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A review by abbie_
Native Speaker by Chang-rae Lee
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This book is very rich and Lee is in no rush to tell the story of Henry Park. It's an introspective story and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who gets frustrated with a slow-moving plot mainly carried along by character development. But to anyone interested in themes of immigration, assimilation (and why that shouldn't be the ideal), and identity then consider this one.
.
Henry Park has spent his entire life trying to be an American. But while this ideal eludes him, he also finds himself drifting further away from his Korean heritage too. Henry is forced to confront his own identity head on when he's assigned to spy on an up-and-coming Korean politician in New York.
.
I found myself incredibly wrapped up in Henry's own head by the end of this book, Lee does such a wonderful job of bringing this character to life. I was surprised when I checked to see when this book was first published - 1995! It reads like a more modern novel than its 25 years. Like in Your House Will Pay which I read in February, there's a focus on the tensions between Korean and Black communities. I'm not sure it's specifically mentioned what year it is, but if it's in the 90s then it's either leading up to or in the aftermath of the LA Riots.
.
Although John Kwang, the politician Henry infiltrates, is fictional, Lee writes him very convincingly. At one point, Kwang's office is vandalised and the press want him to make a statement, but as Kwang points out: '[they] want him to make a statement about colour. The more racial strife they can report, the more the public questions what good any of this diversity brings. The underlying sense of what's presented these days is that this country has difference that ails rather than strengthens and enriches. [...] the public may begin viewing anything outside mainstream experience and culture to be threatening and dangerous.'
.
It's awful that it's 25 years later and that statement could have been written about last week, if anything the media has gotten worse with its fear-mongering and desire to divide. This book feels more relevant than ever.
.
Henry Park has spent his entire life trying to be an American. But while this ideal eludes him, he also finds himself drifting further away from his Korean heritage too. Henry is forced to confront his own identity head on when he's assigned to spy on an up-and-coming Korean politician in New York.
.
I found myself incredibly wrapped up in Henry's own head by the end of this book, Lee does such a wonderful job of bringing this character to life. I was surprised when I checked to see when this book was first published - 1995! It reads like a more modern novel than its 25 years. Like in Your House Will Pay which I read in February, there's a focus on the tensions between Korean and Black communities. I'm not sure it's specifically mentioned what year it is, but if it's in the 90s then it's either leading up to or in the aftermath of the LA Riots.
.
Although John Kwang, the politician Henry infiltrates, is fictional, Lee writes him very convincingly. At one point, Kwang's office is vandalised and the press want him to make a statement, but as Kwang points out: '[they] want him to make a statement about colour. The more racial strife they can report, the more the public questions what good any of this diversity brings. The underlying sense of what's presented these days is that this country has difference that ails rather than strengthens and enriches. [...] the public may begin viewing anything outside mainstream experience and culture to be threatening and dangerous.'
.
It's awful that it's 25 years later and that statement could have been written about last week, if anything the media has gotten worse with its fear-mongering and desire to divide. This book feels more relevant than ever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism