Book Reviews/A Writing Journey
Category: Other Asian 5 out of 5s
While Kojima observes another student in her middle school class being bullied, he observes the other girls bullying Kojima. Soon he finds a note in his desk asking to meet. Who is sending this unsigned note? Is it the boys in his class making fun of him again? He’s not sure what to do, but either way, if it’s the boys who bully him, they’ll punish him no matter what decision he makes.
This is a compelling read told through the voice of the boy the students call Eyes.
In 1972, Tomoko’s widowed mother decides to take a sewing course in Tokyo and leaves her daughter with her family in Ashiya. When her uncle picks Tomoko up from the train station, she is stunned by his good looks and Mecedes. When they reach their house, she is an awe of the miniature hippopotamus that lives in the front garden, then their beautiful home.
Continue reading “Yoko Ogawa’s Mina’s Matchbox *****”
In an alleyway, Eunju and her mother are captured and driven in a van to the stone home because they’re considered vagrants. On their arrival, they learn that others like them have been locked away for an indefinite period. Eunju and Umma are segregated with the other females to clean and cook while the boys toil in the workshop to complete orders. Warden and Teacher oversee the Keepers who make sure they obey. There are daily Christian sermons about how evil they are. Violence and sexual abuse is common and anyone who disobeys might disappear.
Continue reading “Crystal Hana Kim’s—The stone home *****”
When Sato wants to divorce his wife, he first seeks the help of a wakaresaseya agent, Kaitaro who is valued for his ability at enticing unwanted wives, and gains evidence to support a husband’s favourable break-up. But when he meets Sato’s wife, Rina, there is something about her that makes him want to turn his back on this job. Forced to take on the assignment, he begins to admire, then fall in love with Rina and plans to do everything he can so she gains a favourable divorce, retains her daughter, and marries him. But something goes wrong, and Rina is found strangled and Kaitaro convicted of murder.
Continue reading “Stephanie Scott’s—What’s left of me is yours *****”
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