A strategy game & story of opposites
The game of GO is older than chess and much more subtle and stategic. It involves "stones" of opposit colors played on a board of 19 by 19 intersecting lines.
The story takes place in China during the Japanese invasion between these 2 unlikely opposites. Each chapter alternates between a Japanese soldier (born in China) and a young Chinese girl which evolves as they move towards the game, fascination with the opposing player and a honorable ending. The girl doesn't know that her opponent is the "enemy" since they only know each other because of their game strategy. The game of Go and the type of play involves provides insight into each players character and personality. This aspect makes the book interesting as well as the juxtaposition of the war into each of their lives.
At times, I found myself confused about which of the 2 players life was being described. Also, the book editor of the UK version that I used did a poor job of page layout since sometimes a full page would only have a small passage on it.
To enjoy the character development, you need to understand the story as it relates to the game of GO. The game itself was used thousands of years ago to teach war strategies of engagement and defense. Therefore, the story development of the characters, the invasion, and the game is profound.
