A review by seraphjewel
White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht

3.0

If I were merely rating this book on the importance of this subject, I would've given the book a five. At least for me, the problem was more that there wasn't enough given to the subject. There was a definite sense of what the "comfort women" went through as the story followed Hana, but I wouldn't have minded a bit more of that as well as more of what Emi went through.

You have to have the right frame of mind when going into this novel. Because of the subject matter, you have to prepare yourself for talk of abuse on women. There are scenes describing in detail frequent rapes of women and young girls. There are a few scenes where women die-- one being a young child-- and Hana is physically assaulted a few times.

It is important to shed light on this part of history, and it's good that these women are finding a voice. But as I already said, I would've liked more. More on the diving women and their culture, more on Emi struggling as an unwilling bride and very young mother... I guess if this book accomplished nothing else, it did make me want to track down historical accounts of Korea during World War II so I can learn more about it.

This book is a good starting off point, but I feel like it was still only skimming the surface.