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sanjubee's review against another edition
5.0
This book is like a brilliant family portrait. The whole story is so engrossing, each character so complex, each tragedy is heart-breaking and each step forward a triumph. Lee's writing truly captures the reality of life for Koreans in Japan. This book deserves its acclaim and is sure to become a classic must-read.
soyboysimon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Every once in a while I come across a book that I absolutely devour. It resonates, hits the right mood at the right time, and I find myself losing sleep to keep getting lost in the story. This was one of those books for me.
To watch this family over four generations go from having so little and loving so much to having so much and loving so little was heartbreaking. All of the hardships endured to make a better life for your children, who then do the same for their children, over and over, it was fascinating.
Shocking, devastating, and beautiful. I'll still be thinking about this one years from now, thats how you know its a good book.
To watch this family over four generations go from having so little and loving so much to having so much and loving so little was heartbreaking. All of the hardships endured to make a better life for your children, who then do the same for their children, over and over, it was fascinating.
Shocking, devastating, and beautiful. I'll still be thinking about this one years from now, thats how you know its a good book.
sroberts2's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
Beautiful story of a family over many generations. Very good antagonists
lgrewe's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
amycanread_'s review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
Definitely one of the heaviest books I have read. Took me a long time to finish because it was pretty emotionally draining at times.
A story spanning 4 generations of a Korean family tree branching across Korea, Japan, and America. Begins in Korea under Japanese rule, then to Japan at the time deeply unwelcoming to Koreans, then peeks into an American-born Korean perspective. I’m not super familiar with the Japan Korea annexation and I actually learned a lot of history without taking away from the plot.
The love of the mothers and grandmothers and aunts of this book is so tender and deep for the children we watch grow up. A sense of desperately loving the children into a better life than the adults had. The book illustrates loss in an interesting way, characters tend to die off quietly and quickly, and they are not immediately mourned. But there’s often this sense of quiet grief throughout the story.
This book does such a good job at showing the immigrant struggle and hustle without being hyperbolic. It’s specific - Sunja selling her kimchi in broken Japanese, Noa’s shame in his Korean blood, Mozasu’s close bonds with some Japanese people despite the wider prejudice… I think the specificity of each character’s struggles makes it feel so real.
Definitely one of the heaviest books I have read. Took me a long time to finish because it was pretty emotionally draining at times.
A story spanning 4 generations of a Korean family tree branching across Korea, Japan, and America. Begins in Korea under Japanese rule, then to Japan at the time deeply unwelcoming to Koreans, then peeks into an American-born Korean perspective. I’m not super familiar with the Japan Korea annexation and I actually learned a lot of history without taking away from the plot.
The love of the mothers and grandmothers and aunts of this book is so tender and deep for the children we watch grow up. A sense of desperately loving the children into a better life than the adults had. The book illustrates loss in an interesting way, characters tend to die off quietly and quickly, and they are not immediately mourned. But there’s often this sense of quiet grief throughout the story.
This book does such a good job at showing the immigrant struggle and hustle without being hyperbolic. It’s specific - Sunja selling her kimchi in broken Japanese, Noa’s shame in his Korean blood, Mozasu’s close bonds with some Japanese people despite the wider prejudice… I think the specificity of each character’s struggles makes it feel so real.
kan681's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
aslireekers's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
abitofmoxie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
whitneymarielove's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0