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A Gesture Life Book Summary and Study Guide

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Detailed plot synopsis reviews of A Gesture Life


Franklin Hata is a man who has spent his entire life as an outsider trying to fit into different societies, never quite succeeding. Through a series of flashbacks framed by scenes of Hata's life in suburban New York State, we discover Hata's tragic past. As a medic in the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, he fell in love with a Korean "comfort woman," a forbidden affair resulting in the tragedy and horror reverberating through Hata's "gesture life."
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The review of this Book prepared by Christine Hung



Chapter Analysis of A Gesture Life

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Plot & Themes

Tone of book?    -   depressed Romance/Romance Problems    -   Yes Kids growing up/acting up?    -   Yes Family, struggle with    -   Yes Struggle with:    -   Daughter Internal struggle/realization?    -   Yes Struggle over    -   conduct in war    -   vague finding self/purpose in life (i.e. no plot to book) Kind of sex:    -   rape Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Parents/lack of parents problem?    -   rebelling against parent's expectations Taboo sex story?    -   Yes

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Profession/status:    -   doctor Age:    -   60's-90's

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   6 () United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Northeast Asia/Pacific    -   Yes Asian country:    -   Southeast Asia Jungles?    -   Yes Small town?    -   Yes Small town people:    -   nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee Misc setting    -   fort/military installation

Writing Style

Sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   vague references only Amount of dialog    -   significantly more descript than dialog

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Chang-rae Lee Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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