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mel_reads_too_much's review against another edition
4.0
I didnt expect this to be ACTUALLY historically accurate and yet here we are. Well written, compelling, and informative enough to be respectful and make me want to learn more independently.
This book is a tough read at times and needs several content warnings.
This book is a tough read at times and needs several content warnings.
denakg's review against another edition
5.0
It’s rare that a book brings me to tears. But this one did. Tough read though.
zikeyag's review against another edition
4.0
The reason why I gave this book 4 stars is because at times I got bored with the story. It felt like some parts were drawn out that didn’t need to be.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the storytelling and the history of Korea. I didn’t know there was a such thing as a Comfort Woman and that the Japanese treated the Koreans so poorly. They took children and had them “serve” their soldiers by having sex with them anytime they wanted . Ja-Hee stated that sometimes she had sex with almost 100 men a day every day for 2 years, unless they were out in battle. I was blown by this. I was also irritated that the Koreans who found out Ja-Hee’s history basically disowned her and didn’t want any associations when they found out about her past. She was a child! She was taken! She was forced, beaten, and threaten! They would rather her have died than dishonor their country, I guess because they were already ashamed enough that the Japanese had them in such a predicament, but she was a child and it wasn’t her fault. So that part of the story infuriated me.
I find it great that Anna (Ja-Young) decided to listen to Ja-Hee’s story and end up helping her at the end to meet her sister Soo-Hee. Anna being able to identify her roots and figure out who that part of her was is a big part of her identity. Just because she came from a loving adoptive family in America doesn’t mean she doesn’t long for THAT belonging. I’m assuming that’s how a majority of adopted children feel. Like something is missing.
I’m not sure if I want to read the next installment. It was interesting to learn the history, mannerisms, and the fact that they are descendants of the royals with the comb being passed down. I’m interested to find out how Anna serves Korea with the comb in tow, but I may take a break and come back to it. It took me a while to get through this one.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the storytelling and the history of Korea. I didn’t know there was a such thing as a Comfort Woman and that the Japanese treated the Koreans so poorly. They took children and had them “serve” their soldiers by having sex with them anytime they wanted . Ja-Hee stated that sometimes she had sex with almost 100 men a day every day for 2 years, unless they were out in battle. I was blown by this. I was also irritated that the Koreans who found out Ja-Hee’s history basically disowned her and didn’t want any associations when they found out about her past. She was a child! She was taken! She was forced, beaten, and threaten! They would rather her have died than dishonor their country, I guess because they were already ashamed enough that the Japanese had them in such a predicament, but she was a child and it wasn’t her fault. So that part of the story infuriated me.
I find it great that Anna (Ja-Young) decided to listen to Ja-Hee’s story and end up helping her at the end to meet her sister Soo-Hee. Anna being able to identify her roots and figure out who that part of her was is a big part of her identity. Just because she came from a loving adoptive family in America doesn’t mean she doesn’t long for THAT belonging. I’m assuming that’s how a majority of adopted children feel. Like something is missing.
I’m not sure if I want to read the next installment. It was interesting to learn the history, mannerisms, and the fact that they are descendants of the royals with the comb being passed down. I’m interested to find out how Anna serves Korea with the comb in tow, but I may take a break and come back to it. It took me a while to get through this one.
terrimarshall's review against another edition
5.0
This was a very good book. I learned a lot reading it about how the Japanese treated Korea during WWII, the politics of how North and South Korea came to be divided, Korean culture, and the oppression of women in Asian culture. It might be the best book I've read all year.
adl2990's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
educatedxicana's review against another edition
5.0
The history of the "comfort women" was just a footnote in my history class, I had no idea how devastating or how widespread the issue was. Between 1932 and 1945, Japan forced women from Korea, China, The Philippines and other occupied countries to become sex slaves. Some say the numbers of women are over 200,000. I rarely give 5 stars reviews but I feel this historical fiction piece is a must-read. The story was good and dealt with a very difficult subject well, without over doing it or making it unbearable to read.
renaplays's review against another edition
4.0
Good combination of context-setting and biography, although I never grew close to Wong. Important dissection of how the majority needs the Other.
mrspenningalovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This historical fiction read was traumatically beautiful- I folding a story of pain, strength, and survival despite the men who try to keep her down. It is a story I knew nothing about- in the Korean War history books, they choose not to include the horrific details of comfort women. “The Little seed split apart and began to climb to a world it could not see. Imagine the courage it had! It did not know what it would find when it broke through the surface... but the seed courageously pushed on so that one day it could become a beautiful flower. If you do not have courage, You will never blossom into the flower you were meant to be.”
bbyghoulreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
5.0
A harrowing, but incredible, story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, and Death of parent