Basic plot
Born as a girl with no name, Najin Han soon found that being a woman with a brain in twentieth century Korea was taxing. Always a disappointment to her esteemed calligrapher father, she found comfort in her mother's unconditional love and her own unbreakable spirit and hunger for knowledge. As times grew hard and dangerous with the advent of Japanese occupation, Najin uses all her wits and bravery to survive. Even when faced with hardship upon hardship, obstacles, bureaucracy and the unforgiving oppression from their hateful new masters, somehow Najin must hold on.
What I like about the book
I went through my Korean drama phase a couple of years ago, especially enjoying the period dramas. I found the culture and customs refined and quaint albeit complex at times. This book describes the yangbans (aristocrats) of the period in vivid brush strokes akin to the beautiful calligraphy of Najin's father. Life at royal court was also included. The central character was very interesting, a girl then woman who struggled to balance her proper upbringing and duty to family with her impulsiveness and frees spirit.
As with most books of this genre, I found the pace somewhat slow. Nothing actually happened and even if they did, they took a painstaking amount of time to unravel.
A quote I liked from the book
There is no blame, and so no need for forgiveness
Rate: 4/5
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