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bellatora's review
4.0
This is the fictionalized version of the lives of Park’s parents. Her father, Sei-Young Shin, was born in the rural South to a poor family. Her mother, Heisook Pang, was the daughter of a wealthy minister in the North.
The writing here is serviceable – not beautiful, not poetic, but it works. The story itself is very interesting, and unfortunately not something I’ve read any other fiction about. The Japanese occupation of Korea was gruesome and devastating. There was forced recruitment, there were rapes, and there was murder of civilians. The Japanese attempted to forcibly eliminate Korean culture – the citizens had to take Japanese names, speak Japanese in school, and learn Japanese history. Heisook is conflicted, because her sweet Japanese teacher is kinda and patient with her. But at the same she time preaches and believes the same imperialist creed that Heisook's beloved brother deplores. It is also the same imperialism that eventually drafts Heisook's brother for fighting for a country he views as oppressors. Her brother runs away, and she can never look at her Japanese teacher the same way again. Sei-Young, because his family needs the money, begins working for a kindly Japanese farmer. Yes, the Japanese farmer took over land formerly owned by Koreans. But he is also just a normal human being who sought a better life for himself. He later risks his life to protect Sei-Young and his family. If this book shows anything, it’s that humans are complicated.
The most exciting part of this book is when Heisook escapes North Korea – she literally dodges bullets as she swims across the river to the South. She is utterly alone – her father has already crossed over, and her mother refuses to leave their home because she believes that her son might return. The terror of a teenager escaping her shattered homeland and facing death without any family or friends by her side is keenly felt and nicely handled.
I will say that despite the fact that this book was based on a real romance and marriage, I didn’t feel any sparks between Sei-Young and Heisook. I mean, I’m sure they were there in real life, but it was too dry for me to feel it. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it overall and was glad I read it.
The writing here is serviceable – not beautiful, not poetic, but it works. The story itself is very interesting, and unfortunately not something I’ve read any other fiction about. The Japanese occupation of Korea was gruesome and devastating. There was forced recruitment, there were rapes, and there was murder of civilians. The Japanese attempted to forcibly eliminate Korean culture – the citizens had to take Japanese names, speak Japanese in school, and learn Japanese history. Heisook is conflicted, because her sweet Japanese teacher is kinda and patient with her. But at the same she time preaches and believes the same imperialist creed that Heisook's beloved brother deplores. It is also the same imperialism that eventually drafts Heisook's brother for fighting for a country he views as oppressors. Her brother runs away, and she can never look at her Japanese teacher the same way again. Sei-Young, because his family needs the money, begins working for a kindly Japanese farmer. Yes, the Japanese farmer took over land formerly owned by Koreans. But he is also just a normal human being who sought a better life for himself. He later risks his life to protect Sei-Young and his family. If this book shows anything, it’s that humans are complicated.
The most exciting part of this book is when Heisook escapes North Korea – she literally dodges bullets as she swims across the river to the South. She is utterly alone – her father has already crossed over, and her mother refuses to leave their home because she believes that her son might return. The terror of a teenager escaping her shattered homeland and facing death without any family or friends by her side is keenly felt and nicely handled.
I will say that despite the fact that this book was based on a real romance and marriage, I didn’t feel any sparks between Sei-Young and Heisook. I mean, I’m sure they were there in real life, but it was too dry for me to feel it. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it overall and was glad I read it.
purrito620's review
3.0
Writing was rather plain, but the story was compelling. Taught me a lot of Korean history that I did not previously know. You feel for these characters and the suffering they experienced, despite the basic narration.
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