This is an epic tale of four generations of a Korean family trying to survive in Japan. I wanted to read a book set in Japan, as I’m visiting Tokyo and Kyoto in May to visit my son who now lives and works in Japan, and I was a little disappointed because although this book is set in Japan, it is very much from the point of view of Korean refugees and a lot of the story is driven by the persecution and general mistreatment of Koreans by Japanese.
I know that many nations (if not all…) have shameful histories of their treatment of foreigners, my own included, and yet I was shocked by how hard it was to be Korean in Japan, especially Korean Christians who were further persecuted for not agreeing to bow to and worship statues of the emperor.
For the most part the story of the family was interesting and sad although I did get a bit bored in the middle because it is a very long book!
Sarah Wray Writer 