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jtyler's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stabilesero's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Although this is fiction; it deals with a very real historical period of time and the agony that many women and girls had to live through and deal with throughout their lives. I loved Kevin as a character and also Wang Di, how she survived all those years against her own battles and the views of others, in particular their opinions about "comfort women."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and War
tackling_the_tbrs's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
ellaarose's review against another edition
3.0
I'm really unsure on my rating for this. The topic is impirtant, but heavy, and other reviewers have pointed out that these stories are rarely told from an asian woman's perspective so I do think it was an important read. But I don't think this book was very tidy, the pacing was off, I was confused (and bored) for the first 100 pages and the link between Kevin and Wang Di was too tenious and they were sort of written the same way....
I think this may have resonated wirh me more if i knew Singapore, maybe that is Lee's target audience. Despite this I couldn't help but compare this book to pachinko, although their only similarity is the time period. I think pachinko does a lot more to bring you into the experience of each character, thejr experiences of each country and their otherness, something this book could have benefitted from.
I think this may have resonated wirh me more if i knew Singapore, maybe that is Lee's target audience. Despite this I couldn't help but compare this book to pachinko, although their only similarity is the time period. I think pachinko does a lot more to bring you into the experience of each character, thejr experiences of each country and their otherness, something this book could have benefitted from.
claudiatralenuvole's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Una narrazione assolutamente splendida, che riesce a raccontare la crudeltà della guerra senza però fare pornografia del dolore.
Straziante tutto ciò che ha riguardo le donne di conforto, compreso lo stigma sociale succeduto alla fine della guerra.
Ho apprezzato il modo in cui la storia di Wang Di si interseca a quella di Kevin. I capitoli del ragazzo erano meno intensi ma comunque molto toccanti per il suo modo di raccontare il bullismo, la depressione del padre e il desiderio di rimediare.
Una lettura che mi ha commossa in più punti e che insegnando qualcosa di greve riesce allo stesso tempo a donare una conclusione liberatoria.
Straziante tutto ciò che ha riguardo le donne di conforto, compreso lo stigma sociale succeduto alla fine della guerra.
Ho apprezzato il modo in cui la storia di Wang Di si interseca a quella di Kevin. I capitoli del ragazzo erano meno intensi ma comunque molto toccanti per il suo modo di raccontare il bullismo, la depressione del padre e il desiderio di rimediare.
Una lettura che mi ha commossa in più punti e che insegnando qualcosa di greve riesce allo stesso tempo a donare una conclusione liberatoria.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Terminal illness
Moderate: War and Violence
Minor: Murder
oatmilkjuqi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was so painful but necessary. I knew very little about comfort women during the occupation and I was shocked at so many points that it kept getting worse for these women when the situation they were in already seemed like hell.
The back and forth between narrators and timelines was way to jarring at times. I wonder if it would've worked better if it was split in two parts and didn't switch chapter by chapter.
The back and forth between narrators and timelines was way to jarring at times. I wonder if it would've worked better if it was split in two parts and didn't switch chapter by chapter.
cassieleigh777's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
gabbyk92's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
auggie_st's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5