Good Reads / Community Library Notes
The Color of Air
Gail Tsukiyama
Review by Priscilla Comen
The Color of Air
Gail Tsukiyama
Review by Priscilla Comen
The Color of Air by Gail Tsukiyama is the story of Koji and his son Daniel who is coming home to Hilo Hawaii after ten years studying on the mainland. Koji’s wife Mariko died two years ago but memories are still strong. Now Daniel’s aunt prepares tasty chicken and salmon dishes for Daniel’s home-coming. They are all proud of him. He’s a doctor, destined to succeed. His aunt feels a tremor under her feet.When Koji first came to the island he gazed at the five volcanoes in awe. Only three of them were active he was told. He lived surrounded by acres and acres of sugar cane. “It runs through my blood,” he’d always say. He recalls the songs the workers sang about good pay and fine housing when all they had was back-breaking work in the cane fields every day.
Nori hurries home and passes the Okawa Fish Market started by her father-in-law and her husband, then continued by her sons. Six years later she had the business sense to run it too. Customers could eat at the bar and or buy staples. The market became more successful as sugar and shipping grew. As everyone waited for Daniel to enter, the tremors grew more intense and things flew off the Koa wood shelves. When Koji felt the increase in tremors he jumped into his truck and made for Hilo as Mauna Loa smoked. The flow of lava would be the dangerous omen if it crossed the roads and fields.
Daniel is on the boat coming home after working at a big hospital in Chicago, a wrong diagnosis and a costly mistake having brought him here. The geologists say the lava is flowing away from Hilo and then Daniel’s two friends Wilson and Mano walk through the door. Author Tsukiyama tells the back story of the Chicago hospital where Daniel had misdiagnosed a four year old with the flu only to have her return with a seizure and cardiac arrest. He left his position there and came home.
Nori now goes to see Mama, her best friend Leia is the daughter of Mama who makes the best leis of anyone on the island. Mama is now old and infirm. Daniel thinks about his uncle Koji at the train station. Franklin, Daniel’s father, had abandoned them and Daniel learned about him from Koji. Nori asks Daniel to check on Mama to be sure her health is fine except for being forgetful. She doesn’t trust Western medicine but Daniel is family so she’ll see him. He examines her gently as he tells her about their days on the beach when he was a boy. He shows her a shell from that time and she remembers who he is.
On his way home Koji sees his oldest friend Razor and they recall their old times when Koji had acted up too. Razor says Pele is not going away this time. Is this a clue to what’s coming? Daniel’s former girl-friend Maile is now in Hilo after leaving her current boyfriend who has hit her and told her to quit studying for her teaching credential. She’s afraid he might find her. The volcano observatory calls the Fish Market to say there is another eruption and it’s headed toward Hilo.
At this time Maile walks in and Daniel sees her; they walk together and talk about the old days. With her he has nothing to prove but she’s so hesitant and cautious. They board the train, the Scenic Express, and sit at a table with white tablecloth, set with china, silverware and glasses. They pass wondrous views of ocean on one side and massive mountains on the other. They have a complete lunch and later stand on the trestle bridge to look at the valley. She tells him about her fiancé and her fear of his beatings. Daniel swears he’ll never let him near her again.
Koji and his mother did not let Daniel know his father had come back after five years. Koji had asked Mariko to marry him but she was waiting for Franklin. And what Mariko and Koji had was better than marriage. Koji had tried to take Franklin’s place but knew he never could. Koji and Daniel talk together in the truck and come upon the lava flow. It is hard to breathe because of the steam and smoke. Koji yells for Daniel to go now as Koji coughs and feels old. When did this happen to him? He trips over a root and falls down and hears Mariko say to stay still. Daniel looks back to see Koji and calls his name. Finally they make it to the truck and to the hospital to stitch the gash in Koji’s forehead. Later Daniel tells Koji of his mistake at the Chicago hospital. Koji says that doing your best is okay.
Years before Koji had told Razor he promised he’d be at the union meeting to vote on a strike. But Daniel’s father owes a lot of money to gamblers and Koji gives him the money to get out of trouble. They begin to fight and Franklin comes at Koji with a knife that slices his stomach. Koji hits him hard and Franklin goes down. He’d wanted Mariko’s house but Koji wouldn’t allow that.
The volcano center announces they’ll call the Army to drop bombs to stop the lava flow, with George Patton in charge. Everyone is ready to leave, selling off heirlooms et al. Evacuation plans are up on the bulletin board at the Fish Market, back road shortcuts are discussed. Nori arranges a Christmas party with refreshments including a cooked pig as the centerpiece. They want to forget about the lava flow.
Author Tsukiyama returns to describe the meeting Razor organized to increase worker’s wages and improve working conditions. The Japanese, Filipino and Chinese vote to strike together and Razor is proud of his role. When Mama tries to walk outside from her wheelchair she falls and is in a coma for days. Daniel wants her in hospital but Leia says she’ll care for her at home. Does the lava flow stop with the Army’s project? Do Koji and Daniel pick the mangoes that Mariko planted and that Nori uses in her baked pastries? This is actually the story of a place, Hilo Hawaii and the amazing characters who live and love and die there, and the volcano that presides over all of them. Find this fine novel on the new fiction shelf of your local library.
Nori hurries home and passes the Okawa Fish Market started by her father-in-law and her husband, then continued by her sons. Six years later she had the business sense to run it too. Customers could eat at the bar and or buy staples. The market became more successful as sugar and shipping grew. As everyone waited for Daniel to enter, the tremors grew more intense and things flew off the Koa wood shelves. When Koji felt the increase in tremors he jumped into his truck and made for Hilo as Mauna Loa smoked. The flow of lava would be the dangerous omen if it crossed the roads and fields.
Daniel is on the boat coming home after working at a big hospital in Chicago, a wrong diagnosis and a costly mistake having brought him here. The geologists say the lava is flowing away from Hilo and then Daniel’s two friends Wilson and Mano walk through the door. Author Tsukiyama tells the back story of the Chicago hospital where Daniel had misdiagnosed a four year old with the flu only to have her return with a seizure and cardiac arrest. He left his position there and came home.
Nori now goes to see Mama, her best friend Leia is the daughter of Mama who makes the best leis of anyone on the island. Mama is now old and infirm. Daniel thinks about his uncle Koji at the train station. Franklin, Daniel’s father, had abandoned them and Daniel learned about him from Koji. Nori asks Daniel to check on Mama to be sure her health is fine except for being forgetful. She doesn’t trust Western medicine but Daniel is family so she’ll see him. He examines her gently as he tells her about their days on the beach when he was a boy. He shows her a shell from that time and she remembers who he is.
On his way home Koji sees his oldest friend Razor and they recall their old times when Koji had acted up too. Razor says Pele is not going away this time. Is this a clue to what’s coming? Daniel’s former girl-friend Maile is now in Hilo after leaving her current boyfriend who has hit her and told her to quit studying for her teaching credential. She’s afraid he might find her. The volcano observatory calls the Fish Market to say there is another eruption and it’s headed toward Hilo.
At this time Maile walks in and Daniel sees her; they walk together and talk about the old days. With her he has nothing to prove but she’s so hesitant and cautious. They board the train, the Scenic Express, and sit at a table with white tablecloth, set with china, silverware and glasses. They pass wondrous views of ocean on one side and massive mountains on the other. They have a complete lunch and later stand on the trestle bridge to look at the valley. She tells him about her fiancé and her fear of his beatings. Daniel swears he’ll never let him near her again.
Koji and his mother did not let Daniel know his father had come back after five years. Koji had asked Mariko to marry him but she was waiting for Franklin. And what Mariko and Koji had was better than marriage. Koji had tried to take Franklin’s place but knew he never could. Koji and Daniel talk together in the truck and come upon the lava flow. It is hard to breathe because of the steam and smoke. Koji yells for Daniel to go now as Koji coughs and feels old. When did this happen to him? He trips over a root and falls down and hears Mariko say to stay still. Daniel looks back to see Koji and calls his name. Finally they make it to the truck and to the hospital to stitch the gash in Koji’s forehead. Later Daniel tells Koji of his mistake at the Chicago hospital. Koji says that doing your best is okay.
Years before Koji had told Razor he promised he’d be at the union meeting to vote on a strike. But Daniel’s father owes a lot of money to gamblers and Koji gives him the money to get out of trouble. They begin to fight and Franklin comes at Koji with a knife that slices his stomach. Koji hits him hard and Franklin goes down. He’d wanted Mariko’s house but Koji wouldn’t allow that.
The volcano center announces they’ll call the Army to drop bombs to stop the lava flow, with George Patton in charge. Everyone is ready to leave, selling off heirlooms et al. Evacuation plans are up on the bulletin board at the Fish Market, back road shortcuts are discussed. Nori arranges a Christmas party with refreshments including a cooked pig as the centerpiece. They want to forget about the lava flow.
Author Tsukiyama returns to describe the meeting Razor organized to increase worker’s wages and improve working conditions. The Japanese, Filipino and Chinese vote to strike together and Razor is proud of his role. When Mama tries to walk outside from her wheelchair she falls and is in a coma for days. Daniel wants her in hospital but Leia says she’ll care for her at home. Does the lava flow stop with the Army’s project? Do Koji and Daniel pick the mangoes that Mariko planted and that Nori uses in her baked pastries? This is actually the story of a place, Hilo Hawaii and the amazing characters who live and love and die there, and the volcano that presides over all of them. Find this fine novel on the new fiction shelf of your local library.