Could have been better

I really enjoyed the first portion of this book, it was interesting and once I realised it branched out to other characters from other generations, I enjoyed becoming invested in their stories. But this book sometimes glossed over important character's plots, I actually thought I'd accidentally skipped ahead at one point because the time jump was so long. Also when something dramatic did happen, sometimes I felt I wasn't given time to digest it, again it was just brushed aside.

The book is read well, but I don't think Hiroto is suited to this book in particular, but that's because the recording quality made it difficult for me to understand what was being said, and the gentleness of her voice was a bad contrast when there were quite graphic sex scenes. Some of them were okay, most of them were unnecessary. You'd be in a normal scene and then suddenly there would be graphic descriptions of people's bodies. It was really jarring.

It took me a year to finish this book. I'm glad I did, and I enjoyed some of it, but I couldn't recommend it to anyone.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

amazing

it was one of the best in every possible sense. story, performance. I was hooked.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great book

Great book, great voice narrator. Highly recommended for anyone who wants an insight into the complexities of being an “other” in any society.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A brilliant listen

A book that you resist to put down. Finished it in a week during housework.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Mesmerising

I was really pulled into this saga. Multigenerational and filled with memorable characters. I was unaware of the nature of the relationship between Japan and Korea and the historical basis proved a compelling backdrop as it shaped events and the characters. Well narrated and fascinating.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

beautiful book

I really enjoyed this book, it's a beautiful story spanning a few generations.
the narrative is great

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Very good full of feelings

I really enjoyed this book and learnt a lot about the relationship of Japanese and Koreans, the sense of pride, respect and feelings. Very sad parts and the end very calmed.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Narrator could have done with a bit of googling

Listened to it half way but think I will read it myself instead because the narrator mispronounces a lot of the Korean words written in the book. Kind of annoying to listen to really. The least she could have done is google how to pronounce it before narrating them but no she just blatantly mispronounces it. So annoying to listen to. Otherwise, the story is great. So far.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Long but Compelling

I cared for the characters and learned a lot listening to this book. Well narrated.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

It is a good book, but not great.

I think the core story is very interesting. This is the 3rd similair book I have read (following a family and community for 5-6 generations - 100 Years of Solitude and Olga Tokarzuk:Primeval and Other Times.).

I think the other two are great books, classics of literature (though I didnt like 100 Years of Solitude) and this one is a good book, that is worth reading, but not as well written -compared to the other two Nobel Prize winning author. Sometimes the conversations are a bit clumsy, and I found somehow akward the description of sex.

The narration is not good. I preffered reading after a while, and I suggest the same.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful