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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
Not my usual genre of book but I think it was good enough for four stars. I found it educational and insightful into what life was like for Koreans living in Japan. This encouraged me to complete my own research and move out of the novel and into non fiction to understand what it was like at that time period.
The book is long but I think that’s because the author includes so many characters and she wants to share different experiences and stories. However I felt that this also meant that there was not enough depth. I don’t want to give spoilers but you find out some information about a character something and then it’s not addressed again even though it is a significant event. Still worth a read.
The book is long but I think that’s because the author includes so many characters and she wants to share different experiences and stories. However I felt that this also meant that there was not enough depth. I don’t want to give spoilers but you find out some information about a character something and then it’s not addressed again even though it is a significant event. Still worth a read.
emotional
tense
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
I feel very mixed about this - loved the characters, but would have liked some discussion/time spent on some of the huge moments that got very little attention.
Some of it felt unnecessary, and at many points I didn’t understand the hype. It was good but not amazing
Some of it felt unnecessary, and at many points I didn’t understand the hype. It was good but not amazing
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A multigenerational family drama of Koreans living -mostly- in Japan during the 20th century.
With this it is wide in scope but it feels narrow. Not in the perspective it takes and the issue of how Koreans were/are treated in Japan and the stigma of Pachinko or Yakuza everywhere but in its boldness. It is not a daring book. It tells the story and that’s it. There are moments of intense emotion (I just loved Noa so much, and beautiful Solomon’s back to the roots and screw these guys move was also lovely) but most of the time it is not that. I was involved enough though. I cared and I followed along.
I will leave you with the mantra - go saeng - a woman’s lot is to suffer.
With this it is wide in scope but it feels narrow. Not in the perspective it takes and the issue of how Koreans were/are treated in Japan and the stigma of Pachinko or Yakuza everywhere but in its boldness. It is not a daring book. It tells the story and that’s it. There are moments of intense emotion (I just loved Noa so much, and beautiful Solomon’s back to the roots and screw these guys move was also lovely) but most of the time it is not that. I was involved enough though. I cared and I followed along.
I will leave you with the mantra - go saeng - a woman’s lot is to suffer.