The Floating World (Masterplots II: American Fiction Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Cynthia Kadohata
- First Published: 1989
- Type of Plot: Bildungsroman
- Time of Work: The 1950’s
- Setting: California, Nebraska, and Arkansas
- Principal Characters: Olivia Ann, Hisae Fujiitano (Obasan), Benjamin Todd, Walker Roy, Peter Edward, Isamu, Charles Osaka (Charlie-O), Mariko (Laura), David Tanizaki (Tan), Andy Chin, The ghost of Jack
- Genres: Long fiction
- Subjects: 1950’s
- Locales: United States
The Novel
Olivia Ann’s unusual 1950’s adolescence is one without a permanent address; she lives in a series of motel rooms and rented houses as her father moves from job to job. Her family consists of parents, a cranky grandmother, and three younger brothers. With the exception of intermittent marital problems between her parents, the family unit offers her a stable and loving environment in an otherwise “floating” world. Obasan, her feisty grandmother, taunts and harasses her but also protects and loves her in a hardened and unorthodox way. Her younger brothers are her...
[The entire page is 2685 words long]
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