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challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well written but none of the stories rocked my world nor lingered in my memory. It may be that I’m in the middle of a reading slump or it may be that I actually don’t care for it, but oh well.
I really wanted to like this book. The topics explored are right up my alley. Unfortunately, none of the stories that I read gripped me, and rather it was boring to read. DNF @ 90 pages.
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories featuring Korean American characters and families. Characters from a variety of ages, backgrounds, and relationships to their Korean American identity are featured. I enjoyed all the stories, but reviewing this a month later, none stands out as particularly memorable.
“In Korean, that word is jeong. It is one of the most meaningful word in my language. It is even more meaningful than sarang, which is the “love,” because jeong is not a duty. It is that feeling of the glad heart when you see someone.”
Thank you, finally a novel with a bit of honesty. We immigrates are just as judgmental and prejudiced as the native Americans around us. And most immigrate stories have the same racist white man as the bad guy. In this story there are plenty of racist Americans to chose from, of all races. The conversations, the obsession with food and culture, and, most importantly to me, the role of women in the home, all rings true. Excellent read.
Thank you, finally a novel with a bit of honesty. We immigrates are just as judgmental and prejudiced as the native Americans around us. And most immigrate stories have the same racist white man as the bad guy. In this story there are plenty of racist Americans to chose from, of all races. The conversations, the obsession with food and culture, and, most importantly to me, the role of women in the home, all rings true. Excellent read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A collection of short stories centered around Korean-American immigrant experiences. Although fiction, the stories feel like they come from a very real place. Choi tapped into many emotions and it was easy to empathize/sympathize with the characters. Not sure how many people noticed, but she also orders her stories from themes of re-birth to death to re-birth again. She starts with a pastor who preaches about life, then moves onto a couple who try to have kids but can’t, then a young girl in school, to a mom taking her child to piano, to a family moving in with their relatives, to a man with alzheimers (this story really made me feel a lot of things in my heart), to hospice care, to finally death and discussion of afterlife.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a collection of eight short stories and if all of them were turned into their own full-length novels, I would read every single one without a doubt.
Each story is about a Korean immigrant family in America, but we are given a wide range of voices and distinctive characters. What I especially loved is that none of the stories are told through the lens of an outsider’s perspective. By that I mean it’s not Korean immigrants clambering to find their place in white America. It’s about Koreans who happen to live in America, but are dealing with personal issues such as familial duty, self identity, dissatisfaction with life, and financial struggles. It was extremely relatable and real, with a running tone of melancholy and longing. For some of the stories, there was just a little something missing in the emotional component—the author writes in a very subtle, understated manner that sometimes leans toward detached. But overall, a wonderful collection
Each story is about a Korean immigrant family in America, but we are given a wide range of voices and distinctive characters. What I especially loved is that none of the stories are told through the lens of an outsider’s perspective. By that I mean it’s not Korean immigrants clambering to find their place in white America. It’s about Koreans who happen to live in America, but are dealing with personal issues such as familial duty, self identity, dissatisfaction with life, and financial struggles. It was extremely relatable and real, with a running tone of melancholy and longing. For some of the stories, there was just a little something missing in the emotional component—the author writes in a very subtle, understated manner that sometimes leans toward detached. But overall, a wonderful collection