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nirna_fairuzati's review
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mckenzie_reads's review
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.25
While I liked the concept, the writing was very dry and felt more like a series of facts being stated rather than a story being told.
lacyann's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
theeuphoriczat's review against another edition
4.0
"However, a mother doesn't have the power to determine the life of her children just because she has, she says, devoted her life to them."
Begins in 1917, were we meet three Korean women who decide to marry men they had never met on the world of a woman in their village. All three women have reasons for leaving home, one of them a young widow (Hongju), another the granddaughter of a shaman (Songhwa) and one (Willow) hoping that Hawaii would be the place the education that she cannot get in Korea. All three of them board the ship to Hawaii but on arrival, their husbands have a different disposition to there picture. Hongju's groom is 20 years older than his picture, Songhwa's groom is a drunkard and Willow's groom looks like his picture but he does not want her because he has loved and lost.
Through the events of the book, we follow them as they settle into their lives in Hawaii, with frequent relocations; all their dreams and hopes are dashed and rebuilt; they lost loved ones and built a community; and when they began to have children, they pushed for them to be better and in doing so ruined and built bridges.
I really enjoyed this book. It is one of those quiet books that just packs a mighty punch. And because it is an historical novel, we get to see the impact of so many wars on the family's represented in this book and the community they built to protect themselves. The book explores motherhood, family, culture, race and most importantly friendship.
Begins in 1917, were we meet three Korean women who decide to marry men they had never met on the world of a woman in their village. All three women have reasons for leaving home, one of them a young widow (Hongju), another the granddaughter of a shaman (Songhwa) and one (Willow) hoping that Hawaii would be the place the education that she cannot get in Korea. All three of them board the ship to Hawaii but on arrival, their husbands have a different disposition to there picture. Hongju's groom is 20 years older than his picture, Songhwa's groom is a drunkard and Willow's groom looks like his picture but he does not want her because he has loved and lost.
Through the events of the book, we follow them as they settle into their lives in Hawaii, with frequent relocations; all their dreams and hopes are dashed and rebuilt; they lost loved ones and built a community; and when they began to have children, they pushed for them to be better and in doing so ruined and built bridges.
I really enjoyed this book. It is one of those quiet books that just packs a mighty punch. And because it is an historical novel, we get to see the impact of so many wars on the family's represented in this book and the community they built to protect themselves. The book explores motherhood, family, culture, race and most importantly friendship.
starrysea98's review
2.0
it was fine until part 3.
i had never heard of picture brides before and found the entire premise of this novel interesting. however, the execution did not live up to the summary but was enough to keep me hooked. i was really rooting for willow! but then came problem #1.
willow is so … a product of her times. okay i get it, she doesn’t know any better right but the way she blames herself for things outside of her control or the way she’s so naive is so frustrating. i understand she’s like this bc of her upbringing and the time period this was set in, but damn, it’s thoroughly infuriating.
next, i was hoping we would see more of the relationship progression between willow and taewan, especially after her explosion at him. no. we get a few bare minimum lines: “we started to get closer and evenings became more affectionate.” i’m paraphrasing but yeah, those were basically what we got. they went from 0 to 100 and we didn’t get to experience it with willow.
finally, the icing on the cake: pearl’s POV shoved in at the end. what the actual fuck? we’ve been with willow for so many chapters of her life and then suddenly, we are thrust into pearl’s perspective, who is the most annoying brat i’ve ever had the displeasure of reading. i don’t care about her and her boyfriend trouble, i don’t care about her wanting to be american. (side note but how the fuck did pearl and willow communicate when she was growing up if willow can’t speak english and pearl speaks broken korean? lmao) i want to know willow’s story, not hers! i hated this part so much but i couldn’t skip it bc it was the ending.
the good parts: like i said, i didn’t know anything about picture brides before and i really enjoyed learning about them. willow and old mr. so’s relationship was also lovely and i’m glad she had him to support her. also hongjoo and songhwa’s friendship with her are so precious!
i had never heard of picture brides before and found the entire premise of this novel interesting. however, the execution did not live up to the summary but was enough to keep me hooked. i was really rooting for willow! but then came problem #1.
willow is so … a product of her times. okay i get it, she doesn’t know any better right but the way she blames herself for things outside of her control or the way she’s so naive is so frustrating. i understand she’s like this bc of her upbringing and the time period this was set in, but damn, it’s thoroughly infuriating.
next, i was hoping we would see more of the relationship progression between willow and taewan, especially after her explosion at him. no. we get a few bare minimum lines: “we started to get closer and evenings became more affectionate.” i’m paraphrasing but yeah, those were basically what we got. they went from 0 to 100 and we didn’t get to experience it with willow.
finally, the icing on the cake: pearl’s POV shoved in at the end. what the actual fuck? we’ve been with willow for so many chapters of her life and then suddenly, we are thrust into pearl’s perspective, who is the most annoying brat i’ve ever had the displeasure of reading. i don’t care about her and her boyfriend trouble, i don’t care about her wanting to be american. (side note but how the fuck did pearl and willow communicate when she was growing up if willow can’t speak english and pearl speaks broken korean? lmao) i want to know willow’s story, not hers! i hated this part so much but i couldn’t skip it bc it was the ending.
the good parts: like i said, i didn’t know anything about picture brides before and i really enjoyed learning about them. willow and old mr. so’s relationship was also lovely and i’m glad she had him to support her. also hongjoo and songhwa’s friendship with her are so precious!
nishalovesbooks's review
informative
reflective
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
books_inthewild's review
4.0
As a lover of historical fiction, I truly enjoyed reading this novel of a new time & place in history I haven’t read much of before. The story of Korean picture brides immigrating to Hawaii for a better life was so inspiring, heart breaking, and interesting.
The character of Willow, and her relationship with her friends (more like sisters) Hongju and Songhwa, was a beautiful way to frame their stories & journey. I admired their strength throughout, and their loyalty to one another.
My only critique was that sometimes it felt about more like a non-fiction history text when describing the politics of Korea at that time. I found most of the information interesting, but at times it distracted a bit from the story.
Thank you to the Forge publicity and the author for an advanced Uncorrected copy of this book through goodreads.
The character of Willow, and her relationship with her friends (more like sisters) Hongju and Songhwa, was a beautiful way to frame their stories & journey. I admired their strength throughout, and their loyalty to one another.
My only critique was that sometimes it felt about more like a non-fiction history text when describing the politics of Korea at that time. I found most of the information interesting, but at times it distracted a bit from the story.
Thank you to the Forge publicity and the author for an advanced Uncorrected copy of this book through goodreads.
irgendwieantonia's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
tolutolu9597's review against another edition
emotional
informative
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? It's complicated
3.5
Someone once said Historical Fiction is so full of women's suffering and I don't enjoy that.
I think these days I agree - while the book itself is okay, I feel like I am so exhausted by these books that are so full of women's suffering.
Are they important stories to tell? Yes.
Do I enjoy the history that can be gleaned from between the lines? Also Yes
Would I prefer to read these books in a non-fictionalised account - perhaps...
Ah this was an interesting book - reminiscent of Pachinko type novels (but in my opinion not quite as good).
i am rambling at this point so...anyways,
3.5 rounded down...
I think these days I agree - while the book itself is okay, I feel like I am so exhausted by these books that are so full of women's suffering.
Are they important stories to tell? Yes.
Do I enjoy the history that can be gleaned from between the lines? Also Yes
Would I prefer to read these books in a non-fictionalised account - perhaps...
Ah this was an interesting book - reminiscent of Pachinko type novels (but in my opinion not quite as good).
i am rambling at this point so...anyways,
3.5 rounded down...
josephineadorni's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
3.5