To be clear, I did thoroughly enjoy it and it is a page-turner. However, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the book was heavily edited to appeal to a larger audience. In a few place, Lee's writing does shine, but these moments are thinly dispersed. On a different level, I was fascinated about the historical details of the 20th century Korean / Japanese relationship. Being half Korean born just before the 80s, some of the questions towards the end of the book did resonate with me - of which the pachinko game is an apt metaphor.
Loooved this. The sprawling timeline, the way the language and mood of the characters evolved to match the more modern settings and sensibilities. The narration shifted perspectives so seamlessly. I was never confused about whose perspective we were getting even amongst a scene with multiple characters. In the first couple chapters, the cast evolved so quickly that I didn’t think I’d care about anyone by the end, but that is not the case. I’ll think about these characters for a long time.
The first third was easily engrossing. It was refreshing to learn about the history of Ikuno and about the Korean diaspora in Japan. The formula of family sagas is difficult to escape though. The older generations stoically live through readable hardship, while the younger generation is spoiled and ungrateful. I was actually expecting the youngest generation here to end up in America and to experience new discriminations, but the United States is maintained as a distant promised land. The novel holds the ideology too of work and wealth as virtue with no compunctions for example about swindling an old lady out of her home—and I nearly resented having to read through a banker bro poker game. Why are all the protagonists of the younger generation men? Both the narrator and the characters examine the structures of racism but none confront the misogyny, and the women who are granted long lives …
The first third was easily engrossing. It was refreshing to learn about the history of Ikuno and about the Korean diaspora in Japan. The formula of family sagas is difficult to escape though. The older generations stoically live through readable hardship, while the younger generation is spoiled and ungrateful. I was actually expecting the youngest generation here to end up in America and to experience new discriminations, but the United States is maintained as a distant promised land. The novel holds the ideology too of work and wealth as virtue with no compunctions for example about swindling an old lady out of her home—and I nearly resented having to read through a banker bro poker game. Why are all the protagonists of the younger generation men? Both the narrator and the characters examine the structures of racism but none confront the misogyny, and the women who are granted long lives surrounded by devoted family members accept their lot as one to suffer—confines that are vocalised repeatedly across 470 pages.
Incidentally, if Phoebe and her disapproval of aspects of Japan were to be written more roundedly, the most salient affliction of living in Japan as a woman and expat is the omnipresence of pickup artist bullshittery and anti-feminist pageantry.
Overall I liked the book. The writing was clear and engaging from the start. Although I felt that throughout the book women characters were painted as almost completely powerless and victims of others and their own shame, pinned into a small hole. It was at times hard to read and understand how they operated within these tight constraints without any outlet for release. Perhaps it was and may still be a reality.
There are some good parts and some strange parts.
I enjoyed because of the following: The book clearly demonstrates the harsh standards for women in Korean and Japanese society. Clear demonstration of unfair gender standards for men, the power and privilege pinned against carrying the load of the world on the shoulders and stumbling under it. The issue of belonging, not belonging and fitting in. Racism and xenophobia. Personal shame with no means of dealing with it. Insights …
Overall I liked the book. The writing was clear and engaging from the start. Although I felt that throughout the book women characters were painted as almost completely powerless and victims of others and their own shame, pinned into a small hole. It was at times hard to read and understand how they operated within these tight constraints without any outlet for release. Perhaps it was and may still be a reality.
There are some good parts and some strange parts.
I enjoyed because of the following: The book clearly demonstrates the harsh standards for women in Korean and Japanese society. Clear demonstration of unfair gender standards for men, the power and privilege pinned against carrying the load of the world on the shoulders and stumbling under it. The issue of belonging, not belonging and fitting in. Racism and xenophobia. Personal shame with no means of dealing with it. Insights into immigrant culture.
The things I didn't like: There was some loosely relevant stories interwoven briefly and then dropped. The second part of the book lost sight of the main & most interesting characters although they were still living. The last part of the book felt less and less believable and did not draw me in emotionally the way the first part. Crude language in narration of sex scenes was a bit jarring in a contrast to the literary language throughout.
