Chorus of Mushrooms: week six

This week, I'd like to talk about Part Three of Chorus of Mushrooms, as well as some of Part Four - up to Keiko's article in The Herald. This is a very revealing section of the book - we are challenged with a "missing part", where Goto announces "An Immigrant Story With a Happy Ending" and then removes it from the novel. What did you feel when you came across the missing Part Three? Why do you think Goto includes it where she does in relation to the rest of the narrative?

We also get some explanations for Muriel/Murasaki's name given to her by Naoe: those of you familiar with Japanese language and culture may already have recognized that Murasaki not only means "purple", but is also the name of Murasaki Shikibu, the author of The Tale of Genji. What do you know about The Tale of Genji? Why do you think Goto introduces a link between that story and this one? Do you think it is part of what Naoe meant when giving the name to her granddaughter, or is this just Keiko's added interpretation?

Another element of the novel that becomes even more prominent in this section is the identification between Naoe and Murasaki. Naoe tells Tengu that of her own alias, Purple, and the one she gives her granddaughter, Murasaki, "The words are different, but in translation, they come together" (174). Murasaki describes a scene where she becomes her departed grandmother in their house, sitting in her grandmother's chair and retorting to Keiko in Japanese, which she didn't at the time speak. Is this coming together a transformation for Naoe, Murasaki, or both? Or is it merely an intensification of what was already in place? Why is it happening at this point? And where does Keiko, mother to one and daughter to the other of them, belong in this coming-together?

We'll be wrapping up the book online next week, but you can also join us in person this Saturday at 11am to discuss the book. Please share any other thoughts you had while reading this section in the comments, as well as any favourite parts! And remember that if you're finishing up Chorus of Mushrooms, you can get started on our next book for June-July, The Letter Opener by Kyo Maclear.

-Carolyn