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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Ebook, Audiobook (both available through Kindle Unlimited)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Asian Literature
I really enjoyed this exploration of the Korean experience in 1930’s Japan. Miyoung was a lovable protagonist that I was rooting for. I appreciated the detail put into developing her as a character and I liked getting to follow her throughout different stages of her life. I didn’t know a lot about this period of history in Korea/Japan and felt like I was learning a lot. The ongoing discussion of identity and culture and the tension between loving one’s home but feeling like you have to hide parts of yourself to fit in was so interesting. The personal connection the author had to the story made it so sweet to read.
The only issue I had was the simplicity of the writing. It wasn’t bad at all, but it was very straightforward and plain and that occasionally made me feel detached from the characters and the tension that existed between Miyoung and the rest of the world. While I felt connected to Mijoung, I felt like parts of Mijoung’s family didn’t get the same development and I felt disconnected from them, especially Hojoon and the sister she lives with. The dialogue was sometimes stilted and there were some missed opportunities to imbue personality into the conversations between the characters.
This isn’t a perfect book but I was invested from the beginning and always rooting for Miyoung. If you like historical fiction and Asian lit, I would definitely recommend this.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This was an interesting book but I was not in love with it. I did appreciate the author’s note where she mentioned this was based off her grandmother’s story!
dark
emotional
inspiring
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:
Complicated
I didn't know what to expect from this book, but I enjoyed the chance to experience the lived experiences of people in an area and time that aren't regularly featured in the books I read. I clearly need to go beyond the familiar books I tend to read.
slow paced, not a fan of the writing style
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Loved this book, from the first page I was hooked. Loved the main character and felt all her struggles
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
I was so intrigued by this book and went completely blind into it. This was not a normal read for me and I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The story of Miyoung was memorable and relatble to me!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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