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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 against another edition
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
hmn54437's review against another edition
This graphic novel was an extremely rough one to get through and I appreciate the artist for making it that way. There was no sugarcoating of the events and traumas these women went through just raw genuine depictions of lives.
I can tell this is one that’s going to stick with me forever between the art, the history it portrays, and the people within; this book begs to be read, learned from, and remembered.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infertility, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and War
jhbandcats's review against another edition
5.0
The author / illustrator, Keum Duk Gendry-Kim, met and interviewed Lee. They became friends of a sort, with Gendry-Kim working for three years to complete her biography. It begins when Lee was a child, sold by her parents to alleviate their poverty. From there things got progressively worse with her being abducted and sent to a “comfort station” at the age of 16 or 17.
Things were almost as bad after the war. The newly liberated women were shunned as whores, unable to find food or work. Lee told Gendry-Kim that her life was miserable from the moment she was born, and that’s all too clear.
Gendry-Kim tells Lee’s story in a straightforward fashion without sensationalizing the violence and misery. I confess I can’t conceive of this level of pain and anguish.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
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
armstrongangela83's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and War
lectricefeministe's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
isaacjlbrady's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Rape
mapscitiesandsongs's review against another edition
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
hillie_'s review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Colonisation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Blood, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Self harm, Police brutality, and Abortion