“because she would not believe that she was no different than her parents, that seeing him as only Korean—good or bad—was the same as seeing him only as a bad Korean. She could not see his humanity, and Noah realized that this was what he wanted most of all: to be seen as human.”
“Patriotism is just an idea, so is capitalism or communism. But ideas can make men forget their own interests. And the guys in charge will exploit men who believe in ideas too much.”
The story is spread over the span of almost a century, showing us the lives of five generations of a Korean family which migrated to Japan during it’s third generation. Going through all of their ups and downs and giving an insight into these societies along the way; the discrimination they felt at the hands of Japanese, the horrors of war and fascism, and always present just beneath the surface: patriarchy.
It also portrays, though briefly, another very important problem: nihilism, leading to depression and inactivity. The feeling that whatever you do is meaningless. Is there anyone who has not felt this?
It also gives a lot of attention to the social and political climate of these two countries over this time: the Japanese and Chinese conquests of Korea, the Second World War, the independence of Korea and it’s division, and the lives of Koreans in Japan. It was hard for me to picture Japan as a force of oppression and them siding with the Nazis. I had never given much thought to that and has always thought of them as a peaceful people. But that’s just me stereotyping.
booksandtheopenroad.travel.blog 