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alywaly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, War, and Violence
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This historical fiction begins in 1917 and spans the years and aftermath of the Japanese occupation of Korea. We follow multiple characters (most notably Jung-Ho and Jade) as they navigate new realities and surviving amidst poverty and low class stature.
I was thoroughly impressed that this was the author's debut work (not to say that authors have not been writing and perfecting their craft for a while before being published) - the writing was lush, vividly descriptive, and every sentence flowed beautifully. I really am in awe of her writing!
I read this with my coworkers for a book club, and felt it was a great read to ruminate on sexism, misogyny (wrt looking down on "working women," not just sex workers, but how that translates to today), colonialism, class, wealth, and more. I will absolutely be reading more from this author.
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Rape, Addiction, Colonisation, and Violence
grundgezhet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Juhea Kim cruelly writes a beautiful novel whereas the heroine is fated to go through miseries and pain all throughout their life, while the villain is thriving due to their ambition and cold nature.
While the writing is poetic and beautifully done, the pessimistic approach to the plotlines are one of the reason as to me not giving it a 4 star rate.
Graphic: Rape and War
sarahb919's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual assault, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Misogyny, Addiction, Domestic abuse, War, Sexual violence, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mass/school shootings, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Ableism, Terminal illness, Violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Colonisation, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts
aliciawithoutkeys's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: War, Violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape
materiality's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Xenophobia, Colonisation, Sexual assault, Violence, Rape, War, and Racism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
public_nuisance's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
3.25
Graphic: Sexual harassment, War, Rape, and Sexual assault
romcomapologist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Addiction and Rape
hinoki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really like "saga" books that follow multiple characters (usually a family) over a long period of time. But I feel that this book didn't work. I didn't care about any of the characters or what they were up to.
This book is full of tired beliefs about het relationships and is obsessed with women's beauty, or the lack of it. This really feels like it was written in the 90s. It reminds me of the worst parts of Practical Magic (the book.)
This book takes place in early 20th Korea during the Japanese occupation. For me, the joy of reading historical fiction is learning about a different place/time and the people who lived there. I didn't really get that from this book. I didn't learn much about Korea. The occupation was too far in the background.
I also thought it was very strange that there was no mention of "comfort women" (women sold into sexual slavery by the Japanese) maybe it wasn't as wide spread or I have the time period wrong???
It really doesn't help that I just finished Little by Edward Carey. Which is a a book where tons of tragic things happen to the characters, and there isn't really a happy ending, but it works. Everything felt heavy and meaningful where the events in this book are just meh.
I will say that I really liked the epilogue
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Pedophilia
tumbly_weed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Grief, War, and Colonisation
Moderate: Pregnancy, Police brutality, Violence, Sexual violence, and Rape
Minor: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, and Addiction