Honey in the Wound
By Jiyoung Han ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10 ""She has seen to it that he tasted their sorrows. She has seen to it that he did not forget, that his final breath was taken in the remembered torments of his own creation, no honey in the wound to s..."
By Jiyoung Han
★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10
302 pages
What’s it about?
This multigenerational saga takes us to Korea, Japan, and China. From the early 1900s to the modern day, we follow a Korean family as the Japanese Empire takes control of Korea.
What did it make me think about?
The horror of war that is particular to women. And the author highlights that until recently, women have not been the ones recording history.
Should I read it?
This author has a lyrical style that blends well with the magical realism that she incorporates into the story. The novel has a fairy tale feel, and the writing is notable. But like all fairy tales, this story is dark. I was really enjoying the book, but about two-thirds of the way through it became harder and harder to read. It is historically accurate, and other women lived it- but what brutal history it was. I just finished Angel Down by Daniel Kraus and was not expecting another war story. While Angel Down focuses on the war's effects on soldiers, this story focuses on its effects on civilians, particularly women. While I learned a great deal and was impressed by Ms. Han's writing skills, the book was uneven for me. Different than usual, the first half of the book was stronger for me than the second half. I would still recommend this one. It is a beautifully written account of a horrible time in history- a history we should be aware of.
A passage I marked
"She has seen to it that he tasted their sorrows. She has seen to it that he did not forget, that his final breath was taken in the remembered torments of his own creation, no honey in the wound to soothe what lay festering in that darkness."
