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narrnaul's review
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, and Grief
Moderate: Genocide, Violence, Colonisation, and War
marley_reads_'s review
3.75
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and War
rieviolet's review against another edition
4.0
I can say that I quite liked the author's drawing style and her choice of a black and white colouring.
The graphic novel recounts the life story of a Korean woman, Lee Okseon, but it stands for the suffering that many other people went through at that time of colonisation and war. The narration doesn't shy away from the brutal details and the horror of the experiences of "comfort women".
There is still a hopeful note in the ending, with the arrival of spring once again and the possibility of renewal.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Pedophilia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Classism, and Deportation
Minor: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Infidelity, and Fire/Fire injury
danidamico's review against another edition
5.0
Hierba de la surcoreana Keum Suk Gendry-Kim ilustra la historia de Lee Ok-sun, una mujer coreana que durante la invasión japonesa fue secuestrada y llevada a China, también bajo dominio japonés, para ser utilizada como "mujer de consuelo", violada numerosas veces al día por los soldados, sin derecho alguno, totalmente deshumanizada por los demás. Miles de mujeres sufrieron la misma violencia que Ok-sun y fue algo de lo cual no se habló durante décadas por el tabú que significaba en la sociedad. Eventualmente, muchas de estas sobrevivientes se animaron a alzar sus voces y dar testimonio de lo que vivieron, de lo que hicieron con ellas. Lee Ok-sun es una de esas mujeres y la autora fue su testigo, documentando la experiencia en esta novela gráfica. Es un texto súper interesante para meterse en el género literario del testimonio, un tema que estudié en la facultad y es fascinante.
Me costó leer esta novela, narra hechos terroríficos y la propia protagonista se describe a sí misma como alguien que nunca fue plenamente feliz. Es una lectura muy dura, con unas ilustraciones hermosísimas que se vuelven estremecedoras. Keum Suk Gendry-Kim logra expresar las emociones del relato de Ok-sun de un modo evocativo, vivo, nunca sensacionalista. Hace un uso increíble de la elipsis, también recreando ciertas escenas de manera simbólica en lugar de mostrar la violencia explícita. El nombre Hierba se debe a que la autora compara a la mujer sobreviviente con una hierba que logra crecer a pesar de las adversidades, que se mantiene fuerte y florece después del invierno. Creo que eso es de lo que hay que aferrarse para no ahogarse en la tristeza del testimonio, en la vida que le robaron a Ok-sun, que sin embargo sigue en pie y no se calla, sigue luchando por el reconocimiento de sus derechos y de tantas mujeres, pidiendo justicia.
Me pareció interesante algo que la autora destaca en el epílogo, el hecho de que lo que vivieron estas mujeres fue "algo derivado de las desigualdades de clase", ya que muchas venían de familias sumidas en la pobreza a causa de una dominación y una guerra imperialistas. También es importante señalar cómo muchas de las sobrevivientes, décadas después de la guerra, siguieron sufriendo las consecuencias de lo que les hicieron, tanto desde lo económico como desde lo social, el rechazo de la gente, en algunos casos (cómo el de Ok-sun) de su propia familia.
En fin, como ya mencioné, es una lectura difícil, pero la considero totalmente necesaria y de una importancia inmensurable. Las ilustraciones de la autora me encantaron y sé que tiene otro libro, que me gustaría poder leer en algún momento.
Graphic: Confinement, Genocide, Hate crime, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, and War
julia20y3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, War, and Classism
juliavra's review
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Deportation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Deportation
goizi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Abortion
mapscitiesandsongs's review
4.5
A harrowing but necessary read. In her afterword Keum Suk Gendry-Kim writes that she didn't want to sensationalize the violence, pain and suffering of the characters, which she succeded in. I think the inclusion of really graphic scene would have been a disservice to the life story of Lee Ok-Sun and I am glad the author thought the same way. There weren't necessary at all, since the story in itself is harrowing enough.
I would have given the graphic novel 5 stars if it wasn't for the self-insertion of the author. It kind of rubbed me the wrong way how she was complaining about mundane things such as deadlines or air conditioning/air pollution, after we just read about the horrifying atrocities the "comfort women" had to endure. Not only that, but it also took me out of the story. I also found it quite weird how she frequently admits to not being in contact with Lee Ok-Sun and not having seen her in forever. As another reviewer mentioned, it felt like the author got her story and it's not interesting anymore.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Murder, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide, Police brutality, and Suicide attempt
readingkitty's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Kidnapping
aidanweyer's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder