Publication date UK 1/5/23 BOOK 340 PAGES
I would like to thank the author, publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to pick this to read and review. all my reviews are honest.
Synopsis
Mun-gyeong, 1935. Choi MiJa is getting ready for her first day at the Elementary Good Citizen School in Japanese occupied Korea. The Choi family are wealthy landowners and have been for nineteen generations, but all that is about to change. Their privileged lifestyle will soon disappear forever, and burgeoning love is put on hold as the family have to endure hardship and loss of the Japanese Occupation, the Second World War, and the Korean War.
When peace finally arrives, there is great hope for the future, and Korea has a chance to build a just and fair society. Will it succeed?
MiJa is a timeless story that sweeps the reader from the gated town of Mun-gyeong, a mountain pass so high that even the birds cannot fly through it, to the besieged war-torn city of Busan where they have to live in the shantytown of Ami-dong built from reused gravestones.
Eventually MiJa finds herself in the remote fishing port of Mukho, on the border with North Korea, where she joins the a matriarchal group of fisherwomen.
MiJa is a tale of un-blossomed love, female sacrifice, and how a family’s hopes and dreams are crushed by the weight of historical events that still resonate in modern-day Korea.
My Review
Wow just amazing. This story is the best I have read in a long time. It was so well written that I was hanging on the authors every word. I really couldn't put this book down. It's definitely been a long time that I have been this invested in a novel and I read a lot of books. This story was so sad, emotional and atmospheric it almost felt like a true story. It's certainly a story about resilience. It really shocked me in places. It is also inspiring, if Mija can get through all life threw at her then so can we. I really can't recommend this book enough. It's a fantastic historical fiction set in South Korea. The story goes through so many changes within the country. Through civil War, occupation, failing crops, school changes, kidnap and death. Its certainly a roller coaster ride. This story will stay with me for a very long time. I know we are only in the end of January and I will probably read another 400 books. But, this book is definitely likely to be book of the year. It will take a lot to knock it off my top spot. I was totally engrossed in this book and read it all in one sitting. The characters were amazing and well developed. Only the highest of praise goes out to the author and publishing team for creating the most perfect novel. I really hope this author writes more books. I will certainly keep my eyes peeled.
Where you can buy this book
Amazon US K UNLIMITED OR $5.99, PB $9.99
Amazon UK K UNLIMITED OR £5.99, PB £9.99
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