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A review by sleightoffeet
The Girl Who Played Go by Shan Sa
3.0
Right after I finished reading this book, I thought it was definitely 4 stars. Then, after sleeping on it, more and more parts of the story started to bother me. It's for sure an interesting story, and it has made me interested in the game of Go, and it really pulled me along, but it left an aftertaste that is not quite so good.
A young girl likes to play Go in the park. It is there she meets a Japanese soldier who is there as a spy. Meanwhile, she finds herself in a love triangle with two resistance members. The Japanese soldier also finds himself falling in love with the enigma that is the girl, without words, just through the playing of the game.
A couple of problems:
And then there's the "Romeo and Juliet" ending. First of all, it's rather convenient to kill everyone off than to actually have the characters lead themselves to some sort of conclusion. Second of all, Peking is a large city. We're supposed to believe that of all the people, those two would run into each other again?
After writing the spoilers, now I'm thinking it was more of a two star book, but I'll leave it at three as I did enjoy reading it. Just don't think about it too hard.
A young girl likes to play Go in the park. It is there she meets a Japanese soldier who is there as a spy. Meanwhile, she finds herself in a love triangle with two resistance members. The Japanese soldier also finds himself falling in love with the enigma that is the girl, without words, just through the playing of the game.
A couple of problems:
Spoiler
For one thing, the speed in which everyone fell in love with each other, was lightning fast. It was love at first sight for everyone, and even for the Japanese Go player, he never even talked to the girl, but felt he knew her because of how she played the game?!?And then there's the "Romeo and Juliet" ending. First of all, it's rather convenient to kill everyone off than to actually have the characters lead themselves to some sort of conclusion. Second of all, Peking is a large city. We're supposed to believe that of all the people, those two would run into each other again?
After writing the spoilers, now I'm thinking it was more of a two star book, but I'll leave it at three as I did enjoy reading it. Just don't think about it too hard.