The Edgar Award-winning author of "Snakeskin Shamisen" introduces 69-year-old gardener and Hiroshima survivor Mas Arai. Now living in Pasadena, Mass life of sin catches up to him. The "bachi"--the spirit of retribution--is knocking on his door, forcing Mas to confront his past. ...Click here to check our catalog
Correspondence with Naomi Hirahara...
Dear Naomi -
I am writing you from the Who Dunnit Book Club at the Old Town Public Library in Old Town Maine. We just finished your book "The Summer of the Big Bachi" and are meeting this Thursday to discuss it. I for one enjoyed the book very much and found your characters quite interesting. In fact my step father grew up in Kobe during the World War II. He is a Hungarian Jew who was born in China, grew up in Japan, emigrated to Canada and eventually moved to the US. For our meeting on Thursday I've compiled a glossary for the other club members but I do agree that it is quite easy to figure out what the Japanese words you use mean from the way they are used in the story. I also had the advantage of hearing many of the words you used in the story from my step father and several Japanese American friends of mine. Anyway I wanted to let you know that our book club will be passing on our notes and discussion materials to other book clubs.
We also try to have food at our meetings that go with the book we've read. Do you have any suggestions for us? I will let you know how the meeting goes and I am looking forward to finding out more about Mas an Mari in your other books.
Sincerely,
Kai Ksyniak
Old Town Public Library
Who Dunnit Corner Mystery Book Club
Kai:
Thanks so much for selecting SUMMER OF THE BIG BACHI for your book club. I am honored.
In terms of food, I'm not quite sure what you have available in Old Town Maine, but if there is a Trader Joe's nearby, you can pick up some rice crackers and wasabi-covered dried peas. And, of course, green tea!
If you don't have a place that sells rice crackers, then anything snack that has green tea (there are green tea cookies, etc.), pistachios (remember the flashback when the men are playing cards?) or even tortilla chips and salsa, in honor of the setting, Southern California. (Besides, it's my favorite food, especially if it's paired with guacamole!).
Take care,
Naomi
Naomi - Thanks so much for getting back to me. Believe it or not we can get all the things you suggested and even sushi - however that is out of my budget. Thank you for the suggestions because even though they are available I never thought of rice crackers and wasabi peas. They'll be perfect. And I'll bring green tea as well. I did forget about the pistachios and will get some of those as well.
Thanks again
Kai
Hi, all.
Here is the link to the Naomi Hirahara interview: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129134508
I had also come across this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gil-asakawa/naomi-hirahara-mas-arai_b_2902611.html
Enjoy this lovely day!
Mary
