One of my favorite reads of the year. I was taken in from the beginning of the novel and stopped only because I had to. In addition to reading a great story I also learned a new piece of history I had never heard of before. Hard to believe but I didn’t know about Japan taking over, (attempting to?), Korea and the discrimination they faced. 

The book had excellent character development, I felt for them. I wanted to know what became of them and how they felt when their POV wasn’t expressed. I did appreciate the realism of the characters lives, Lee doesn’t wrap up all their stories with a pretty bow and happily ever after. In fact, all of them face their own obstacles, not always being resolved how they would’ve wanted. 

The reality of the quality of life in the years 1910-1989 sometimes left me wanting the cliche happily ever after. For a handful of the characters they never really had their happiness or closure in any respect. Which of course adds to the emotional impact of the novel but it was hard to come to terms with. I saw a few reviews mention the end felt rushed but I didn’t feel that way. I felt that the MC ‘s stories had reached its arc and the descendants still had a lot of life to live and they were entering a new world, with access to different opportunities and although ethnically they weren’t accepted in Japan, they were at least financially secure, something their ancestors struggled endlessly for. I am glad that the author left the younger generation’s life unwritten.



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