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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
I was really excited to read this one but unfortunately did not live up to expectations.
The story covers multi-generational struggles of a Korean family that lives in Japan. And I personally felt that with each generation's character the story quality degraded. And towards the last 100 pages it really is unnecessary information that drags the story on.
Two of the main themes seem to be how Asian women struggled back then and how Korean suffered in Japan.
And the abruptness of her storytelling is so weird that a turning point, like someone's death, isn't felt at all. The chapters literally end with "and he died" and then picks back up after months or years and you see none of the characters dealing with such a traumatic event. There is no discussion of it at all. For any major events in the book, it was so non chalantly put in and then never spoken about again or if spoken not much importance paid to it.
It did feel like the author was rushing to fit in as much story as possible about all the characters and had to make cuts here and there. Otherwise someome pleas explain why so many chapters are so abrupt and except for Sunja you really don't get to see anyone else's life up close which is a shame cause if you're anyway gonna include those POVs why not include a part of their lives that's actually good instead of plain mundane things or things that were literally just there to give the character some personality.
There was really very less emotional/poignant depth to the story, it just feels very shallow. You don't get to see the actual relationships form and emotions behind them, so much focus on absolutely unnecessary details like a TV show but none of the actual characters.The first half was definitely way better than the second half and the ending is again so abrupt. I was expecting some feeling of satisfaction, like getting off of a bus after a long journey vibes but nope. I really did not enjoy the storytelling much.
Would recommend 6/10 if you haven't read Asian historical fiction sagas before.
The story covers multi-generational struggles of a Korean family that lives in Japan. And I personally felt that with each generation's character the story quality degraded. And towards the last 100 pages it really is unnecessary information that drags the story on.
Two of the main themes seem to be how Asian women struggled back then and how Korean suffered in Japan.
And the abruptness of her storytelling is so weird that a turning point, like someone's death, isn't felt at all. The chapters literally end with "and he died" and then picks back up after months or years and you see none of the characters dealing with such a traumatic event. There is no discussion of it at all. For any major events in the book, it was so non chalantly put in and then never spoken about again or if spoken not much importance paid to it.
It did feel like the author was rushing to fit in as much story as possible about all the characters and had to make cuts here and there. Otherwise someome pleas explain why so many chapters are so abrupt and except for Sunja you really don't get to see anyone else's life up close which is a shame cause if you're anyway gonna include those POVs why not include a part of their lives that's actually good instead of plain mundane things or things that were literally just there to give the character some personality.
There was really very less emotional/poignant depth to the story, it just feels very shallow. You don't get to see the actual relationships form and emotions behind them, so much focus on absolutely unnecessary details like a TV show but none of the actual characters.The first half was definitely way better than the second half and the ending is again so abrupt. I was expecting some feeling of satisfaction, like getting off of a bus after a long journey vibes but nope. I really did not enjoy the storytelling much.
Would recommend 6/10 if you haven't read Asian historical fiction sagas before.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Picked it up and couldn’t put it down again
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
? ”a woman’s lot is to suffer”
true love wise- ?To love someone long-term is to attend a thousand funerals of the people they used to be ?then what is it about a man will I love in the first place ?neshama
! “Changho had loved someone who would not betray her husband, and perhaps that was why he had loved her. She could not violate who she was.”
?????I’m tired no thoughts brain smooth yummy book will read again if I become a mother or sth
true love wise- ?To love someone long-term is to attend a thousand funerals of the people they used to be ?then what is it about a man will I love in the first place ?neshama
! “Changho had loved someone who would not betray her husband, and perhaps that was why he had loved her. She could not violate who she was.”
?????I’m tired no thoughts brain smooth yummy book will read again if I become a mother or sth
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced