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tolutolu9597'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
linair's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
alsri's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A deep exploration of the relationships of an aristocratic family through WWII and the Korean War. How mistress and servant face different and yet similar circumstances and how they come through it.
There is no shying away from the difficult or often hidden historical happenings, making it a difficult read at time but fascinating and moving.
I always enjoy the multi perspective or multi generational stories especially focusing on different cultures or histories to what I know.
There is no shying away from the difficult or often hidden historical happenings, making it a difficult read at time but fascinating and moving.
I always enjoy the multi perspective or multi generational stories especially focusing on different cultures or histories to what I know.
mrsjoc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
zarrazine's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
leannecs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
oliviakur's review against another edition
4.0
At first a little slow to get into but as i began to understand the structure of the novel it was thoroughly enjoyable! The split narrative and perspectives were at times juxtaposing or similar. I was gripped by both women and felt moved by their plights in life.
namushynie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? Yes
4.0
I had only started listening after attending a book club introducing this book and learnt that it was marketed as young adult fiction in South Korea, in addition to also hearing that addressing one's father as "Appa" is not something that would have been used yet.
The story depicted the state of Korea in WW II that I felt was consistent with other media I had consumed from the same period of world history.
Class, status, racism and power intertwine together into a story that leaves you attached to the characters; anxious for them one minute, some relief the next.
However, parts like the women's brigade have been sanitised, supposedly as it was originally intended for a young adult audience.
Chaeryeong and Sunam, different in class but both eager and hungry to carve out their fate, demonstrated their respective strength of womanhood that had me intrigued to read on.
Overall a good read and stellar narration! I docked a star as the last chapter felt rushed.
The story depicted the state of Korea in WW II that I felt was consistent with other media I had consumed from the same period of world history.
Class, status, racism and power intertwine together into a story that leaves you attached to the characters; anxious for them one minute, some relief the next.
However, parts like the women's brigade have been sanitised, supposedly as it was originally intended for a young adult audience.
Chaeryeong and Sunam, different in class but both eager and hungry to carve out their fate, demonstrated their respective strength of womanhood that had me intrigued to read on.
Overall a good read and stellar narration! I docked a star as the last chapter felt rushed.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Domestic abuse
thebookishtales's review against another edition
informative
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
samstillreading's review against another edition
4.0
Can’t I Go Instead is a deep look at the relationship between mistress and servant during a difficult time in Korea’s history, extending into and past the second world war. It asks how far both loyalty and deception will reach in the will to survive. It’s not always pretty, but the story is fascinating.
The story opens with an explanation of Viscount Hyeongman’s family. He’s a rich, important person in Korea in the 1930s made more so by his support of the Japanese who rule the country. He has two children, one illegitimate but who will be recognised as the heir and his daughter in wedlock, Chaeryeong. For her birthday, the Viscount takes her to a small village to give her a present, her own maidservant. But the child who has been picked doesn’t want to go, so Sunam asks, ‘can’t I go instead?’ which changes her life. As the girls grow up, their relationship changes slightly but it’s never equal. When Chaeryeong gets in trouble for having a boyfriend actively campaigning for a free Korea, it’s Sunam that takes the consequences. Chaeryeong is married to a Japanese man and sent to the US while Sunam must pretend to be her and become a comfort woman for the Japanese army. While Chaeryeong has many difficulties once she reaches the US, it’s Sunam and her colleagues that have no idea what comfort women are. It’s all cloak and daggers until they reach their final destination. Sunam is shielded from the worst, but her life will turn from bad to good and back again as the women meet again in an independent Korea at the end of the war.
What I enjoyed most about this novel is the history. I didn’t know a great deal about Korea prior to the Korean War and the story does an excellent job in explaining the control of the Japanese and the various groups either supporting them or fighting for a free Korea. The most interesting is when Chaeryeong and Sunam go to Japan for Chaeryeong’s study and the restrictions on Korean people are described. There were some slow periods leading up to thing. In contrast World War II is over very quickly in page time, briefly touching on the internment of Japanese people in the USA and general anti-Asian sentiment. I would have preferred some more detail on this rather than the youth of both girls. The section on the brutalisation of the comfort women is relatively opaque and over with quickly, thanks to Sunam’s escape. However, Sunam is the subject of a lot of poor treatment while Chaeryeong seems to get all the glory. That extends for much longer than the reader would expect.
The translation into English by An Seon Jae is brilliant. The story doesn’t have any awkward moments or things that don’t translate well. Nothing detracts the reader from the story, which even though it’s sad and mean at times, is a necessary one. It’s not always doom and gloom with periods of happiness for all the characters. I also liked the final mystery towards the conclusion – it was a nice twist that I wasn’t expecting! Highly recommended for those who enjoy reading about lesser-known history in a fictional format.
Thank you to Scribe for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The story opens with an explanation of Viscount Hyeongman’s family. He’s a rich, important person in Korea in the 1930s made more so by his support of the Japanese who rule the country. He has two children, one illegitimate but who will be recognised as the heir and his daughter in wedlock, Chaeryeong. For her birthday, the Viscount takes her to a small village to give her a present, her own maidservant. But the child who has been picked doesn’t want to go, so Sunam asks, ‘can’t I go instead?’ which changes her life. As the girls grow up, their relationship changes slightly but it’s never equal. When Chaeryeong gets in trouble for having a boyfriend actively campaigning for a free Korea, it’s Sunam that takes the consequences. Chaeryeong is married to a Japanese man and sent to the US while Sunam must pretend to be her and become a comfort woman for the Japanese army. While Chaeryeong has many difficulties once she reaches the US, it’s Sunam and her colleagues that have no idea what comfort women are. It’s all cloak and daggers until they reach their final destination. Sunam is shielded from the worst, but her life will turn from bad to good and back again as the women meet again in an independent Korea at the end of the war.
What I enjoyed most about this novel is the history. I didn’t know a great deal about Korea prior to the Korean War and the story does an excellent job in explaining the control of the Japanese and the various groups either supporting them or fighting for a free Korea. The most interesting is when Chaeryeong and Sunam go to Japan for Chaeryeong’s study and the restrictions on Korean people are described. There were some slow periods leading up to thing. In contrast World War II is over very quickly in page time, briefly touching on the internment of Japanese people in the USA and general anti-Asian sentiment. I would have preferred some more detail on this rather than the youth of both girls. The section on the brutalisation of the comfort women is relatively opaque and over with quickly, thanks to Sunam’s escape. However, Sunam is the subject of a lot of poor treatment while Chaeryeong seems to get all the glory. That extends for much longer than the reader would expect.
The translation into English by An Seon Jae is brilliant. The story doesn’t have any awkward moments or things that don’t translate well. Nothing detracts the reader from the story, which even though it’s sad and mean at times, is a necessary one. It’s not always doom and gloom with periods of happiness for all the characters. I also liked the final mystery towards the conclusion – it was a nice twist that I wasn’t expecting! Highly recommended for those who enjoy reading about lesser-known history in a fictional format.
Thank you to Scribe for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com