Letters to memory

The book is structured around five sections, each written as a letter to a specific historical or spiritual figure: Homer, Ishi, Vyasa, Ananda, and Qohelet.

The author acts as a repository for her family's records and uses these primary documents, including photographs and personal correspondence, as a foundation to explore broader historical and philosophical questions.

It is often described as a follow-up to the author's 2010 novel I Hotel, as it continues her exploration of Japanese American history and identity through an unconventional, experimental narrative structure.