You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
levishak 's review for:
Please Look After Mom
by Kyung-sook Shin
A poignant story of a family grieving their Mom and wife who is literally and figuratively missing. On a trip to Seoul, the mother gets left at a busy subway station. She is suffering from the effects of strokes.The mother cannot or does not find her way back to her family. It is not clear if she has died or has disappeared to her home village.
The Mom had an inner and actual life, independent from the family. She lived her life for her family and husband, not always appreciated. This is a classic tale of parental loss, the guilt of the offspring, and the realization that mother was more than what her family realized.
The husband is actually most at fault, since he was the adult. Children, in their quest to grow into separate human beings, can be forgiven their lack of appreciation for their mother. However, the husband cannot plead innocence. He had treated his wife poorly and feels expected remorse.
The author evokes the setting superbly. The characters are portrayed masterfully, especially the oldest daughter and son and the mother. To me, this book was reminiscent of Anne Tyler, albeit originally written in Korean by a well known Korean writer.
The Mom had an inner and actual life, independent from the family. She lived her life for her family and husband, not always appreciated. This is a classic tale of parental loss, the guilt of the offspring, and the realization that mother was more than what her family realized.
The husband is actually most at fault, since he was the adult. Children, in their quest to grow into separate human beings, can be forgiven their lack of appreciation for their mother. However, the husband cannot plead innocence. He had treated his wife poorly and feels expected remorse.
The author evokes the setting superbly. The characters are portrayed masterfully, especially the oldest daughter and son and the mother. To me, this book was reminiscent of Anne Tyler, albeit originally written in Korean by a well known Korean writer.