In the poetic and haunting narrative 'The Buddha in the Attic', Julie Otsuka depicts the lives of Japanese 'picture brides' who left their homeland for San Francisco in the early 20th Century. These women share their hopes, dreams, and fears as they journey toward an uncertain future, exchanging photographs of the husbands they are yet to meet. Upon arrival, their realities unfold with first nights as uneasy wives, laborious work in fields and homes, the challenges of cultural assimilation, and the bittersweet experiences of motherhood. As they try to find their place in a world that is at times welcoming and at times hostile, they forge an existence that is marked by resilience and a fading connection to their past. Their stories gain poignancy against the backdrop of war, as the very country they strive to call home turns against them. Otsuka's novel is a poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and the relentless pursuit of the American dream.