family and community, showing the effects of societal, economic, and political forces – and, in this case, natural forces such as volcanic eruptions – on a single small town.
The Color of Air would make a great book-club selection, as well!
I read an e-ARC of The Color of Air, courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no other compensation for this review.
Japanese- and Hawaiian-inspired Recipes
Still under the Hawaiian influence, I also made Spicy Pineapple Coconut Cocktails (recipe online) but I think we were so thirsty, I forgot to take a photo! I’m also trying a recipe for Pineapple Buttermilk Sherbet from the Low-Fat Moosewood Cookbook today, but I’m not sure my refrigerator freezer is getting it cold enough.
Happy Weekend Cooking!
Weekend Cooking hosted by Marg @ The Intrepid Reader.
The transformation of Hawaii from a multi-cultural agriculture society to what it is now is a very interesting topic. Both food and language developed special fusion versions in this interesting melting pot. The book sounds like an effort to explore one aspect of that history.
be well… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
This sounds like a great read, and those cocktails look amazing!
Everything looks good, but I think the cocktails drew me in maybe because it’s so hot here right now. Interesting post.