Author writes semi-autobiographical novel about a protagonist who loves books. Hmm. Where have we seen this before? It's no big surprise that Naomi develops a love for the written word throughout Obasan. But it's not just any kind of literature that interests her, it's fairy tales. They are educational, fun to listen to, and they all have happy endings. What else could you want? Whenever Naomi runs into trouble, that's where she turns for help. But as much as Naomi hopes she will find a real life happy ending, we're not sure if that fairy tale will ever come true.
Questions About Literature and Writing
- Why do you think Naomi enjoys fairy tales so much? What role do they play in her childhood?
- Is anyone else as interested in these stories as Naomi is? Who, or why not?
- Fairy tales blur reality and fiction, and so do dreams. How do they relate to one another in Obasan?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Fairy tales are just stories for kids in Obasan.
Fairy tales and reality are not so far apart, at least in Naomi's mind.