Reviews

A Gesture Life by Chang-rae Lee

bookrec's review against another edition

3.0

The title aptly reflects Doc’s life. He just seems to be going through the motions. He lives for what others may think - of him, his house, his family, his job. He is Japanese and his thoughts truly feel like those of a Japanese man. Maybe because he isn’t really living his life, I don’t feel a strong desire to know him. The only interesting part is his war years, which he is not overly involved in either.

shortdiv's review against another edition

4.0

I wasn't a huge fan of the jarring juxtaposition of Dr Hata as a soldier during the war and as an older retired man. It shed some light on his character but was not developed enough to add to his character development. However, I enjoyed the progression of his relationship with his daughter and of Dr Hata's relations with other people and his introspective dealings with mortality. A poignant read that grips at your heartstrings.

clarissawrites's review against another edition

dark emotional relaxing sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

it's haunting, seeing someone disassociate with themselves. force themselves to assimilate until they're left as a shell. see them repeat the same mistake again because their trauma is unresolved. watch the horrific history of korean comfort women.

this book is just so, so shocking, and so raw.

frances's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

2000s's review against another edition

3.0

The writing style was a little too reflective and flat for me, and the pacing felt too slow for most of the book but too fast in the pivotal moments towards the end. I wasn't totally invested in any of the characters except maybe Sunny....the protagonist was annoying to me, especially in the end when he was in the Korean War and made some questionable decisions. Some genuinely haunting moments but they were pretty scarce. 

fitzbff's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.5

This is one of those rare books where I don't really know what to say about it. I had to read this for uni, wasn't expecting a whole lot, but as I was reading I found myself more and more entranced by this novel. We follow an elderly Korean man, adopted by a Japanese family, who now lives in a suburban American town. He remembers and narrates his experiences both in the war and as a father. Throughout this interesting non-linear telling, we see how his attitude towards his daughter was shaped by his hard experiences in the war, and how these experiences still affect him to this day. It's a fascinating and rich character study, not willing to forgive anyone of wrongs they've committed, but also deeply human and empathic. The novel toes this line quite skilfully, as it paints a holistic picture of our protagonist, leaving the reader to deliver any judgement. A must-read for any character-driven readers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Death, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Sexism

ogyogamom's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I wanted to like this book. The writing is lovely and I don’t mind a slow-paced read. But I was just so bored. 

americancrow's review against another edition

3.0

i read this book because of its publication date, being a novel centering around an immigrant experience just ahead of the turn of the millennium and 9/11. perhaps if i had read it in 1999 i would have been more struck, but unfortunately the term that comes most readily to mind on reading is pedestrian. i forced myself to finish so i could check it off here, but could have and would have put it down at almost any point. i really did not care how things ended for any of the characters.

the accounts of the war camps are interesting. 

duffymn's review against another edition

4.0

Deliberate, strong writing about the unraveling life—physically and emotionally. Gorgeous, slow prose.

delimeatz's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

a lovely little book, by an author im becoming quite fond of. very reflective and deeply melancholy at times