In a city far away, bombs and assassinations shatter lives everyday. Yet, even here, hope renews itself, welling up through the rubble. Somewhere in this city, two young people are smiling, hesitating, sharing cheap cigarettes, speaking softly then boldly, falling in love. どこか遠くのある街で、人々は日々、爆弾や暗殺で命を失っている。 しかし、こんなところでも希望は瓦礫の中から湧きあがるもの。 この街のどこかで、2人の若者は笑い、戸惑い、安タバコを共に吸い、柔らかく大胆に、恋に落ちます。 As the violence worsens and escape feels ever more necessary, they hear the rumour of mysterious black doors appearing all over the city, all around the world. To walk through a door is to find a new life – perhaps in Greece, in London, in California – and to lose the old one for ever. 暴力は激しさを増し、とうとう避難が必要になった時、彼らは世界中の街に現れる謎の黒いドアの噂を聞きつけます。 ドアを通り抜ければ、きっと、ギリシャ、ロンドン、カリフォルニアで、新しい生活を手に入れることができます。でも、前の生活は永遠に失うことになるのです。 What does it mean to leave your home…
The first half was wonderful. I once thought this book would be one of my favourites. Beautifully written and I felt so close to all the characters! However, I was so disappointed by this book as it gets to the last. The book is divided into three parts. Part I was fantastic, Part II was OK, but Part III was almost like a different book. 前半はとっても良かった。読みながら、きっとお気に入りの一冊になるに違いないと思ったほど。登場人物に感情移入していました。でも、ラストが近づくにつれ、どんどん、どんどん悪くなっていく。3パートにわかれているこの一冊。パート1は最高だったのに、パート3ではもう違う本なんじゃないかな、と思ってしまいました。 The story was about Koreans who live in Japan, so-called zainichi Koreans. I think it’s so rare to find a book written about them in fiction and as well as not to become particularly anti-Japanese. It grasps concerns and history of their life very…