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Rating: 
Summary: remarkable work
Review: A very, very nice, and brief, novel, telling of the experience various citizens of Seoul have during the Korean War. The synopsis does not clearly tell what the book is about: Wan-so is not merely writing a sociological novel about cultural dilemmas. Rather, she broadens the novel's scope in order to address the same basic themes we need to deal with in our lives. Of course, Wan-so does also utilize cultural themes, particularly in detailing relationships between Koreans and American soldiers. Wan-so created a poised, understated novel that seems smaller than it really is. At the novel's close, we know that all her small, plain sentences have done a great deal. The kind of novel that should be more accessible: contemporary novels outside of the English language that are much better than most American novels, and yet are very difficult to find, as is evident from the above information about availability (My copy was obtained at a university bookstore).
Rating: 
Summary: A poignant and beautiful triumph
Review: To view this book as a "coming of age" novel is to neglect the deeper intention of its author. For years, Pak has been writing about the silent and oppressed Korean women giving them a voice through her carefully developed characters. Amid the chaos of the war torn country, Pak does a superb job of painting the daily mundane lives of its survivors. Even as in time of peace, these characters long for love and acceptance in their silent moments of loneliness. Pak is a wonderful storyteller as she weaves her personal experiences with colorful imagination. Pak's further usuage of metaphors referencing life and death to colors and seasons are done meticulously. Yu Young-nan has kept the faith in her masterful translation. Her thoughtful choice of "hand-picked" words only enhance the lucidity of Pak's story. This is a wonderful novel for anyone interested in the content and form of contemporary Asian literature.
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