Oh. That was really an eye-opening account of an extremely tragic and dark time in the history of Korea.
The main character, a young Korean girl Sookan, paints a vivid picture of what life was like in the country that was no longer the country it once had been... (did that make sense?) Themes of loneliness, embarrassment, and loss are represented well in the novel through the author's representation of the character Sookan.
I was depressed through much of the story. I wondered, "How is it that children should have to go through such difficult and traumatic events? It isn't fair! It isn't right!" I imagined what it must have felt like for Sookan and her brother - at one point in the story they were all alone, sick, weak, and scrounging for scraps of food. I had a hard time imagining what it must have felt like for them in these moments of their lives. I have never had to feel the intense pain and loneliness that were felt by the children in the novel, I realized that I COULDN'T imagine it - I hoped that I never would. I cried for them.
How can children develop a self identity and a clear understanding of the world, if they are constantly having to change their name, communication, and beliefs? How can they develop an identity when they constantly worry about their well-being, about their survival? This should be a foreign concern for children! Too bad this is not the case in many parts of the world. I suppose it is much closer to home than I had imagined. Children have real-life problems too.
I think I may have smiled once or twice, when a small glimpse of hope was offered. Other than that, I just felt sad and concerned - uneasy - as I HESITANTLY read the novel. It seemed like every time things couldn't be any worse, they were. I didn't want to turn the page.
On another note: The religious representations were interesting to examine in this book. Sookan seemed to mesh the religions of her Mother and Grandfather into one coherent "way of knowing" that was somehow comforting to her...
Despite the strong feelings of sadness the book provoked, I was enlightened by the author's viewpoint and appreciate the details and emotions she shared. Seriously eye-opening, and leaves a reader wanting to learn more.
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