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gracereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
hannxm's review against another edition
5.0
I feel like this is a book everyone must read. It was a well written book that opens your eyes to the story of the comfort women, something that I'm sure a lot of people weren't aware of. The author is doing them a great justice by sharing their story with the world.
I'm glad I found this book because it introduced me to the author and I have the third book in the series to read now which I'm looking forward to. It introduced me to the genre of historical fiction which I really like.
It's rare for a book to grab my attention and keep me wanting to read further.
And despite what others have said, I like the way the author writes.
I'm glad I found this book because it introduced me to the author and I have the third book in the series to read now which I'm looking forward to. It introduced me to the genre of historical fiction which I really like.
It's rare for a book to grab my attention and keep me wanting to read further.
And despite what others have said, I like the way the author writes.
juliekreddy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
lauramac78's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
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? Yes
4.0
thelexingtonbookie's review against another edition
5.0
Trigger warning: the following book and book review involves crime, murder, rape, and abuse.
I love reading about different cultures, so when I was starting my kindle collection, I downloaded this for free, thinking it sounded interesting. As I read, I found myself taking little side trips to the world wide web to educate myself on some unfamiliar Korean customs, such as binyeo (ornate hair pins), hanboks (traditional formal dresses), and their zodiac animals (I’m a Goat!)
Anna is a young Korean woman who was adopted by her American parents at birth. After the loss of her adoptive mother, she decides to look into her past and find her birth mother. With her father’s support and acceptance, they fly to Korean to meet Anna’s bio-mom, only to learn that she passed away during childbirth. Just when Anna thought her search hit an end, a woman passes her a mysterious message- a fine, fancy hair comb and an address to meet a woman who seems to have some answers about Anna’s past. Unsure but intrigued, and again with her father’s blessing, she decides to pay the woman a visit.
Over many cups of bori cha, the woman, Hong Jae-hee, reveals her connection to Anna, and explains the meaning behind the elaborate comb. It’s a gruesome tale of heartache and loss that started with World War II and the Japanese occupation in which the woman, then a girl of fourteen, was ordered from her home and sent to be a comfort woman in China during the war. After losing her innocence, her will to live, and her family, the woman escapes back to her home, only to find out there is nothing left for her there. Desperate to leave her past behind her, she seeks refuge with a man named Jin-mo, travels to Pyongyang, and aids the Korean government as the North and South attempt to agree on how to run their country as one. When the two halves of Korean refuse to yield to each other, Jae-hee knows she is no longer safe staying in North Korea. Making another run for her life, she crosses the border to South Korea- pregnant, malnourished, and destitute. Restarting her life again, her multi-lingual abilities give her an opportunity to support herself and child.
Andrew mesmerized me with Jae-hee’s story, and gave me so much more insight on Korean culture and history. In my school days, the Korean War wasn’t covered in much detail, so it was always a vague concept to me. Reading about what it was like from a citizen stand point gave me so much more perspective. Although the reasoning behind Jae-hee’s travel is devastating and difficult in process, I liked that it made me pull out a map and get familiar with Korean geography. I found it extremely interesting that when you try to google directions from North to South Korea, the routes aren’t available. So, I had to do a lot of estimating in the travel time from Sinuiju to Dongfeng, to Pyongyang and Seoul.
I also have to say, I wept during this novel, multiple times. What Jae-hee experienced is terrifying and tragic, and her stories represent many others like hers. The Korean comfort women were raped, abused, murdered, and there has been no formal, sincere apology for it by the Japanese.
“Now the Koreans and Japanese were allied, and we were sweeping aside the atrocities of their brutal occupation. No one wanted to hear about our suffering. I knew why. Just like me, Koreans did not want to admit what the Japanese has done to us. We were ashamed.”
There are still women who suffered and survived this time period, who protest day in and out, only demanding their abusers to swallow their pride and apologize so that these women and their families find peace. My heart goes out to them.
Though this novel was published in 2008, I think it is still an absolute must read- especially because women today still struggle to make their voices heard. If you have a chance to pick it up, do. It will break your heart, but it will be so worth it.
I love reading about different cultures, so when I was starting my kindle collection, I downloaded this for free, thinking it sounded interesting. As I read, I found myself taking little side trips to the world wide web to educate myself on some unfamiliar Korean customs, such as binyeo (ornate hair pins), hanboks (traditional formal dresses), and their zodiac animals (I’m a Goat!)
Anna is a young Korean woman who was adopted by her American parents at birth. After the loss of her adoptive mother, she decides to look into her past and find her birth mother. With her father’s support and acceptance, they fly to Korean to meet Anna’s bio-mom, only to learn that she passed away during childbirth. Just when Anna thought her search hit an end, a woman passes her a mysterious message- a fine, fancy hair comb and an address to meet a woman who seems to have some answers about Anna’s past. Unsure but intrigued, and again with her father’s blessing, she decides to pay the woman a visit.
Over many cups of bori cha, the woman, Hong Jae-hee, reveals her connection to Anna, and explains the meaning behind the elaborate comb. It’s a gruesome tale of heartache and loss that started with World War II and the Japanese occupation in which the woman, then a girl of fourteen, was ordered from her home and sent to be a comfort woman in China during the war. After losing her innocence, her will to live, and her family, the woman escapes back to her home, only to find out there is nothing left for her there. Desperate to leave her past behind her, she seeks refuge with a man named Jin-mo, travels to Pyongyang, and aids the Korean government as the North and South attempt to agree on how to run their country as one. When the two halves of Korean refuse to yield to each other, Jae-hee knows she is no longer safe staying in North Korea. Making another run for her life, she crosses the border to South Korea- pregnant, malnourished, and destitute. Restarting her life again, her multi-lingual abilities give her an opportunity to support herself and child.
Andrew mesmerized me with Jae-hee’s story, and gave me so much more insight on Korean culture and history. In my school days, the Korean War wasn’t covered in much detail, so it was always a vague concept to me. Reading about what it was like from a citizen stand point gave me so much more perspective. Although the reasoning behind Jae-hee’s travel is devastating and difficult in process, I liked that it made me pull out a map and get familiar with Korean geography. I found it extremely interesting that when you try to google directions from North to South Korea, the routes aren’t available. So, I had to do a lot of estimating in the travel time from Sinuiju to Dongfeng, to Pyongyang and Seoul.
I also have to say, I wept during this novel, multiple times. What Jae-hee experienced is terrifying and tragic, and her stories represent many others like hers. The Korean comfort women were raped, abused, murdered, and there has been no formal, sincere apology for it by the Japanese.
“Now the Koreans and Japanese were allied, and we were sweeping aside the atrocities of their brutal occupation. No one wanted to hear about our suffering. I knew why. Just like me, Koreans did not want to admit what the Japanese has done to us. We were ashamed.”
There are still women who suffered and survived this time period, who protest day in and out, only demanding their abusers to swallow their pride and apologize so that these women and their families find peace. My heart goes out to them.
Though this novel was published in 2008, I think it is still an absolute must read- especially because women today still struggle to make their voices heard. If you have a chance to pick it up, do. It will break your heart, but it will be so worth it.
sooz_767's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this mainly because I don't know a lot about the history of Korea and especially about comfort women, I love learning about anything historical so this was certainly eye opening for me.
Although I enjoyed the story, the writing was a little bit flat for me. I didn't feel too connected with the characters and was only really emotional a couple of times. I do feel that the writing could have had more feeling and depth to really make the reader understand how these horrors inflicted on these women affected them for the rest of their lives.
Although I enjoyed the story, the writing was a little bit flat for me. I didn't feel too connected with the characters and was only really emotional a couple of times. I do feel that the writing could have had more feeling and depth to really make the reader understand how these horrors inflicted on these women affected them for the rest of their lives.
nicole_qt's review against another edition
5.0
This book should be mandatory reading. It brings to light important historical facts about WWII in Asia which are sadly largely unknown to the West. The fact that it is a fictional story makes learning about these historical facts much more interesting and engaging. It is wonderfully written and captured my interest so much that I read the whole book in just 2 days. I highly recommend it!
thereshegoesagain's review against another edition
1.0
A+ for intent - as someone who lived in Korea for 3+ years and considers it my second home, I'm more than familiar with the term "comfort women" and the horrible, horrible things they've faced. I'm also very aware of the way Japan has tried to erase this from their history, and I'm even more aware of the complicated relations between Korea and Japan.
F for the modern day descriptions -- No offense, but when the heck was the last time this author stepped foot or spent proper time in Seoul or Korea?! I a) try not to know too much about a new author when I read a book so I'm not biased and b) try to be aware that I'm probably harsher on anything related to Korea because I've spent so much time traveling and living there. As soon as I heard "Wanted to go to Itaewon for traditional souvenirs," I almost spit out my drink. Maybe the author and editors aren't ware but Itaewon is the FOREIGNER district, meaning you go there for tacos and South Africa braai. Maybe the neighborhood you were looking for was INSADONG, which is near Gyeongbokgung Palace and well-known for its traditional souvenir shops. Also I've taken a crap ton of taxis all around Korea from the city to the countryside, and I've never met a taxi ahjussi who acted like the one in the book.
F- for the audiobook reader. You could find someone who knew how to read Korean in the mass of audiobook readers?! Every single time she said a Korean word she absolutely BUTCHERED them. FYI Gyeongbokgung is Gyoung - bok - goong not Jyoung -bok-gung. It's han-gul, not han-GUL. I could go on. It bothered me so, so much.
C - for everything else, so I guess it balances out to 3 stars. The story could have been something really solid, but it loses a lot in the actual storytelling and plot. The author just skips over whole decades and it felt like the Sparksnote version of a novel. He always relies quite heavily on cliches and the characters, even the main one, feel pretty 2D.
F for the modern day descriptions -- No offense, but when the heck was the last time this author stepped foot or spent proper time in Seoul or Korea?! I a) try not to know too much about a new author when I read a book so I'm not biased and b) try to be aware that I'm probably harsher on anything related to Korea because I've spent so much time traveling and living there. As soon as I heard "Wanted to go to Itaewon for traditional souvenirs," I almost spit out my drink. Maybe the author and editors aren't ware but Itaewon is the FOREIGNER district, meaning you go there for tacos and South Africa braai. Maybe the neighborhood you were looking for was INSADONG, which is near Gyeongbokgung Palace and well-known for its traditional souvenir shops. Also I've taken a crap ton of taxis all around Korea from the city to the countryside, and I've never met a taxi ahjussi who acted like the one in the book.
F- for the audiobook reader. You could find someone who knew how to read Korean in the mass of audiobook readers?! Every single time she said a Korean word she absolutely BUTCHERED them. FYI Gyeongbokgung is Gyoung - bok - goong not Jyoung -bok-gung. It's han-gul, not han-GUL. I could go on. It bothered me so, so much.
C - for everything else, so I guess it balances out to 3 stars. The story could have been something really solid, but it loses a lot in the actual storytelling and plot. The author just skips over whole decades and it felt like the Sparksnote version of a novel. He always relies quite heavily on cliches and the characters, even the main one, feel pretty 2D.