Name a new fact your learned about Korean culture from reading the book

[Faithy_Goody_Star]

I knew that Korean had a relationship with Japan but I wasn't certain if they were colonized by them. I discovered this after reading the book.

[joynob24365]

I learned a lot of things. But I don't know much about Korea's history and learning about Japan and Korea's ''relation'' was new to me. I didn't know Japan oppressed Korea.

[Liveforchrist51]

I had no clue that they felt so ashamed of having female children . I am not sure that in today’s time they feel that way still, yet to know that if you have several daughters and no son is considered shameful. That is so sad to me. I will admit however, I was pretty excited to learn about all of it.

[jaym_tan]

It really saddened me to know that divorce is very shameful for the yangban. Seems like this one takes it to a whole new level of shame in the story.

[Buk Nerd]

I had no idea that they put wax on the bride's eyes on the day of the wedding so she cannot open them!! That sounds so dangerous! I wonder how many of them still do this and how many brides have to go to the hospital bc of wax getting in their eye on their wedding day.

This was a shocking discovery for me too. Wax on the eye has to be as painful and as dangerous as it sounds. I hope this practice has been discontinued.

[Archaeoptery]

That Korea was under Japan's rule.

[Nferdi20]

Before reading the book, I did not know that Japan had once occupied Korea. I learned through reading the novel that the Empire of Japan not only took over the Korean country but managed to subject all its citizens to salve labor, almost eradicated their native language and culture. In the end, the spirit of the Korean's could not be completely extinguished.

[Nithilah Ayyappan]

I was surprised as to how divorce was viewed in this society. The things you need to bear just to avoid a divorce were really interesting to me.

[Nferdi20]

I learned that the Korean culture tends to be a more internal collective culture. Their culture centers around the family unit. Other Asian cultures, such as Chinese or Japanese, tend to emphasize the social aspect of culture or external.

[Joyjim]

I also didn't know that it was normal for parents to pick marriage mates for their children. I wonder if the practice is still prevalent in this century.

[Wesley Friday]

The fact that Japan had invaded Korea in the past. Although I had heard this historical event a number of times in pop culture references, the book offers the reader a more in-depth event of the event.

[Obi Egbuniwe]

Some of the beauty customs were definitely new to me. The wax on the eyes and the antique cosmetic surgery methods. I didn't know that those were a thing.

[Gabriella H]

I learned about the oppressive role Japan played in Korea's history, Korean food and culture, and some of the similarities their culture shares with some African cultures.