Forgotten Reflections is a gripping coming of age story set among war and romance. The novel was written by Young-Im Lee.
This is a fascinating book and I do not usually dip into the two latter categories but I love intriguing coming of age tales and the backdrop of South Korea also appealed to me. The book was so good that I couldn’t put it down and it certainly exceeded my expectations.
In the current international climate where North Korea takes center stage, “Forgotten Reflections” weaves an inspirational tale of family, lost memories, folklore and an unforgotten history, spanning three generations as South Korea rises from the ashes.
This is a really interesting book with a fantastic and thrilling original story. It is also quite easy to follow, despite flitting between the past and present.
The fascinating story is set in South Korea during The Korean War. The character I like best is Iseul, an arrogant and feisty young woman.
I am not sure that the story benefitted by being told by her granddaughter in the present day, but it still worked as a strategy. The evocative plot focuses on the relationship between Iseul and her foe-turned-friend, Jung-Soo.
Their heart-warming friendship is sweet and believable. The characters are very well drawn and readers can identify with them easily.
There was also an unexpected twist to the story, but of course I won’t mention that here! What I liked best was the way that the author personalised the sensitive experience of living through war, reminding us that it’s different for everyone.
It will change the way you see the various roles of people in a war-torn country, whether they’re fighting on the battlefield or striving to keep a small community alive.
My only reservation about this book is that, unfortunately, it needs some serious proof-reading, but I would not let that put you off giving it a try. (Note: I noticed that the cover shown on Amazon differs slightly to my copy, so perhaps the book has been edited and re-released.)
DARE TO DREAM IN THE MIDST OF WAR.
Forgotten Reflections is a powerful first novel by Young-Im Lee and it’s a highly entertaining read. I definitely recommend that you add this memorable book to your collection. Don’t miss it – this is well-worth reading.
