Julie Otsuka

Author profile

gender

female

website

http://www.julieotsuka.com/

genre

Literature & Fiction

About this author

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Julie Otsuka was born and raised in California. After studying art as an undergraduate at Yale University she pursued a career as a painter for several years before turning to fiction writing at age 30. She received her MFA from Columbia. She is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Asian American Literary Award, and the American Library Association Alex Award.

Her first novel, When the Emperor Was Divine , is about the internment of a Japanese-American family during World War II. It was a New York Times Notable Book, a San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers finalist. The book is based on Otsuka’s own family history: her grandfather was arrested by the FBI as a suspected spy f...more

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Julie Otsuka's Books

Average rating: 3.59 · 19,812 ratings · 3,941 reviews · 4 distinct works · Similar authors

	The Buddha in the Attic 3.56 of 5 stars 3.56 avg rating — 13,704 ratings — published 2011 — 27 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	When the Emperor Was Divine 3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 avg rating — 6,014 ratings — published 2002 — 24 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Granta 115: The F Word by Granta: The Magazine of New Writing, John Freeman (Editor), A.L. Kennedy (Contributor) 3.62 of 5 stars 3.62 avg rating — 98 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Svenska Granta 1: Gränser by Johanna Haegerström (Editor), Lina Wolff (Contributor), Jerker Virdborg (Contributor) 5.0 of 5 stars 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by Julie Otsuka

“And if anyone asks, you're Chinese. The boy had nodded. "Chinese," he whispered. "I'm Chinese." "And I," said the girl, "am the Queen of Spain." "In your dreams," said the boy. "In my dreams," said the girl, "I'm the King.”
― Julie Otsuka, When the Emperor Was Divine

tags: humorous-philosophy, thought-provoking

12 people liked it

“Mostly though, they waited. For the mail. For the news. For the bells. For breakfast and lunch and dinner. For one day to be over and the next day to begin.”
― Julie Otsuka, When the Emperor Was Divine

tags: history, thought-provoking

9 people liked it

“women are weak, but mothers are strong”
― Julie Otsuka, The Buddha in the Attic

7 people liked it

See all Julie Otsuka's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

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The Rory Gilmore ...: Nominate here for November 2009's Selection	16	97	Sep 23, 2009 06:08pm
North Liberty Rea...: Jenni's 2010 Challenges and Read Books	135	32	Jan 02, 2011 03:20pm
North Liberty Rea...: Sonja's 2010 Challenges & Read Books	133	42	Jan 02, 2011 03:25pm
100 books in 2011 : Luv's 100 in 2011	57	57	Jun 06, 2011 04:56am
The Seasonal Read...: Fall Challenge 2011 Completed Tasks - DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS IN THIS TOPIC!	2299	549	Nov 30, 2011 09:05pm
The Next Best Boo...: Beth K's 2011 Reading	66	150	Dec 31, 2011 02:28pm

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