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A review by d_hryniuk
Go by Kazuki Kaneshiro
3.0
This novel has opened my eyes to a new perspective on Japan that I never expected to encounter. The heartbreaking portrayal of the struggles faced by children of North Korean ancestry, who are denied their rightful status as Japanese citizens, left me feeling deeply sympathetic. I was also intrigued by the protagonist's own search for identity, and his thought-provoking insights into how our nationality does not define us, given that we are likely descended from a multitude of backgrounds.
Regrettably, however, the novel also contained significant amounts of violence and cruel treatment of children that I found difficult to stomach. The protagonist often resorted to physical force to solve problems, a tendency that left me uncomfortable and disappointed.
I was horrified by the portrayal of parent-child relationships in Korean/Japanese culture, where it seems acceptable to beat one's own child to near death while still expecting unquestioning respect. Such behaviour is wholly unacceptable and nonsensical to me and left me reeling in disgust.
Regrettably, however, the novel also contained significant amounts of violence and cruel treatment of children that I found difficult to stomach. The protagonist often resorted to physical force to solve problems, a tendency that left me uncomfortable and disappointed.
I was horrified by the portrayal of parent-child relationships in Korean/Japanese culture, where it seems acceptable to beat one's own child to near death while still expecting unquestioning respect. Such behaviour is wholly unacceptable and nonsensical to me and left me reeling in disgust.