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silodear's review against another edition
i had a hard time getting into this book. while i was captivated by the aspects of this story that were focused on relationships and assimilation, i could not get past the spy stuff. i'm surprised at myself. maybe i'll give it another try in the future.
walruz's review against another edition
3.0
The narrative is uneven--too many of the characters and relationships just dry up--but the insights into the dilemma of the self (I suppose most topically for the immigrant experience) are compelling, if at times a bit hard to decipher.
eabbott02's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jennybee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
syafa's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Reading this gave me sad K-drama vibes but then actually it was sad in ways that I wasn't expecting based on the beginning. The parts that were emotional for me were the descriptions of his Asian parents and how they described things that I never felt were weird and were such a big part of my experience that they never stood out. But now that I'm here and I don't experience them anymore, reading about them makes me realise I miss them.
serenacorley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ellenjoannecampbell's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting mix of genres and themes. Surprisingly little of the book focussed on Henry Park's life as the son of a Korean immigrant. Relationships were key, as well as his life as a spy and how that affects him. It was a good read.
jynaito's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Henry Park is a second-generation Korean American. A spy for a private firm, he is tasked with infiltrating the campaign of a New York City politician who is also Korean American, ultimately requiring that he betray one of his own. Between updates on his assignment, Park reflects on his turbulent relationship with his now-deceased father and paints a portrait of his interracial marriage—broken, traumatized, then miraculously stitched back together again. Chang-rae Lee’s thoughtful, elegant prose touches on grief, identity, morality, and assimilation. Though it was first published in 1995, this story would not be much different if it were told today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Cancer, and Child death
Minor: War, Violence, Infidelity, and Murder
imiji's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lee's prose is genuinely beautiful in parts, if overtly literary, and there's a part of me that understands why this is seen as such a foundational text in the asian american canon. but possibly because this is an older text, some things grated -- the persistent maleness of the narration, the dismissal of women, the essentialism around the supposed inherent pathos of korean culture and identity, the conflation of all immigrant experiences.