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jenmeleon's review against another edition
1.0
This was not what I was expecting for a “coming of age” story. I didn’t feel like the main character had the kind of personal growth typical of those stories. It also wasn’t much of a love story. I’m not sure how I’d describe it, honestly. The narrative was disjointed and some of the main character’s dialogue (particularly when he was explaining something technical or historical) was long-winded. Normally I enjoy reading books that take me into another person’s head/culture that is so different from mine, but it was really hard for me to feel connected to the characters/plot (such as it was).
tsharris's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting if not entirely satisfying coming-of-age novel by a Zainichi Korean in Tokyo. Easy to see how this novel wound up being adapted for the screen.
fleurdelyssa's review against another edition
2.0
This year I have tried to read books written by people with different life experiences/ethnicities/nationalities than me... and that box was certainly checked with this book. I can certainly say that I've never put myself in the shoes of a Japanese/Korean teenager before. The book introduced me to many of the racial challenges that people face in Japan, I have never been exposed to the racial dynamics in that part of the world and I'm glad to have that door a bit more open. That said I'm glad that it was a short book, the writing was a bit tedious and the narrative was fairly boring (other than the anthropological references).
kate66's review against another edition
4.0
This book starts as a coming of age story about a young man growing up in Japan to parents who seem to spend most of their time ignoring each other.
However it's so much more than that due to uncertain nature of those born in Korea but who have Japanese residency. Korea was a Japanese territory until the war and afterwards the nature of legality of those born in Korea but who live or were born in Japan becomes very muddy. Suffice to say that those born in North Korea and their dependants are considered far below second class citizens.
The story evolves into a love story between Sugihara and Sakurai. Both born in Japan but she to Japanese parents and he to Korean parents (making him Zainichi). Sugihara has to fight many battles because of his status but he keeps his true identity secret from Sakurai because he knows her reaction will be less than favourable.
Sugihara tells us this is merely his love story but it's actually a very interesting look into racial problems in Japan.
However it's so much more than that due to uncertain nature of those born in Korea but who have Japanese residency. Korea was a Japanese territory until the war and afterwards the nature of legality of those born in Korea but who live or were born in Japan becomes very muddy. Suffice to say that those born in North Korea and their dependants are considered far below second class citizens.
The story evolves into a love story between Sugihara and Sakurai. Both born in Japan but she to Japanese parents and he to Korean parents (making him Zainichi). Sugihara has to fight many battles because of his status but he keeps his true identity secret from Sakurai because he knows her reaction will be less than favourable.
Sugihara tells us this is merely his love story but it's actually a very interesting look into racial problems in Japan.
kmcguinness's review against another edition
3.0
a vvv interesting short read that manages to tackle so many issues very well, loved how the narrative jumped frequently and the highlighting of many prevalent issues that impact everyday life
oneanjana's review against another edition
4.0
Reading GO was such an eye-opener for me. I didn’t read many Japan Literature before, so I don’t know if the racism issue in Japan is mentioned in other books.
GO tells a story about a young Korean descent live in Japan. Even though he was born and raised in Japan, the Japanese still see them as Zainichi (a Korean resident of Japan). So, they are seen and treated like a foreigner by the Japanese. This book also has so many literature and movie references, it’s so fun to know many more literature mentioned.
Although at the beginning he said that the story in this book was about his love story, but the romance isn’t mentioned much. For me, this book is more about what nationality means, how people often treat others differently based on their origins or maybe their physical appearance.
I like the part where our MC tells about the history of racism between Japanese and Korean people, also the part about DNA and tracing our roots from mother. This book also tells a lot about friendship, and the courage to embrace ‘who I am inside’ and have a firm stand on our own life principles even though it may be different from other people.
GO tells a story about a young Korean descent live in Japan. Even though he was born and raised in Japan, the Japanese still see them as Zainichi (a Korean resident of Japan). So, they are seen and treated like a foreigner by the Japanese. This book also has so many literature and movie references, it’s so fun to know many more literature mentioned.
Although at the beginning he said that the story in this book was about his love story, but the romance isn’t mentioned much. For me, this book is more about what nationality means, how people often treat others differently based on their origins or maybe their physical appearance.
I like the part where our MC tells about the history of racism between Japanese and Korean people, also the part about DNA and tracing our roots from mother. This book also tells a lot about friendship, and the courage to embrace ‘who I am inside’ and have a firm stand on our own life principles even though it may be different from other people.
disheveledfox's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, Go grabbed me from the very beginning! Normally, I can quickly pinpoint what it is about a book that sucks me in: the writing style, the plot, the characters, the topic. It’s normally the fulfilment of just one or two of these things that makes me an easily satisfied reader. With Go, it was every one of these individual parts that lead me to reading rapture.
Go is a coming of age story centered on the discrimination of Zainichi, residents of Japan who are of Korean descent. Although culturally assimilated, Japan keeps Koreans at arm’s length and effectively contained, limiting their prospects in life. Sugihara, a third-generation Zainichi in high school, tells his story (one which he asserts is a love story, though I didn’t find it terribly central) in first-person. So, interesting topic that I know nothing about? ✅
Sugihara is a school bruiser determined to break free of Japan’s discriminatory society. His inner dialogue is pure power fantasy with him pitted against the world. He’s intelligent, plucky, completely full of himself as only teenagers can be, and idealistic. Overall, a loveable asshole and a breath of fresh air. Relatable, compelling character? ✅ The brief glimpses we get of his parents are also fantastic!
The writing style is simple, direct, and funny. ✅✅✅ I loved how accessible it was and how efficiently the story was told. The only exception to this was Sugihara’s love of listing off all sorts of pop culture he was into: movies, books, music, you name it. A lot of it was from before my time, so I skimmed the lists as they didn’t add anything to the story. I think it just effectively showed how much energy teenagers put into trying to define themselves.
Go is a coming of age story centered on the discrimination of Zainichi, residents of Japan who are of Korean descent. Although culturally assimilated, Japan keeps Koreans at arm’s length and effectively contained, limiting their prospects in life. Sugihara, a third-generation Zainichi in high school, tells his story (one which he asserts is a love story, though I didn’t find it terribly central) in first-person. So, interesting topic that I know nothing about? ✅
Sugihara is a school bruiser determined to break free of Japan’s discriminatory society. His inner dialogue is pure power fantasy with him pitted against the world. He’s intelligent, plucky, completely full of himself as only teenagers can be, and idealistic. Overall, a loveable asshole and a breath of fresh air. Relatable, compelling character? ✅ The brief glimpses we get of his parents are also fantastic!
The writing style is simple, direct, and funny. ✅✅✅ I loved how accessible it was and how efficiently the story was told. The only exception to this was Sugihara’s love of listing off all sorts of pop culture he was into: movies, books, music, you name it. A lot of it was from before my time, so I skimmed the lists as they didn’t add anything to the story. I think it just effectively showed how much energy teenagers put into trying to define themselves.
pearloz's review against another edition
4.0
Despite my initial sneering at a plot device (the sudden appearance of a manic pixie dream girl that no one knows and only has eyes for our protagonist), this turned out to be a short blast of a book. Fun high school melodramas (exams, schoolyard fights, friendships, other friendships w/ gay undertones, romance, familial strain) mixed with more "serious" literary topics (history of war, displacement, identity, dual identity, triple identity).
The heart of the book, for me, was the romance--no matter it's contrived beginnings, I really enjoyed reading about these kids fall in love with each other, explore each other's Western obsessions (Jazz, American film, literature), they are a charming couple of high school pseudo-intellectuals (but not really bc our protagonist, along with getting into all the stuff a Freshman Lit/Philosophy major would be into, reads prodigiously about historical and scientific topics) who are made for each other.
Their "'You-lied-to-me'-in-the-rain" moment comes at the most inopportune time, as they are about to consummate their relationship--and he confesses his true origins. The moment is handled with exactly the kind of drama you'd expect from a high school romance. The resolution was charming and true.
One of the other--themes?--running through the book was violence and fighting, which also seems very high school. Our protagonist fights and bests all comers at school, is a bouncer at a party, has a long history of boxing and fighting with his father. This also has a resolution that felt true.
I had a great time reading this book.
The heart of the book, for me, was the romance--no matter it's contrived beginnings, I really enjoyed reading about these kids fall in love with each other, explore each other's Western obsessions (Jazz, American film, literature), they are a charming couple of high school pseudo-intellectuals (but not really bc our protagonist, along with getting into all the stuff a Freshman Lit/Philosophy major would be into, reads prodigiously about historical and scientific topics) who are made for each other.
Their "'You-lied-to-me'-in-the-rain" moment comes at the most inopportune time, as they are about to consummate their relationship--and he confesses his true origins. The moment is handled with exactly the kind of drama you'd expect from a high school romance. The resolution was charming and true.
One of the other--themes?--running through the book was violence and fighting, which also seems very high school. Our protagonist fights and bests all comers at school, is a bouncer at a party, has a long history of boxing and fighting with his father. This also has a resolution that felt true.
I had a great time reading this book.
3kojou's review against another edition
5.0
i really enjoyed this. i knew that koreans were discriminated against in japan, but i never knew about 'zainichi' or that there were korean schools or a lot of other things in this book. i learned a lot reading this and on top of that i enjoyed the book itself and what it said and meant. very good