The Calligrapher's Daughter

by Eugenia Kim, Gema Mawardi (Translator), Yenni Mailina (Editor)

Pada abad kedua puluh di Korea, Najin Han, putri seorang kaligrafer, merindukan hak untuk menentukan pilihan atas nasib sendiri. Sadar putrinya seorang yang cerdas dan keras kepala, sang ibu membebaskan dirinya untuk mencari jati diri, namun sang ayah sangat keras dan teguh memegang tradisi. Terlebih, ada ancaman dari Jepang yang sedang berusaha mengontrol pemerintahan Negeri Ginseng tersebut.

Namun, ketika ayah Najin Han berusaha menikahkan putrinya dengan laki-laki dari keluarga bangsawan, ibunya malah menentang dan menyuruh Najin Han melayani di istana raja sebagai pendamping bagi seorang putri muda.

Sayangnya, tak lama kemudian kaisar Korea mati terbunuh. Budaya monarki yang berabad-abad dipelihara pun akhirnya menemui ajal bersama pimpinan tertinggi di negeri itu. Dalam situasi yang serba tidak pasti, Najin Han memulai perjalanan hidupnya sendiri. Dia memutuskan untuk melanjutkan pendidikan—dan menemukan cinta di tengah perjalanan yang panjang itu....

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Asia, Historical, Book Club, Asian Literature, Audiobook

600 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2009

About the author

Eugenia Kim is an MFA graduate of Bennington College, and teaches fiction in the low-residency MFA Creative Writing Program at Fairfield University. THE CALLIGRAPHER'S DAUGHTER is her first novel, and her second novel, THE KINSHIP OF SECRETS, will be published November 6, 2018..

Reviews

[Eugenia Kim]

I wrote this book.

[Debbie W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. Goodreads friend Annette's review interested me;
2. I enjoy historical fiction based on cultures that I'm unfamiliar with; and,
3. June is my "Biographical Fiction Month"!

Praises:
1. protagonist Najin Han was inspired by author Eugenia Kim's mother's life in Korea during Japan's occupation/annexation in the early 1900s;
2. a strong character-driven story! Some were likeable, others not (which is to be expected), but all struggled with following traditions and/or independently choosing new paths;
3. although slow-moving, the plot is rich in descriptions about Korean culture. Various hopes and joys that the characters experienced balanced nicely with the hardships they endured during this particular time period.

Small Niggle:
Although authentic most of the time, sometimes this audiobook's narrator sounded too "old" or "whiny" for some of the characters.

An informative yet entertaining story for historical fiction fans!

[Dilushani Jayalath · Rating 3 out of 5]

After completing this, I can see where all the mixed reviews coem from. This is actually a very useful insight into World War II Korea, a time when everything was at the cusp of change there. The monarchy was slowly abolished, the Japanese taking over, a time where Korea was lost, between two cultures, slowly losing their own, being stripped of what was theirs. The story captures this perfectly. But at the same time there's something holding the story back. There is something too personal of the author that has been added. At time this would be helpful but right now, it seems to be the downfall for this.

The constant reminder of the religious factor in the book seems more personal rather than simply a part of the journey. This in my opinion is the point that kep holding the book back. The mention of religion can either bring people to love it or some to not like it as much. For me it was the latter. I am in no way someone who dislikes the mention of it, I am after all from a country that puts religion before anything but when it comes to historical fiction such as this and without any tag or warning that this would be like this, I was slightly dissapointed with the frequent mention of it.

I would not mention that religion was the complete downfall of the book but rather the ultimate moral. We hace Nah-jin trying to be a modern woman while upholding their culture and traditional values. She's always trying to go against the norm that makes women stuck in the house being the scullery maid. At first I was happy reading how even through the smallest thing she managed to revolt. Including her mother who took steps to work against the harsh patriarchy dominating the story. But ultimately....... the story just took a turn in lieu with the patriarchy they were fighting against. At the end everything worked out the way it was in the beginning? What happened to all that struggles they went through? Even till the end Han was talking about how his son was better? Ilsun got away with everything because he was the FIRST BORN SON. Uksun died with unhappiness in her heart, she truly did not deserve that ending. And most importantly Nah-jin..... what was that ending? She waits 11 years, toiling away not for her happiness and then reunite with Calvin? I was happy she managed to reunite with him, I truly was and I was so happy that they both stayed devoted to each other but the manner in which the author solved it was what I was not happy with. The execution of the finale really left me with a sour taste in my mouth. A part of me wanted to dock off another star for it too but afte the long journey, I managed not to.

I picked the book up with many expectations, but in the end they were not fulfilled. The saddest part was how the book had the chance to be a memorable historical biography but it just fell flat.
But as I always mention, do not get unmotivated as it could be better for you and always give the books a chance. Till then annyeonghaseyo.

[Patricia Callegari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some reviewers have written that this book starts too slowly, but I was captivated from the opening sentence, "I learned I had no name on the same day I learned fear."

At the heart of the story, told from several points of view, is Najin, the calligrapher's daughter. Though headstrong and ambitious, she is bound in ways Westerners cannot understand to family and tradition.

Based loosely on the lives of her parents, the author has fashioned a story that seamlessly weaves a tapestry of ancient & pre-war modern Korean history into a harsh, yet compelling and beautiful personal narrative.

Korea has always been a bit of a mystery. I was fascinated and appalled by the history of Japanese aggression and subjugation of this lovely, ancient culture. The personal and national suffering seems unbearable, yet they persevered - buoyed by faith, family and tradition

I was especially delighted to learn that the elegant ink drawings illustrating chapters in the book were by the author's mother, who was finally able to express her artistic talent in her 80's.

Absolutely life affirming.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first fiction set in Korea. This is a story loosely based on the author's mother's life in Korea during the Japanese occupation from the early 20th C through 1945. I knew little of this time in Korean history. A reminder of the typical result of "conquerors", enacting policies in an effort to obliterate a culture to assert their own and gain power. The dichotomy was although the regime could be brutal, it did begin to bring a modernization to the country. What a horrible way to be forced to change.
Najin Han is born into an aristocratic family whose own household has it's own divide. The physical gender divide of the household both in tasks and structure, and the social and religious divide between Najin's Mother & Father. Her mother is more forward thinking despite her adherence to the traditional ways, and her father is resistant to change whether cultural or religious. Najin's mother is the heart of this family and a devout Christian, her father although converted to Christianity still holds firmly to Confucian ways and values. As a girl, it wasn't even important enough to her father to give her a name.
Our heroine's story unfolds as so many who try to straddle two ways of life- the traditional and the modern; she wants to LEARN. Her mother supports that effort and convinces her husband to allow Najin to go to the missionary school; and that begins Najin's journey in a new life. It will be filled with achievements and obstacles as she tries to navigate her family's expectations, her Christian faith & the minefield of Japanese policies; all are at odds with her growing aspirations.
As I came to the end of this story, I wondered if Najin could symbolize Korea's own changes from a ancient traditional kingdom to a modern independent nation.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is fictional; however it is inspired by the life of the author’s mother, resulting in vivid picture of Korean culture.

According to Korean customs an adult was addressed “by one’s family relational position, or profession.” The title was passed on to the daughter. Calligraphy has nothing to do with her. Because of the title of this book, I imagined she’d be involved in calligraphy. But this was strictly reserved for sons only. “Woman’s life was: obey one’s father, obey one’s husband, obey one’s sons.”

The story is set during early 20th century, when Japan tries to assimilate Korea. The story spans thirty years.

It is about young girl, Najin Han, whose mother tries to convince her stern father, set to maintain the traditional way of Korea, to enroll the 8 year old into girl’s school.

At the end of the school years, at the age of 14, the father arranges to marry her to an aristocratic family. His wife for the first time defies him and arranges for the daughter to serve at the court, where she finishes upper school.

With king’s assassination, his dynasty ends as well as Najin’s role at the court. She pursues higher education at the first women’s college in Korea started by American missionaries, Ewha. She finds love where she least expects it and finds hope for her further studies of medicine in America. But the fate has something else in store for her.

In this story the author explains the Confucian doctrine, philosophy of the scholar official class, through the layout of their house. How it was gender divided. The doctrine emphasis the importance of the family and social harmony. The official class they were part of was yangban, mainly composed of civil servant and military officials.

The book is well-written and is very absorbing. It gives a good insight into the Korean culture and their conflict with Japan - the second is not a detail portrayal of a war conflict. The treasure of this book is the culture aspect, which I cherished greatly.

@Facebook/BestHistoricalFiction
@https://bestinhistoricalfiction.blogs...

[Chrissie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not recommend this book. If I ask myself what I think of it, my response is: Yeah well, it was OK. I have no enthusiasm. I have no urge to try and convince you to pick it up. You can learn a bit from the book. There are some interesting facts about Korean history, but you can just as well skim Wikipedia. A book of historical fiction is supposed to make history come alive. The book doesn’t do that.

If you choose to read this book you must be aware that the religious content is a very central theme. That Christians did missionary work in Korea is a part of the historical content, but it goes beyond that. On almost every page the characters beseech God for help. The text is peppered with:

Amen! The mother rarely opens her mouth except to say this. Of course I am exaggerating, but not much.

My voice broke and I wept while mother held my hand and murmured, “Praise God, praise God.” (page 311)

We must trust God. (page 312)

God’s will is not comprehensible at times. We are given the greatest gift of faith. (page 312)

And taste this:

I’m grateful, Abbuh-min, and ashamed. Forgive your worthless daughter. (page 313)

This is a family steered by deep Confucian principles. The daughter’s self-abasement is perhaps an accurate portrayal of traditional beliefs, but it is noteworthy that her brother, the honored son of the family does not choose to show respect to his father. He is the first to throw off the yoke of tradition but grabs all privileges afforded him. Each character is a simplified personification of a type. The mother is religious. The son is the spoiled, naughty brat while the daughter is struggling to find faith and be the wonderful wife, daughter and sister. I find her too good to be true. There is no depth to the characters.

This is supposed to be based on the true events of the author’s mother, but there is no author’s note that clarifies what is fact and what is fiction. Given then that this is a book of fiction the author could have better used her imagination to create characters and a plot that grips the reader. There is a chapter of disparate letters dispassionately informing the reader of diverse events. The letters lack portions. These are filled in with black lines. No explanation is given. There is an historical note at the end of the book covering the history of Korea, summarized in a whopping three pages. There is also a glossary of Korean terms.

The content is overly religious. There is no interesting discussion of religious beliefs. The character portrayals are either black or white. The writing is simplistic, and the history covered feels as though it is meant for young adults. Oh, and I laughed only once, when I read the line:
“I closed my eyes, nearly laughing out loud at the sheer joy and shock of him, and at my mounting impatience for him to quit praying so we could talk!” (page 359) I found that quite apt!

*************************

Thoughts after 140 pages: Is this a YA book? At least the first part is focused upon questions concerning the path toward adulthood and boyfriends and schoolwork. Heck, some YA books do work for me.

There is little depth to the characters. You do not intimately relate to their problems. This is for two reasons. The family, particularly the father, follows the traditional thoughts and customs of the aristocrat class. One simply does not reveal one's intimate thoughts. It is not done! To write the book differently, to reveal inner thoughts, to have the characters behave expressively would be inaccurate. Secondly, when trouble hits this family, if they don't fall back on traditions, then they turn to religious beliefs for guidance. The main character, Najin, prays:

"Father God", I began with, with hands clasped tightly to my chest, "I promise to be more ladylike and less willful and independent. I promise to study hard and learn all that I can, if you let Sunsaeng-min marry again and bring her father home. Amen. And make her brother an angel. And let her know that somehow. Amen." (page 91)

This may appeal more to others, and I admit it is important to acknowledge the role Christianity played at this time in Korea. The basis for this novel are the true life experiences of the author's mother.

The writing is not exceptional.

Why do I continue? Because the history of Korea is woven into the story. The Emperor is floundering....and then poisoned. The Japanese are encroaching. Najin is born in 1910. She is not even given a name; Najin, China, is where her mother is from and she is the daughter of the woman from Najin! The story will continue through WW2. That is the time focus. Traditional Korean customs, particularly those of the upper-class are clearly portrayed, although it does feels like the book is written to teach history to a child. The mother / daughter relationship is touching.

[Taury · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Calligrapher's Daughter by Eugenia Kim is a historical novel set in early 20th century Korea during the Japanese occupation. The story follows Najin Han, the daughter of a calligrapher, as she navigates the challenges of this turbulent era. The author vividly portrays Korean traditions and family dynamics, showcasing her in-depth research. However, the novel's slow pace and extensive historical exposition might detract from character development and plot progression. While Najin is a well-developed character, others feel underexplored, making the narrative less impactful. This book is a decent read for those interested in historical fiction and Korean culture.

[Kristin Lee Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll tell you the truth about this one: I almost gave it up. The first 1/3 or so of the book is pretty slow moving and I had a hard time getting in to it. Then, all of the sudden, it takes off and turns in to one of the most beautifully moving books I've ever read.

I loved the insight into Korean culture and history. I learned a lot that gave me some new thoughts about the Korea of today. I especially loved the father in the story. He was a difficult, crusty-seeming man but he was losing everything he had held dear. I can sympathize with his feelings about that.

The mother, too, was fantastic. I loved her tender care for her daughter. I loved the way she was willing to do unthinkable things - like stand up to her husband - to make a way for her daughter to chase her dreams. I also loved the way she attempted to blend old and new. She was a pioneer in her own home...and that's the most difficult place to be a pioneer.

The main character, the daughter Najin, was fantastic. I loved her struggle with faith and the honest way she questioned how human suffering can fit in with a belief in an all-powerful God. I also love the way those questions were left open...sometimes there is no answer...at least not one we can understand here on earth.

Basically, I just loved this book and will probably have to purchase a copy of my own. If you like books that seem to bring out the universality of the human experience, this one is for you. If you liked A Thousand Splendid Suns, Saving Fish from Drowning or Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, this one's for you. If you just love books, read this one...you'll love it too.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has been reading my reviews knows I love historical fiction. Some of my favorite historical novels are based on some actual event, educate me about places and times that I know very little about, and are both well written and well researched. The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia Kim fits all the above mentioned criteria. Based in part on the experiences of Kim’s own mother, The Calligrapher’s Daughter opens in the early twentieth century Korea, at the end of the Joseon Dynasty. Najin Han, privileged daughter of the calligrapher, is a woman ahead of her time, a fact that may in save her family and her very life. Najin’s mother encourages her independent thinking, strong-willed daughter while her father desperately clings to tradition and the dying monarchy that has defined Korean culture for centuries. As the Japanese gain control of Korea, Najin is constantly pulled between tradition and modern thinking. Combining the very best elements of historical fiction, The Calligrapher’s Daughter, balances research with sentiment. While reader gain an education on the history of Korea the true beauty of this novel in in the writing. Kim is a gifted storyteller who has created a character that will inspire and move readers.

[i. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read historical fiction in a long time and I only started this novel because it was about Korea , which I was planning on visiting.

I didn't know anything about the Japanese invasion of Korea and I really liked the way it was explained through the eyes of the main character , a girl and then a woman without a name. Their traditional way of living before the Japanese , the influence of religion and their fight for freedom are vividly described by Eugenia Kim. Women's rights and education also play an important role in the novel .

I would recommend this book to fans of historical novels and strong female characters. It is not an easy read, since it describes a very hard period of time for Korea ; the worst but also the best of humankind appear in the story.

The Calligrapher's Daughter is inspired by the life of the author's parents and I think this is what gives greater value to the book.On the beautiful website created for the novel you can see amazing black and white photographs of the author and her family .

www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com :book reviews,travel pictures and more.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another win. This was a great book, and I would recommend it to fans of Wild Swans by Jung Chang, Leaving Mother Lake by Yang Erche Namu & Christine Mathie, and even Memoirs of a geisha by Arthur Golden. I got the same feeling as I got from those books, and not just because those took place in China and Japan, and this one in Korea. No, it was because two of those were about real events, and in this one the author was inspired by her mother's story. There was reality and everyday life. And life in a time of turmoil.


This was the story about Najin, a girl who is not named and gets her name by mistake, a name that doesn't even mean anything. She lives in Korea, a country occupied by Japan, and life gets harder and harder as the Japanese tries to oppress the people. She is headstrong, much to her fathers regret. And thanks to her mother she gets to attend missionary school, and she has a real yearning for education. But her father wants to hold on to the old ways, and tradition. While she wants more.


I admired her a lot, because she was so strong and wanted so much. And then there is the way they spoke then, I was fascinated. She meets the emperor and thanks him for remembering a a screen her dad had painted.


"Thank you for your Imperial Highness's kindness to this persons worthless family."

And that is not the only time she says something like that, but it is used in other places. So yes rather fascinated by the way they spoke back then.


It is a story about a girl growing up, going to school, and everyday life. And watching the political unrest around her. Her dad getting beaten and put in jail, people dying after a failed protest march, a woman taking her own life after being raped by soldiers. Land being given away to Japanese families, and Korean families starving. At the same time she also spends time at court, and watches the fall of the royal family, as the emperor is murdered. Her dad who was a famous calligrapher, and who had a lot of money slowly poorer and poorer.


But she never says that this is wrong, and this is right. The book tells it as she sees it, and also sometimes from her father's and mother's POV. There is also a mention about a certain rebel leader up north, but her dad is not so big on communists, even if they fight the Japanese.


This was such an enjoyable story. 30 years of Korean history in a country that truly changed during that time. There is friendship, hardship, and even romance promised as the grows up as the Armstrong woman she was.

A truthful look at a time gone by.



Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Very pretty.

Reason for Reading. I picked this one out from the catalogue they had.

Final thoughts: I recommend it. It was a lovely story, and so well told.

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been trying SO hard to like this book. I keep telling myself if I read just a little more, maybe things will gel and I can "bond" with the book. But after almost 100 pages it's just not happening for me, so I'm done trying. This is a book where the writing is quite good but the storytelling is not, if that makes sense. She takes FOR.....EV.....ER to build up to a particular event, and then when something happens, it doesn't really *happen*. She passes over it quickly and goes back to building up to the next non-event.

That said, I think many other people will enjoy it, just not me.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soft, gentle prose shapes an unnamed girl’s story as she endures a diminished pedigree, loss of hopes and home together with a failed marriage during the Japanese occupation of Korea in Eugenia Kim's The Calligrapher's Daughter.

A traditional, upperclass Korean man, the girl’s father shows his disappointment at the birth of a daughter, by declining to name her when her birth coincides with the fall of Korea to the Japanese. Najin, as the girl comes to be nicknamed at age eight, struggles to understand her namelessness. Her future clouded by her father’s opposition and sweeping government reforms, Najin cobbles together a delicate balance of her father’s ideals and the reality of Korea under Japanese rule.

Kim’s sweeping tale offers a woman’s perspective on Korea’s strict patriarchal society. Heavy with sentiment, Kim tells her mother’s winding story in an uncomplicated way. It may be historically accurate that protestant religions flourished in Korea long before missionaries arrived, but the Christian motif runs a bit rampant here, overly pedantic and at times even pushy. Thorough as a sermon, the underlying religious aspect of the novel is inseparable from its characters and, in fact, largely motivates them. At the root of the book is the bond of family, which Kim beautifully displays. Holding true to the emotional restraint of the characters, Kim heightens a reader’s ability to infer meaning from tone, posture and word selection.

No one expected anything of her, an unnamed Korean girl. But her honest struggles with identity, education, marriage and faith will resonate deeply, striking a bright and surprisingly modern chord with readers.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I knew about pre Korean-War history was, well, nothing. So I found myself doing research on the side as I'm apt to do when reading about an unfamiliar place or time. But the lack of knowledge didn't hurt when reading this book, the story of early 20th century Korea comes out through the unnamed daughter, Najin, and her family & friends.

It's beautiful. Hauntingly and achingly beautiful. Najin seems so real - conflicted about everything - tradition vs progress, love vs freedom, so forth and so on.

There's not many books that see me literally tearing up and feeling my heart break for someone. Looking back those books have been Peony in Love, Memoirs of a Geisha... makes me wonder if there's something that these cultures had, or have, that really connects to your inner soul? As easy as it is for Westerners to lump all Asian cultures together, the more I look, the more differences I see between these nations and people. But there's some common thread that I just adore. Perhaps its the exotic femininity that just fills these books? I'm not sure. And, well, it really doesn't matter.

The main thing is this book takes you away to a time and place and entwines you with a young girl, trying to make sense of a world that is radically changing, who becomes a serene and wise woman -- but how throughout it, she's still the same person. Hiding in the lilacs, attending court functions, sitting alone in a jail cell, nursing sick relatives, or scrubbing the floor, Najin is at the core still Najin. No matter what happened or where she found herself, no one or nothing could take her own self away from her.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written; loved it, got caught up in it. It felt like you were right there with the protagonists and the family. It was also an area of historical fiction I knew nothing about. I felt like I was witnessing a lost past, dear to a culture whose history and traditions have been unknown to the mainstream. I did feel moved knowing pieces of it were autobiographical, and that the author of the story borrowed and wove from her mother 19s own story. I admit to wanting more at the end, and wishing there were an epilogue. So many questions. Mostly, were her dreams fulfilled? How did that final most important conversation left unheard by us turn out? What was the dialogue, that hopefully, obviously kept them woven together? Ultimately, is love more important that faith? Which was it that bound them all those years, and all the other characters in the story too 26 Was it love, faith, duty, or can it not be teased out? I love when personal and political revolution coincide, and by the end of the story both were on the brink. The tension gets answered only by knowing the calligraphers granddaughter is writing the novel in America, and that Koreans (and other cultures) are still practicing their rites, and traditions.

Oddly, though the universe is never odd, just unseen, I had the opportunity to speak and know deeply three Koreans, when this book fell into my lap. I have of late been really curious about the hundred day ceremony, nowadays done at around 1 year, and curious about foretelling a child 19s destiny or personality. Will and predestination run throughout the book. The tension between destiny and choice, duty and passion, obligation and desire. Ambition/spirit, with deference and timidity. Tarot, Astrology, numerology, and other forms of mysticism. Do they guide, foretell, speak one truth, or the truth? Curious 13 beautifully written. Yes, the truth was spoken. It was her mothers story, with the brush still kept, that all the family members chose, and chose to use. An image I will never forget.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly a heartwarming and lovely tale, one of those novels that touches you in such a way, you hate for it to end. It is story of a Korean girl and her mother, a story of a proud nation battling the aggressiveness of another, a story of a man coming to understand and accept that old ways and lifestyle must change, and a story of love that survives many hardships. All these stories in one magnificent novel. The Korean girl, Najin, is growing up in a very Confucian household. Her mother, however, strives for Najin to get an education and to make something of herself. Throughout the many years, wars, and tribulations, Najin's mother is there for her, supporting her and fighting for her, even standing up to her strict husband to save Najin's future. Najin, does indeed, make something of herself despite her nation's constant battles with Japan and being separated from her husband and even imprisoned. Readers also see things from Najin's father's point of view, as he comes of age in a society that is straying from his traditional beliefs and he comes to slowly accept that his daughter is not so "worthless" after all. Tho taking a minor role in the novel, a love story also thrives. Being married for only a day and separated for eleven years, reader's will find out if love is enough for Najin and her husband. The ending will leave reader's dabbing their eyes. Truly, a gem and absolute must read. Highly recommended.

[hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

History, tradition and culture all in one. A story of a girl since her younger age to marriage life-- family and love, in pursuing her dreams and being a good daughter with some religious principles in between. Few events were told beautifully depicting the feelings and hardships during the Japanese colonial rule in Korea. Content was okay though sometimes a bit slow, and character's traditional beliefs sometimes give me a bit of uneasy feeling. I'm not really into historical stuff but somehow the story was enjoyable and heartwarming. Every scenes were told in vividly detailed-- seasons and years in chapters, quite engrossing and truly heartwarming.

Wonderful and inspirational.

[Susan (aka Just My Op) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I learned I had no name on the same day I learned fear.” The haunting first line promises good things to come and does not disappoint. This Korean daughter was called Najin, the town of her mother, in lieu of a name because her father would not grant her a naming ceremony or a name.

Najin's family is very traditional and privileged at the beginning of the 20th century, when Japan starts dominating Korea. As a girl child, Najin is taught traditions and restraints incomprehensible to most of us today, yet managed to achieve much. Her father is very rigid in maintaining the old ways and her mother is compliant, like water. Her brother is spoiled and petulant, caught between two worlds. As Japanese dominance gains strength, the family knows poverty, as so much of the country, and their traditions as a Korean family and faith as a Christian family, are considered subversive.

Covering almost half a century, the story does not always move quickly but I never found myself bored with it. I love the look at Korean life during this period, and cannot imagine developing the restraint and submissiveness required of proper Korean women. The author writes beautifully and I hope she publishes another book soon.

I read a library copy of this book for my F2F book club.

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I learned is that I have had it way too easy in my Western lifestyle, chock full of running water, indoor plumbing, no fear of occupation by a brutal nation, and not supressed by a patriarchial society that prizes obedience, servitude, and humility in its women. Whew.

Having said (typed) all that, I'm fascinated by women who live in these cultures and find ways to survive and even thrive. "Thousand Splendid Suns", "Memoirs of a Geisha", and "Wild Swans" are other books I've read with similar themes, and if you liked any of these titles, you will find "The Calligrapher's Daughter" an enjoyable and satisfying read.

For a first novel, it's a remarkable debut for Ms. Kim. My only tiny criticism is that first part drags a bit, with character development that isn't particularly compelling. However, this changes as the character moves into a new stage, and her story becomes much more engaging.

Definitely a great pick for a book club selection, a good pick for someone who enjoys historical fiction, or for someone interested learning more about Korean culture.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story set in Korea just after the turn on the 20th century, until after World War II. It's the story of Nadjin, the first-born of a famous artist/calligrapher. Her father is steeped in the culture and traditions of his country and fiercely resents the annexation and rule of Korea by Japan. He is very traditional and discounts the value of a tomboyish highly intelligent girl. His disdain goes so deep that he fails to choose a name for her or have a naming ceremony on her 100th day as is the custom. She goes through life called the name of the city her mother is from. Although this creates a lack of identity in her early years, it also gives her the freedom to explore new pathways. Nadjin is truly a winsome heroine. The story is rich and interesting and also intensely personal. It gives a close-up view of these years in this part of the world. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

[Debbie Floyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical fiction about a Korean woman and her family life during the time of Japanese occupation. This is also a story about how she tries to balance her desire for independence that conflicts with traditional life for women in Korea at that time. I honestly did not know about much Korean history so I did learn much about the customs, culture and religion and the way that modern ways conflicted with traditions and the changes that slowly began to change experiences of the people of Korea. That is one of the things I like about historical fiction. I always enjoyed history and having historical fiction adds the human factor and how history can change so many people for better or worse. I think these stories show how much we can all have in common with people of different cultures. I think this is a good start to this author's writing career.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took me a long time to get through partially because it goes so slowly, and partially because I know nothing about the Japanese occupation of Korea. I think the author assumes the reader knows more than they do. I definitely learned a lot about that period of time, but I felt like the main character fell flat for me. The book is seemingly supposed to revolve around her, but suddenly the author would write chapters devoted to the mom, the father and even a few times, the brother. I would have liked it more if the chapters switched in a consistent manner, or each person got their time. I finished this out of duty rather than wanting to really know what happens.

[Natasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Calligrapher’s Daughter is a beautifully written portrait of a girl growing up in Korea in the early 1900s. I enjoyed it for the insight into this culture, one that I’ve not read much about. The story is rich in description, and the characters are wonderful, and the story is touching and emotional. But the plot was too slow-moving for my taste.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eugenia Kim's The Calligrapher's Daughter is a journey through Korean history, describing life in Korea under Japanese rule, and the effect of the war that followed.

I can only imagine that this book was not meant for the Korean public, but much more for a public unaware of Korean history, as the book is quite factual and fills you in on many happenings during this time. A South Korean friend of mine actually explained Korean history in a similar fashion as happened here in the book: factual, with a personal touch. As such, the book is wildly interesting when it comes to learning about Korean history, as well as the ways of life and mindsets of the time. Especially interesting was the tension between Confucianism & Christianity and the tension between the Confucianistic & the modern society, both of which were nicely represented in Scholar Han, Han Najin's father.

As a novel, I found it to be lacking at times. Character development happened, but in my opinion not to a large extent (excepting possibly Scholar Han's development, but that happened mostly off-screen): the characters seemed static, but that may be caused by my Western interpretation of Korean behaviour.
What I had most troubles with, the writing style, cannot be explained away so easily. I found the writing to be quite stiff and unemotional, especially in the beginning. I got used to it and enjoyed the book in the end, but sometimes the writing was really distanced from the plot and mostly focused on facts, and that negatively influenced my enjoyment of some passsages. Also the descriptions and characterization were influenced by the stiffness, to the point that, at times, for me it no longer read like a distanced writing style, but like wooden writing. As such I had real trouble getting connected with the characters, and, like I mentioned, it was a shame that the writing style was so... distanced from certain parts of the plot. For instance: Han Najin is a teacher, but we never get to see her *be* a teacher... even though it's a vital part of the plot. I realize that to include every single thing about her life might have caused this book to drag, but the fact that her career - so important to her as a person! - was so rarely discussed and only offhandedly mentioned made little sense to me. It seemed to diminish the worth of Najin as an individual in favour of discussing the society she was a part of: understandable from a cultural point of view perhaps, but kind of surprising in a book that's supposed to be about her and her life.

I know this approach can be found in other Korean character-focused books as well, but I maintain that I think this was meant for a non-Korean target audience, and that the style didn't always work as well for the book as it could have. Maybe because, for me, it felt like there was a lot of telling instead of showing going on, mostly to explain the historical background. It made sense, but just didn't always work for me.

Overall the book was enjoyable, and a good learning experience. If you are interested in Korean history, I would definitely recommend it.

[El · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to preface this review by admitting that I do not know much about Korean history, and the little bit of personal experience I have comes from what I've learned from the characters Lane Kim and her mother on Gilmore Girls, and from what I understand of the two Korean surgeons where I work.

With that said, I adored this book. It covers 30 years in the life of Najin Han, the daughter of a calligrapher. Her father, the calligrapher, is traditional in all senses of the word and wants to marry Najin at a young age. Luckily Najin has in her corner her mother, a defiant woman who will not allow her daughter to follow in the footsteps of so many traditional Asian women. She offers Najin a solution, all the while encouraging her to become educated in all manners - from a classic school setting to understanding the politics of the time, etc. Najin grows into just as spirited an adult, and it's really by the second of the three parts of the novel that I felt it really fully picked up for me.

As my knowledge of specifically Korean history is a bit shoddy, I'm sure I missed a lot of the references in the story. There is a Historical Note, though it's at the end of the book so I was unaware of its existence until I finished the story. But as a recap even it was highly helpful. This is a first novel, and I can often be rather hard on debut novels. So often an author's first book can smell like it just came out of a creative writing workshop, but I did not feel that here. I felt similarly to how I felt after reading Zadie Smith's White Teeth which is high praise for a first novel. I have high hopes for Eugenia Kim and look forward to seeing what she will do. She seems to fit a hole in Asian literature, maybe somewhere between the highly Westernized Amy Tan and the Japanese author, Sawako Ariyoshi. We'll see.

[Kristine Brancolini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eugenia Kim is an extremely gifted writer and her lyrical prose is perfectly suited to this book based on the life of her mother and her struggles during the 35 years that Korea was occupied by Japan, 1910-1945. These years also correspond to the first 35 years of Najin Han's life.

Kim deftly portrays the radical changes that the Han family went through as their aristocratic way of life was slowly and systematically destroyed by the Japanese. Najin narrates most of the book and through her the reader experiences the beauty of Korean life and culture and the destruction of war. Najin also embodies significant changes in the lives of Korean women of her generation. She was the oldest child and yearned for education, which she achieved through the persuasiveness of her mother. She wanted to study obstetrics, but became a teacher and a midwife. Najin marries in 1934 and she is separated from her husband after one day of marriage. Her husband leaves for the U.S. to study, expecting that Najin will soon follow but she cannot. They are separated first by the Japanese government, then by World War II. Najin is imprisoned for a time, suspected of being an American spy because her husband has gone to the U.S. to study. The whole arrangement seems incredible but it happened to Kim's parents. They are reunited in Korea ten years later, after the war has ended.

The sensitivity with which Kim creates the character of Najin is one of the most satisfying aspects of this novel. Najin is modern in her outlook on life, inquisitive and questioning in a society that values obedience in girls and women. As a child she seems rebellious, in a way that Americans enjoy but Najin's father detested. Yet, Najin is also traditional and she is shocked by many societal changes. Najin's character is subtle and complex, and completely believable. I envy Eugenia Kim. What a gift to be able to portray her mother's character so beautifully!

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a Korean family struggling through the decades leading up to and including WW II. It specifically follows the daughter of a traditional Korean scholar.

There are several themes...

1. The loss of cultural identity as Japan absorbs Korea and attacks China.

2. The loss of traditional Korean family values between the generation of the father and that of the daughter.

3. A crisis of faith. The protagonists are Christian and believe their suffering to be part of a plan, which over time tests their faith.

Unfortunately, the themes are more interesting in concept than in execution as the story is often muddled and too subtle, leaving one to daydream of finding a better book that discusses this period in history.

This is a book that you will forgot so quickly, and blends in so well with the Lisa See/Amy Tan genre, that you'll perennially wonder if you've read it...in fact, you could potentially buy it again and get half way through it a second time before you realize you have.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be about occupied Korea, which it is. But the main story is about one woman's journey and self discovery. And as Hallmark Channel-sounding as that is it really does make for an interesting story.

I should probably give it only 4 stars. The writing is at times uneven, with the voice altering in unexpected places, breaking the rhythm. And the ending got a little overly earnest. But I'll forgive this minor quibbles as this is a first novel and Kim tells an otherwise extraordinarily captivating tale.

As a Korean American, it has been my pleasure this year in finding more voices I can identify with while learning more of my ethnic history. And it pleases me immensely that there are female voices of this caliber.

I hope to read more by Kim in the future.

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a first novel this one was very good, with the heroine, Najin, being a wee bit of a doormat, but it was the secondary characters and story that kept me going. Set during the Japanese occupation in Korea on through to the end of WWII, this one turned out to be much better than I thought it would be. Too, the author thoughtfully included a glossary and an author's note. All in all, I really liked this one, and I suspect that I just might reread it again in the future sometime. Four stars overall, and a hearty recommend from me.

For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_T...