White Chrysanthemum

The heart wrenching novel ‘White Chrysanthemum’ by Mary Lynn Bracht is one of those incredible reads that will stay with me for a long time. The story begins in 1943 with 16 year-old Hana and her 9 year-old sister, Emi. They live an ideal life in Korea where Hana and her mother dive in the ocean for fish, their father is a fisherman and little Emi protects their catches on the shore. One day, Hana comes up from the water to see some soldiers walking over to kidnap her unsuspecting sister. Hana quickly swims to the shore, distracts the soldiers and so they kidnap her instead. The rest of the book alternates chapters between Hana’s horrific experiences having to live as a ‘comfort woman’ in a brothel for the Japanese soldiers. And Emi’s life after her sister was taken and living with her family’s loss. I’m studying for my MA in history so I’ve taken a lot of history courses but not much of them has been in the field of Asian history. I had no idea the Korean people suffered so much during this time period. The way the females were treated was just heinous. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn anything about WWII or Asian history. It’s even just a great story showing the love between sisters and the resilience and positivity a person can have even during a difficult and challenging life. Btw, this is Bracht’s first novel! Which is incredible because she did such an amazing job with her story development, historical research and just overall writing. It is just super impressive. I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.

Hana and Emi are sisters living a happy life on Jeju Island off Korea. Hana dives into the sea for food along with her mother. Their father is a fisherman. Emi guards the catch. The Japanese are a constant threat. When WWII starts, at sixteen Hana is kidnapped and sent to China to be a "comfort woman". She must service the Japanese soldiers. Emi is devastated to lose her sister. Told in alternating viewpoints, Hana's experiences are harrowing as she's brutalized by men. Emi's side is many years later as she hides her heartbreak from her family. Based on fact, the "comfort women" were denied by the Japanese for decades. The story is beautifully told, though some scenes are dragged out too long. I'm glad I read it.

Mary Lynn Bracht, you did an outstanding job writing this little known piece of history that has occupied a place in every war that has taken place since the dawn of time. Women have been sacrificed as sex slaves forever. The men who use them as recepticals and toss them aside, both mentally and physically, are the same men who come home and continue this line of behavior in their own lives. This tragic story is difficult to read, but we need to face the reality of the consequences of war. It’s not just the military who suffer and die. It is a large number of people who are taking the brunt of the situation and who sacrifice themselves through no fault of their own. Please read this story carefully and share with others.

This is an excellent book but a very difficult read. It’s a story that not many Westerners know and is an important read, but deals with a lot of sexual violence.

Fascinating history lesson of endurance, courage and national pride from such young girls in wartime. Such a vivid description of what the naive teens were submitted to as well as losing all their families.

"White Chrysanthemum" is a heartbreaking and beautiful novel about Hana and Emi. During the Korea wartime, the japanese soldiers were dominating the country and, based on this scenario, Hana was having a peaceful life when, one day, a japanese soldier appeared at the beach and took her away (aka kidnap). I literally flew through the pages as I was hooked on what could happen to Emi and Hana. The chapters are alternated between the two sisters' point of view and I basically adored it. I have to emphasize that the emotions are so raw and intense that I found myself deeply connected to the characters, so much that, sometimes, I had to take a breath. Hana's feelings are so true: her protective instinct towards her little sister, her endurance when facing the heavy struggles and her final feelings in the end of the book. Talking about Emi, I wasn't quite attached to her in the beginning of the story, but soon started to like and understand her. All the encounters throughout this book make "White Chrysanthemum" so thought-provoking and keep on thinking for a long time even after finished it. Mary Lynn Bracht is masterful in describing the reality of that period of time and conveying genuine emotions through this book. I highly recommend it (even if you are not asian)!

This is a wonderful book about two sisters who were skin divers during the twentieth century. They were separated by the war and both suffered in different ways by being women in patriarchal cultures. It is grim reading, at times like an adventure story. Horrible to know how many women suffer this way then and now. Author did good job with characters. Recommend.

Many books inspire. Some books build happy thoughts. Some make me think deeper. Some create a sadness. And some never leave my mind. This story, this book, encompasses all of those emotions. All of them and more. This is a story well worth reading….and reading again. The characters are written about with superior care. Reading this story I began to live the character journey with them. Finishing this story I more fully understood the pain and agony of the Comfort Women. This is an incredible story. Well researched and well written. Thank you Mary Lynn Bracht.

Excellent description of what we all have to learn. History. All the family members are spectacular and a great emotional tale for generations to come. I am happy to have learned about this sad moment in History

Profoundly sad to read of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army during WW2. Very well written, descriptions of scenery and life in Korea are quite beautiful. To know that to this day that Japan has not acknowledged or given compensation for its actions during WW2, either for the comfort women or other atrocities they committed in POW camps speaks of some terrible flaw in their psyche. I would recommend the book for its subject matter.

Page-turner that gives light into war atrocities as well as true love i enjoyed the book and would recommend it

Excellent book but the subject matter is intense and disturbing (Korean "comfort women" taken from their homes and made to serve in brothels during World War 2) so readers should be aware. I couldn't put it down, it was beautifully written and brought history to life very well.

It's worth reading this book. History speaks realities, what is story for some is a reality and life for others