This story begins in Korea in 1910. Japan invades Korea. The main characters' lives become even more difficult than their peasant lives had been. Some of them decide to go to Japan to join a brother there.. with the hopes of some day soon returning to Korea. They stay through economic struggles, WWII, war in Korea and the division of the Korean peninsula.
This historical fiction was written over a 20 year time span. The author had this story as a spark in her mind. At one point she had it completely written, until she moved to Japan and interviewed many people who had lived the story. She then started anew and wrote it again. This book was a National Book Award finalist.
The story follows this family through several generations. Japan is suspicious of Koreans and does not welcome them warmly to Japan. I was surprised to see how long this attitude continued right up to modern times. Even the story of Korean-Japanese immigrants is not told and is not well known to this day. Hence this book is an important part of the story-telling that is necessary.
The family goes through experiences one can expect: births, deaths, relationship difficulties, marriages, inter-cultural tensions. I wanted a way to explain what was meaningful to me, but the words of the author herself say it best:
"...many ordinary people resist the indignities of life and history with grace and conviction by taking care of their families, friends, neighbors, and communities while striving for their individual goals. We cannot help but be interested in the stories of people that history pushes aside so thoughtlessly."
An excellent book to which I give 4 or perhaps 4.5 stars. Apparently it is a long book, 500 pages, but some people read it in one sitting. I read it on my Kindle in just a couple of days, and was not aware of how long it is.
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