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pawstoodream's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
mayav_p's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amandajeanne's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kamrynjo's review
25 pages in i was bored and could tell i probably wouldn’t like it more than 2/3 stars. i’m not a big historical fiction reader
mrpitmansgranddaughter's review against another edition
3.0
Synopsis wise this book is without a doubt up my street. Old Hollywood Glamour combined with a part of history that both fascinates me and horrifies me at the same time. How could these two worlds possibly collide?
Alice's story is horrific and while you cannot comprehend her experiences, it makes her evident troubles understandable. I really enjoyed the switches between Alice's past and the current day, encouraging the reader to keep going as we are drip-fed information and teased with the truth behind Alice. This is the second (Japanese/Korean translated) book that I wish was double the size. If that was the case I could see this book being an easy 4star or more.
I desperately wanted more depth in the relationship and communication between Alice and Marilyn. There was such potential for this relationship to be vitally important to Alice and potentially also Marilyn. These are two incredibly different women who suffered incredible pain.
This leads me to not being sure what this book is, with elements of historical fiction, spy and mystery themes and friendship and life. It was all of those and it was also not those.
What this book does brilliantly is to describe the heartbreak and horror of a war described as the forgotten war. As a warning, some of the scenes described are incredibly difficult to read, but it has continued my pledge to learn more about Asian history so that it isn't considered forgotten.
Overall it is a quick read, with huge potential. I would give nothing more than to pick this book up again but with a couple hundred more pages and to get lost in the clash of two very different worlds.
Alice's story is horrific and while you cannot comprehend her experiences, it makes her evident troubles understandable. I really enjoyed the switches between Alice's past and the current day, encouraging the reader to keep going as we are drip-fed information and teased with the truth behind Alice. This is the second (Japanese/Korean translated) book that I wish was double the size. If that was the case I could see this book being an easy 4star or more.
I desperately wanted more depth in the relationship and communication between Alice and Marilyn. There was such potential for this relationship to be vitally important to Alice and potentially also Marilyn. These are two incredibly different women who suffered incredible pain.
This leads me to not being sure what this book is, with elements of historical fiction, spy and mystery themes and friendship and life. It was all of those and it was also not those.
What this book does brilliantly is to describe the heartbreak and horror of a war described as the forgotten war. As a warning, some of the scenes described are incredibly difficult to read, but it has continued my pledge to learn more about Asian history so that it isn't considered forgotten.
Overall it is a quick read, with huge potential. I would give nothing more than to pick this book up again but with a couple hundred more pages and to get lost in the clash of two very different worlds.
redrecluse's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t understand why this book has such a low rating. This was a truly beautiful novel.
But if you’re here for Marilyn Monroe, this is not your book.
This is the story of Alice and her life and her struggles during the Korean War. The brutality and hardships faced by the Korean people at this time is truly felt through Alice’s story. She explains everything in such a vivid way.
What I liked most about this story was the end. When it started I thought it might be more about Marliyn and how she saved this girl. And I didn’t want that. I wanted Alice to save herself. And she did. Sure, she says it’s because of Marilyn. But it’s not. It’s because she found the strength inside herself to move forward with her life.
What a beautiful story.
But if you’re here for Marilyn Monroe, this is not your book.
This is the story of Alice and her life and her struggles during the Korean War. The brutality and hardships faced by the Korean people at this time is truly felt through Alice’s story. She explains everything in such a vivid way.
What I liked most about this story was the end. When it started I thought it might be more about Marliyn and how she saved this girl. And I didn’t want that. I wanted Alice to save herself. And she did. Sure, she says it’s because of Marilyn. But it’s not. It’s because she found the strength inside herself to move forward with her life.
What a beautiful story.
ghostgurl's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't get far into this book, I found it boring and not for me. I may try reading it again, but it's not likely.
kdurham2's review against another edition
3.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Alice J Kim is living in a post war Korea and although it has been a year since it has ended, she and everyone else is still trying to figure out the new normal and how life will eventually look for them. While she is working at a job as an interpreter she gets an interesting opportunity to help with the visit of Marilyn Monroe and the interactions between these women was fun to imagine!
Alice J Kim is living in a post war Korea and although it has been a year since it has ended, she and everyone else is still trying to figure out the new normal and how life will eventually look for them. While she is working at a job as an interpreter she gets an interesting opportunity to help with the visit of Marilyn Monroe and the interactions between these women was fun to imagine!
lfinkenkeller's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book for a book discussion group. I liked the book, and I loved its premise of a Korean woman who knows English escorting Marilyn Monroe on her trip to Korea to visit the troops during the Korean War. Beauty and ugliness are contrasted in this book in so many ways. There is is obvious beauty of Marilyn Monroe contrasted with Alice, the book's main character, who has premature gray hair and burnt hands from her war experiences. Then there is the ugliness of war and how that has caused Alice to see no beauty in anyone, any place, or anything. However, she still longs for that beauty as evidenced when she says at the beginning of Chapter 1 that “Those who endure have a chance at beauty…I have been testing that theory for the last few years." This is a story of Alice's search for the beuaty that is within her.