A review by fitzbff
A Gesture Life by Chang-rae Lee

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • 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? Yes

4.5

This is one of those rare books where I don't really know what to say about it. I had to read this for uni, wasn't expecting a whole lot, but as I was reading I found myself more and more entranced by this novel. We follow an elderly Korean man, adopted by a Japanese family, who now lives in a suburban American town. He remembers and narrates his experiences both in the war and as a father. Throughout this interesting non-linear telling, we see how his attitude towards his daughter was shaped by his hard experiences in the war, and how these experiences still affect him to this day. It's a fascinating and rich character study, not willing to forgive anyone of wrongs they've committed, but also deeply human and empathic. The novel toes this line quite skilfully, as it paints a holistic picture of our protagonist, leaving the reader to deliver any judgement. A must-read for any character-driven readers.
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