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A review by jillwedemeier
What We Kept to Ourselves by Nancy Jooyoun Kim
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
From the "New York Times" bestselling author of "The Last Story of Mina Lee" comes "What We Kept to Ourselves," the story of the one family's search for answers after the disappearance of their mother.
The story begins in 1999 as Ana and Ronald Kim are struggling to move on after their mother, Sunny, vanished one year ago. Their father, John, is feeling more isolated from his children than ever before. Nearly a year after Sunny's disappearance, John stumbles upon a dead man in the family's backyard. The stranger is holding a letter addressed to Sunny, leaving the family with questions about the man's history and possible connections to Sunny. As secrets unfurl, we learn more about Sunny's life, beginning in 1977 when Sunny is pregnant and has just moved from Los Angeles from Korea with her husband.
"What We Kept to Ourselves" explores the consequences of secrets between parents and children and husÂbands and wives, and is a powerful meditation on identity, migration, and the American dream. This book first caught my attention when it was described as a mystery/thriller, but I think it would be more accurate to categorize it as historical fiction or family drama. The story switches between the points of view of John, Ana, and Ronald, with flashbacks beginning in 1977 from Sunny's perspective, so you really get to know each character. I enjoyed the chapters told from Sunny's point of view the most and found her story moving and heartbreaking. There is so much to discuss about this book, making it a perfect choice for book clubs and reading groups.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review.
The story begins in 1999 as Ana and Ronald Kim are struggling to move on after their mother, Sunny, vanished one year ago. Their father, John, is feeling more isolated from his children than ever before. Nearly a year after Sunny's disappearance, John stumbles upon a dead man in the family's backyard. The stranger is holding a letter addressed to Sunny, leaving the family with questions about the man's history and possible connections to Sunny. As secrets unfurl, we learn more about Sunny's life, beginning in 1977 when Sunny is pregnant and has just moved from Los Angeles from Korea with her husband.
"What We Kept to Ourselves" explores the consequences of secrets between parents and children and husÂbands and wives, and is a powerful meditation on identity, migration, and the American dream. This book first caught my attention when it was described as a mystery/thriller, but I think it would be more accurate to categorize it as historical fiction or family drama. The story switches between the points of view of John, Ana, and Ronald, with flashbacks beginning in 1977 from Sunny's perspective, so you really get to know each character. I enjoyed the chapters told from Sunny's point of view the most and found her story moving and heartbreaking. There is so much to discuss about this book, making it a perfect choice for book clubs and reading groups.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Racism, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and War