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skyfiolleau's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gabrielcunha's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I posted on my instagram about this book and i was just in the beginning of book 3 when i did so - i had given the book a 5 star review midway. I completed changed my mind on book 3 though. The way the story was being carried out was very interesting up until then but there were major plot changes that made me feel like i was reading a different book and even the perspective changes focusing on side characters rather than maintain the story on the path it was going made me change my mind. I understand now why one of the main characters gets cut off after thinking about this book for two days after finishing reading it - but still after that the book just gets weird at least for me. Although i didn't enjoy book 3 as much book 1 and 2 were absolutely amazing - i really like how the story is developed from the multi perspective point of view, specially now that i have discovered that family sagas/generational fiction is my favorite genre. anyway, i really enjoyed some major reflections i made about race and social acceptance that are main central points of this book, it definitely is not just a book to read and forget but one that will stay with you and make you reflect upon the subjects that are presented. i have noted down three parts of the book that really resonated with me:
1) Akiko's intrusion on Hansu's lunch: this is one of the big plots of the book, this girl just destroyed Noa's life for no reason and it is in this piece that Noa notices that she only saw him as a "Good Korean" and not as a human being, which was what he wanted all his life. However she carries herself as being "above prejudice" but still is driven but such social bias of Koreans in Japan.
2) Solomon tells his boss: "so then the success tax comes from envy, and the shit tax comes from exploitation." Couple of chapters after we see that Solomon is actually paying the shit tax rather than the success as his boss had implied.
3) Phoebe tells Solomon: "There was more to being something than just blood." Another big discussion of the book, how Koreans were treated all their lives - even if they were born and raised in Japan - they would never be considered Japanese people, I think this last few chapters and Solomon's plot makes up for the 3rd book. He's relationship with Phoebe (a Korean American) says a lot about himself, his identity (he sees himself as more Japanese than Korean but he is a Korean citizen even if he has never lived there) and his ambition. He thinks he has everything figured out after college but little by little he begins to lose everything he had hoped to build.
1) Akiko's intrusion on Hansu's lunch: this is one of the big plots of the book, this girl just destroyed Noa's life for no reason and it is in this piece that Noa notices that she only saw him as a "Good Korean" and not as a human being, which was what he wanted all his life. However she carries herself as being "above prejudice" but still is driven but such social bias of Koreans in Japan.
2) Solomon tells his boss: "so then the success tax comes from envy, and the shit tax comes from exploitation." Couple of chapters after we see that Solomon is actually paying the shit tax rather than the success as his boss had implied.
3) Phoebe tells Solomon: "There was more to being something than just blood." Another big discussion of the book, how Koreans were treated all their lives - even if they were born and raised in Japan - they would never be considered Japanese people, I think this last few chapters and Solomon's plot makes up for the 3rd book. He's relationship with Phoebe (a Korean American) says a lot about himself, his identity (he sees himself as more Japanese than Korean but he is a Korean citizen even if he has never lived there) and his ambition. He thinks he has everything figured out after college but little by little he begins to lose everything he had hoped to build.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Xenophobia, and War
zeldazonks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Really interesting and informative as I didn't know much about that era of Japan and Korea and the conflict, so it was fascinating to read it through the lens of a family. I found I enjoyed the first half more than the latter half when the children grow up and become the focus, and it was a shame that some threads got dropped and were left unresolved. Despite how devastating some of the topics explored are, this was very easy to read and I really loved spending time with this family.
gathonik's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
adoto's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I don't think I got hooked into this book until shit hit the fan. It's medium-paced but dense.
I think it does a really good job of what the author wanted to do, which is honestly reflect the varied experiences of being a Korean in Japan. It's also a beautiful ode to migrant grit and resolve. It just didn't grab me the way I expected it to. I would recommend it to a friend but never reread it.
I think it does a really good job of what the author wanted to do, which is honestly reflect the varied experiences of being a Korean in Japan. It's also a beautiful ode to migrant grit and resolve. It just didn't grab me the way I expected it to. I would recommend it to a friend but never reread it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, Classism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Classism, Child death, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Sexual content, Homophobia, Colonisation, and Alcohol
Minor: Police brutality, Suicide, Sexual assault, Abortion, Mental illness, Trafficking, Miscarriage, and Cancer
lena842's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mbates222's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
dawnpruyn1023's review against another edition
4.0
My very favorite way to learn history is always through the stories of individuals and families. I learned so much about the history of the Korean diaspora and the complexities of the relationship between the Koreans and the Japanese from the colonial period forward. The story is beautiful, tragic and hopeful all at the same time.
leggup's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting book, though it dragged at times around certain characters. I did not know about the struggle of Korean-Japanese, especially in "the colonial era." Some of the characters were shoehorned in to make way for others.
sophieb2315's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't hate this book, but I found it a little underwhelming.