sweetkalechip's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a very compelling and quick read, both because of the content and the prose - two things I have opposing opinions on.
The story of Korean women forced to work as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during WWII is a dark topic, but one that is important to address. The fact that the author didn't shy away from the brutality of the situation, didn't gloss over the details that made it horrific. And yet, I have a lot of praise for the author and the fact that he (intentionally, according to the Q&A in the book) didn't write the first rape scene (or the others) in real time or explicit detail. This is a fine line when writing traumatic scenes, and it's very easy to create a sort of torture porn.
The story of Jae-hee, who was made to be a comfort woman, was compelling and inspiring. The pace was just right and the plot points came across as realistic - important in historical fiction.
The only thing I disliked about the book was the prose. It was quite choppy, with short sentences and abrupt time jumps. This was made more glaring because, sometimes, the prose would slip into a more poetic and descriptive style. The parts from the perspective of the main, contemporary character - Anna/Ja-young - were even simpler prose, perhaps in an attempt to emulate a 20 year old girl.
The prose seemed out of place because, repeatedly, it was pointed out that the two narrators were very smart women: Jae-hee, though not formally educated, was brilliant with languages and excelled in the corporate world; Anna was a college student who scored in the top 5% of LSAT testers.
All in all, I think the book was solid, and I was willing to settle into the prose for the sake of the story - beautifully woven through history and fiction, and which held it's cards close to it's chest until the very end.
The story of Korean women forced to work as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during WWII is a dark topic, but one that is important to address. The fact that the author didn't shy away from the brutality of the situation, didn't gloss over the details that made it horrific. And yet, I have a lot of praise for the author and the fact that he (intentionally, according to the Q&A in the book) didn't write the first rape scene (or the others) in real time or explicit detail. This is a fine line when writing traumatic scenes, and it's very easy to create a sort of torture porn.
The story of Jae-hee, who was made to be a comfort woman, was compelling and inspiring. The pace was just right and the plot points came across as realistic - important in historical fiction.
The only thing I disliked about the book was the prose. It was quite choppy, with short sentences and abrupt time jumps. This was made more glaring because, sometimes, the prose would slip into a more poetic and descriptive style. The parts from the perspective of the main, contemporary character - Anna/Ja-young - were even simpler prose, perhaps in an attempt to emulate a 20 year old girl.
The prose seemed out of place because, repeatedly, it was pointed out that the two narrators were very smart women: Jae-hee, though not formally educated, was brilliant with languages and excelled in the corporate world; Anna was a college student who scored in the top 5% of LSAT testers.
All in all, I think the book was solid, and I was willing to settle into the prose for the sake of the story - beautifully woven through history and fiction, and which held it's cards close to it's chest until the very end.
echo86's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mrspenningalovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This historical fiction read was traumatically beautiful- I folding a story of pain, strength, and survival despite the men who try to keep her down. It is a story I knew nothing about- in the Korean War history books, they choose not to include the horrific details of comfort women. “The Little seed split apart and began to climb to a world it could not see. Imagine the courage it had! It did not know what it would find when it broke through the surface... but the seed courageously pushed on so that one day it could become a beautiful flower. If you do not have courage, You will never blossom into the flower you were meant to be.”
gracereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
hannxm's review against another edition
5.0
I feel like this is a book everyone must read. It was a well written book that opens your eyes to the story of the comfort women, something that I'm sure a lot of people weren't aware of. The author is doing them a great justice by sharing their story with the world.
I'm glad I found this book because it introduced me to the author and I have the third book in the series to read now which I'm looking forward to. It introduced me to the genre of historical fiction which I really like.
It's rare for a book to grab my attention and keep me wanting to read further.
And despite what others have said, I like the way the author writes.
I'm glad I found this book because it introduced me to the author and I have the third book in the series to read now which I'm looking forward to. It introduced me to the genre of historical fiction which I really like.
It's rare for a book to grab my attention and keep me wanting to read further.
And despite what others have said, I like the way the author writes.
zglanton26's review against another edition
4.0
The reason why I gave this book 4 stars is because at times I got bored with the story. It felt like some parts were drawn out that didn’t need to be.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the storytelling and the history of Korea. I didn’t know there was a such thing as a Comfort Woman and that the Japanese treated the Koreans so poorly. They took children and had them “serve” their soldiers by having sex with them anytime they wanted . Ja-Hee stated that sometimes she had sex with almost 100 men a day every day for 2 years, unless they were out in battle. I was blown by this. I was also irritated that the Koreans who found out Ja-Hee’s history basically disowned her and didn’t want any associations when they found out about her past. She was a child! She was taken! She was forced, beaten, and threaten! They would rather her have died than dishonor their country, I guess because they were already ashamed enough that the Japanese had them in such a predicament, but she was a child and it wasn’t her fault. So that part of the story infuriated me.
I find it great that Anna (Ja-Young) decided to listen to Ja-Hee’s story and end up helping her at the end to meet her sister Soo-Hee. Anna being able to identify her roots and figure out who that part of her was is a big part of her identity. Just because she came from a loving adoptive family in America doesn’t mean she doesn’t long for THAT belonging. I’m assuming that’s how a majority of adopted children feel. Like something is missing.
I’m not sure if I want to read the next installment. It was interesting to learn the history, mannerisms, and the fact that they are descendants of the royals with the comb being passed down. I’m interested to find out how Anna serves Korea with the comb in tow, but I may take a break and come back to it. It took me a while to get through this one.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the storytelling and the history of Korea. I didn’t know there was a such thing as a Comfort Woman and that the Japanese treated the Koreans so poorly. They took children and had them “serve” their soldiers by having sex with them anytime they wanted . Ja-Hee stated that sometimes she had sex with almost 100 men a day every day for 2 years, unless they were out in battle. I was blown by this. I was also irritated that the Koreans who found out Ja-Hee’s history basically disowned her and didn’t want any associations when they found out about her past. She was a child! She was taken! She was forced, beaten, and threaten! They would rather her have died than dishonor their country, I guess because they were already ashamed enough that the Japanese had them in such a predicament, but she was a child and it wasn’t her fault. So that part of the story infuriated me.
I find it great that Anna (Ja-Young) decided to listen to Ja-Hee’s story and end up helping her at the end to meet her sister Soo-Hee. Anna being able to identify her roots and figure out who that part of her was is a big part of her identity. Just because she came from a loving adoptive family in America doesn’t mean she doesn’t long for THAT belonging. I’m assuming that’s how a majority of adopted children feel. Like something is missing.
I’m not sure if I want to read the next installment. It was interesting to learn the history, mannerisms, and the fact that they are descendants of the royals with the comb being passed down. I’m interested to find out how Anna serves Korea with the comb in tow, but I may take a break and come back to it. It took me a while to get through this one.
juliekreddy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0