still takes my breath away

[skim666.livejournal.com]

I'm teaching Hisaye Yamamoto's short stories "Seventeen Syllables" (1949) and "Yoneko's Earthquake" (1951) in my Asian American Lit class today. Her stories, which I first read probably 17 years ago (!!!), are superbly constructed, subtly layered, and devastating. They still take my breath away.

Comments

[pylduck.livejournal.com]

Yes! Love love love Yamamoto's stories. What kinds of things do you talk about in class?

[skim666.livejournal.com]

well, first they needed clarification on the stories. Questions at the beginning of the class included: why does Rosie's father burn the art prize at the end? What is the relationship of the whole Jesus Carrasco story to the story of Rosie's mother and the haikus? and of course, what exactly is happening in Yoneko's earthquake (only a couple students picked up on what happened at the hospital)?

After clarification, basic points: portraits of Japanese American life on small farms in CA in early-/mid-20th century; patriarchy and the experiences of women (we'd just read No-No Boy); inter-minority relations; and nuances of language (registers of poetic language, language differences btw generations, things NOT said, etc.).

[skim666.livejournal.com]

most of my students have never read any Asian American texts, not even Joy Luck Club or Woman Warrior. I don't think many of them have even heard of As Am lit.

[pylduck.livejournal.com]

It just occurred to me that "Yoneko's Earthquake" and "Hills Like White Elephants" would make for a good pair of short stories to teach together.

[sa-am.livejournal.com]

love 17 syllables!!!!!! CLASSIC