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A review by lattelibrarian
The Picture Bride by Lee Geum-yi
4.0
Willow isn't excited to get married so much as she's excited to travel to Hawaii with the prospect of education. Marriage is just the means. She sees a photograph of her future husband, hopes for good luck, and with her parents' best wishes, leaves for Hawaii at the age of 18. Along the way, she meets two more young women who are also considered picture brides. But upon arrival, these two women's husbands look nothing like the photographs they're sent. Willow isn't sure to be sorry for them or thankful that Taewan, her husband, looks similar to his photo.
Bound by duty and the hope for love, she adjusts to this strange new land that she'd been told grew money on trees. Her new family is not cruel to her and she receives a decent stipend with which to grocery shop.
This simple yet eloquent page-turner depicts an interesting time in both US and Korean history in which the US government allowed picture brides to deter Korean workers from drinking and gambling. As Willow comes to terms that her new husband is not a landowner, nor does his family have the means to educate her, she fills her time with embroidery and home-making, which later allows her to run her own business. She may not be educated in the way that she wants, but she is absolutely able to make a living for herself all the same.
A lovely and flowing story, great for those who want historical fiction about women with little brutality.
Bound by duty and the hope for love, she adjusts to this strange new land that she'd been told grew money on trees. Her new family is not cruel to her and she receives a decent stipend with which to grocery shop.
This simple yet eloquent page-turner depicts an interesting time in both US and Korean history in which the US government allowed picture brides to deter Korean workers from drinking and gambling. As Willow comes to terms that her new husband is not a landowner, nor does his family have the means to educate her, she fills her time with embroidery and home-making, which later allows her to run her own business. She may not be educated in the way that she wants, but she is absolutely able to make a living for herself all the same.
A lovely and flowing story, great for those who want historical fiction about women with little brutality.