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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
This novel is a tour de force that encompasses the lives of several generations within a single Korean family. Beginning in the early 1900's and spanning to the end of the 1980's, there were so many historical elements covered within a family member that it was absolutely enlightening and tragic all at once.
When teenage Sunja gets pregnant by a married man, she is left with either being shamed or being the mistress of her lover. Sunja choses neither, as she is offered the safety of marriage by a Korean Christian minister passing on his way through her village onto Japan. Daring to take a chance on Isak, the minister, Sunja then follows him to Japan where she begins a family with her son by another man and her son by Isak. So begins two lines of family members and a whirlwind of historical implications. At the time Sunja and Isak go to Japan, Korea is under Japanese control, and as their sons grow with WWII raging relations for Koreans in Japan grow rocky. After the war, as Korea declares independence and then wars within itself, splitting into north and south, Sunja and her family find themselves stuck in Japan, unable to return to Korea. For Korea does not want them back, as they have stayed too long in Japan, and yet Japan does not want them since they are Korean. The racist and cultural instigations in this novel was paramount and illuminating. To read of all that Sunja and her family suffered for being Koreans in Japan was heartbreaking, as they were tormented, teased, and rejected from basic rights despite being in Japan for generations. When her sons enter the world of Pachinko parlors (gambling houses), managing and owning locations, the image of them being rich from gambling Koreans is instilled despite their honesty in the business. This novel was a beautiful colloquy of how perspectives can be wrong and that life is a gamble. I felt such happiness and pain in the relationships Sunja had with her sons, all the good and bad that happened to each of them. She really did her best with everything, to rise up from nothing to owning her own confection store. The women in this novel was astounding as well, an array of powerful, broken, spiteful, and beautiful women. The men were relatively steady, get an education (or not) and get a job to support their family. But the women were all over the place and it was wonderful to read of such strong, broken, tormented, and happy women throughout war and racial hatred. I couldn't get enough of this family, of all the choices they made and all that happened to them.
This novel was truly an epic timeline of history and a single family. To read of Koreans in Japan was a unique story that blended cultures and experiences. Sunja's family was written with such emotion and clarity that I felt they were real at times. I absolutely enjoyed everything about this novel.
When teenage Sunja gets pregnant by a married man, she is left with either being shamed or being the mistress of her lover. Sunja choses neither, as she is offered the safety of marriage by a Korean Christian minister passing on his way through her village onto Japan. Daring to take a chance on Isak, the minister, Sunja then follows him to Japan where she begins a family with her son by another man and her son by Isak. So begins two lines of family members and a whirlwind of historical implications. At the time Sunja and Isak go to Japan, Korea is under Japanese control, and as their sons grow with WWII raging relations for Koreans in Japan grow rocky. After the war, as Korea declares independence and then wars within itself, splitting into north and south, Sunja and her family find themselves stuck in Japan, unable to return to Korea. For Korea does not want them back, as they have stayed too long in Japan, and yet Japan does not want them since they are Korean. The racist and cultural instigations in this novel was paramount and illuminating. To read of all that Sunja and her family suffered for being Koreans in Japan was heartbreaking, as they were tormented, teased, and rejected from basic rights despite being in Japan for generations. When her sons enter the world of Pachinko parlors (gambling houses), managing and owning locations, the image of them being rich from gambling Koreans is instilled despite their honesty in the business. This novel was a beautiful colloquy of how perspectives can be wrong and that life is a gamble. I felt such happiness and pain in the relationships Sunja had with her sons, all the good and bad that happened to each of them. She really did her best with everything, to rise up from nothing to owning her own confection store. The women in this novel was astounding as well, an array of powerful, broken, spiteful, and beautiful women. The men were relatively steady, get an education (or not) and get a job to support their family. But the women were all over the place and it was wonderful to read of such strong, broken, tormented, and happy women throughout war and racial hatred. I couldn't get enough of this family, of all the choices they made and all that happened to them.
This novel was truly an epic timeline of history and a single family. To read of Koreans in Japan was a unique story that blended cultures and experiences. Sunja's family was written with such emotion and clarity that I felt they were real at times. I absolutely enjoyed everything about this novel.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
I learned about what it was like to live as a Korean in Japan in the 20th century. Writing very formal and dry. Difficult to connect with characters. This one is 2 stars along the lines of Four Winds while Covenant of Water is 5 stars. Do not recommend
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
i could listen to pachinko be discussed to death and never get bored
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spoiler
As a reader, I wish there was a consolation to all the harshness that this family endured. I wish that were was a little bit more happiness to balance all the sadness out. But then, I don't know if it would be as incredible.EDIT: After thinking about it a bit, I’ve come to the conclusion that my actual rating for it will be 4 stars. I still consider it amazing, but
Spoiler
there is barely any payoff for all the pain
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes