Open Books - Open Minds author to speak at RIC, Oct. 12
Julie Otsuka's "When the Emperor was Divine"
Julie Otsuka, author of this year’s Open Book - Open Minds novel “When the Emperor was Divine,” will speak at RIC on Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 12:30 - 2 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom.
Otsuka's powerful first novel tells the story of the displacement of one Japanese-American family from their Berkeley, Calif., home to an internment camp in Utah shortly after Pearl Harbor.
The father of the unnamed family is arrested on suspicion of conspiracy in 1942 (the reason for his arrest is never explained) leaving his wife and two young children to move from camp to camp for three years.
Otsuka, whose inspiration for “When the Emperor was Divine” came from her own family history, was born and raised in California. She graduated from Yale as an art major and received her master’s degree in creative writing from Columbia. Otsuka currently lives in New York City.
Upcoming Open Books - Open Minds Events:
Tom Schmeling: "Korematsu: The Worst Supreme Court Decision Ever?"
Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 12:30 – 2 p.m. in the Fortes Room in Adams Library
Julie Otsuka, author of “When the Emperor was Divine”
Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 12:30 – 2 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom
Lloyd Matsumoto: "Efforts to Change Victory Day to Peace and Remembrance Day and the Japanese Internment Camp Experience"
Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 12:30 – 2 p.m. in the Fortes Room in Adams Library
Film Screening: "American Pastime" (Discussion Moderator: Vincent Bohlinger)
Thursday, Feb. 23, at 5 p.m. in Gaige Hall 100
Exhibit by Visual Artist Roger Shimomura: "An American Diary"
Thursday, March 29 (location to be announced)
Student Conference: (Contact: Anita Duneer)
Friday, March 30 (Fall Deadline: Friday, Dec. 9)
For more information, visit http://www.ric.edu/obom.