Guterson, David: *1956

Snow Falling on Cedars, 1994 - Information about the Book

General Information | Facts | Author | Articles

General Information
- The novel revolves in large part around the treatment of people of Japanese descent in the Pacific Northwest during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. The plot unfolds as a mystery in a 1954 courtroom murder trial on “San Piedro Island” in Puget Sound.
- Information from Wikipedia
- Information from Encyclopedia
Facts
- Banned/Challenged Book: 2000-2009
- Awards: "Snow Falling on Cedars" won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 1995.
- Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
- Characters
- Topics
  
  Racism and Prejudice
  The novel delves into the deep-seated racism and prejudice that existed towards Japanese Americans in the community, even years after the war ended. The murder trial of Kabuo Miyamoto, a Japanese American accused of killing a white fisherman, exposes the underlying racial tensions and biases.
  Japanese American Internment
  A major theme is the forced removal and internment of Japanese American citizens during WWII, and the lasting trauma it inflicted on families like Kabuo's. The novel portrays the injustice of having their homes and livelihoods taken away solely due to their ancestry.
  
  Love and Relationships
  The novel explores a forbidden interracial love story between Ishmael Chambers, a white man, and Hatsue Imada, who is Japanese American and later becomes Kabuo's wife. Their relationship highlights the racial divides of the time.
  
  Courtroom Drama
  The murder trial of Kabuo Miyamoto serves as the central plot driver, with the novel delving into the evidence, witnesses, and legal proceedings through multiple perspectives.
  
  Setting and Atmosphere
  Guterson vividly depicts the rugged natural beauty of the fictional San Piedro Island setting, creating a rich sense of place that mirrors the turbulent human conflicts.
  
  In summary, Snow Falling on Cedars tackles complex issues of racism, injustice towards Japanese Americans during WWII, tragic love stories, and courtroom proceedings, all set against the atmospheric backdrop of an isolated Pacific Northwest island community.
  Developed by AI
- Key Facts
- General Perception
  
  The novel was highly praised by critics for its beautifully written prose and atmospheric descriptions. Guterson's writing style was often described as poetic and evocative, successfully capturing the misty, somber atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest. The characters are multi-dimensional, and their intricate backstories add depth to the narrative.
  The novel's structure, which interweaves past and present events, received praise for its complexity and how it gradually reveals the mystery at its core.
  
  Readers and critics appreciated the novel's attention to historical detail, particularly its depiction of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and its lasting impact on individuals and communities.
  
  Overall, "Snow Falling on Cedars" is generally perceived as a poignant and thought-provoking work that skillfully combines a compelling narrative with deep social and emotional themes.
  
  Developed by AI
- Reader Rating:
Author
- Audio (27:44)
  James Naughtie discusses with David Guterson his novel Snow Falling on Cedars, with reading by David Guterson. BBC Radio 4; June 6, 1999
- David Guterson speaks about the process of writing and the development of "Snow Falling on Cedars."
Articles
- Commentary
  On one level, this suspenseful and beautifully-written novel can be read as a well-constructed mystery story. On another level, it presents a poetic evocation of character and prejudice in a small island community in the 1950's. In her testimony, Etta Heine, the dead man's mother, clearly expresses her hatred and distrust of all "Japs," including Kabuo, who had been her son's childhood friend.
  The author also recreates the wartime hysteria that led to Japanese-Americans being sent to concentration camps. In fact, in pre-war Washington state, Japanese people who were not American citizens were not even permitted to own property.
  Ironically, the most vocal bigot in this story (Etta Heine) is not only of German descent, but was actually born in Germany. Yet, there appears to be no prejudice against Germans on San Pedro Island as a result of the War; certainly, people of German ancestry were never sent to the American concentration camps. Why do people who have lived together in a community for years suddenly turn against one another?
  Coulehan, Jack
  Excerpted, with permission, from the Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database at New York University School of Medicine, © New York University.
- Aggressive Regionalism. "One thing that distinguishes Guterson’s work is the elaborate attention he gives to the natural setting." University of Washington