Book Information
- Publisher
- Penguin Publishing Group
- Published
- 1998-03-01
- Pages
- 240 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 19.71 x 12.95 x 1.68 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9780140263350
- ISBN-10
- 0140263357
- Price
- 4145 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Literature & Fiction/Genre Fiction/Family Saga
"Powerful...a poignant and powerful debut." -- The Los Angeles Times Possessing a wisdom and maturity rarely found in a first novelist, Korean-American writer Nora Okja Keller tells a heartwrenching and enthralling tale in this, her literary debut. Comfort Woman is the story of Akiko, a Korean refugee of World War II, and Beccah, her daughter by an American missionary. The two women are living on the edge of society—and sanity—in Honolulu, plagued by Akiko's periodic encounters with the spirits of the dead, and by Beccah's struggles to reclaim her mother from her past. Slowly and painfully Akiko reveals her tragic story and the horrifying years she was forced to serve as a "comfort woman" to Japanese soldiers. As Beccah uncovers these truths, she discovers her own strength and the secret of the powers she herself possessed—the precious gifts her mother has given her. A San Francisco Chronicle bestseller In 1995, Nora Okja Keller received the Pushcart Prize for "Mother Tongue", a piece that is part of Comfort Woman .
Nora Okja Keller was born in Seoul, Korea, and now lives in Hawaii with her husband and two daughters. She received the Pushcart Prize in 1995 for "Mother Tongue," a piece from her first novel, Comfort Woman , winner of a 1998 American Book Award.
Reviews
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Comfort Woman
We never forget about the past tragedy of Korean nation. Especially "comfort women of Japanese military"! Korean had lost own their nation, name, mother tongue, cultures and national traditions. All because of Japanese colonial rule. Now so many youger Korean hardly know about their nation's history, Korean language and spirits. I learned great sorrow, unforgetable AKIKO's life and Korean shamanism from this book.
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not enough
This is a subject Im personally ignorant about. The Comfort Women left me with the feeling I want to know, to rread and learn more.
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Five Stars
Amazing seller and VERY good product! Highly recommend!
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Poignant Duality of Motherhood
As required reading for my Female Gothic literature class, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But what I was treated to was an eye opening account of the suffering of Comfort Women and the duality that exists within the realm of motherhood. Graphic and poignant, I recommend this wholeheartedly.
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I'm giving it five stars because it's excellent, and because the plight of women during wartime ...
It's not the book's fault that the subject matter is horrifying, the more so because realistic. I'm giving it five stars because it's excellent, and because the plight of women during wartime needs more awareness. But I can't say I "love" it because it is such difficult material. I will say that the overall message is one of hope and reclamation.
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5 Stars for $.01!
I received this book, which I couldn't find elsewhere, in about 8 days. Its cost was $.01, which meant I paid postage for a free book, essentially. The book is one of a genre I feel important to read and an era I feel important to understand. In addition, the spirit world of Korea, so powerful, came through with great clarity. Glad I ordered this!