Run Away: One Woman's Story of Resilience

by Jeanhee Kang

Out of print

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Runaway: One Woman's Story of Resilience is the true story of a South Korean immigrant who survived prostitution as a teenager and made it a goal to attend high school in America. Jeanhee Kang was shunned by her unforgiving society after being expelled from high school at age sixteen for breaking a taboo. She knew she had to find a way out of there at any cost." Run Away: One Woman's Story of Resilience doesn't spare the reader any of the agonizing details of her childhood, nor does the book hold back all she overcame to realize her dreams. Though often faced with insurmountable odds, Jeanhee Kang has made a tremendous journey halfway around the world -- a journey filled with heartbreaking, emotional trials -- and she has survived it all. This tale of her inspirational underdog story is dedicated to the 50 million American women who face similar hardships every day.

Genres: Biography, Biography Memoir, Nonfiction, Autobiography

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 21, 2012

About the author

Jeanhee Kang was born in South Korea. After being expelled from high school at age sixteen for breaking a taboo, she was shunned by her unforgiving society and forced to run away from home to escape the intolerance. At age eighteen, in 1975, she came to the United States to find her second chance with only forty dollars in her pocket. Her memoir, Run Away: One Woman’s Story of Resilience, the story of her heart wrenching journey, doesn’t spare the reader any of the agonizing details of her childhood, nor does it hold back all she overcame to realize her dreams. Ms. Kang dedicates her inspirational story of survival to women all over the world who face similar hardships. While she awaits movie version of Run Away: One Woman’s Story of Resilience, she plans to graduate from Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi in May of 2014.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this was interesting enough to finish, the writing was not great. This is a rags to riches story of a girl who grew up very poor in South Korea, had a series of setbacks, and eventually made it to America and became very materialistically successful. In a way, you keep reading to see what happens, because initially the story is compelling, but in the end you finish it the same way you can't turn away from an accident scene.

There is no question that the subject of this "autobiography," Jeanhee, makes a series of very, very bad judgments in her life. She tends to rationalize, justify, and gloss over - or even ignore - these. However, to an outsider they are glaring and detract from the story. While initially I think anyone can empathize with a young girl struggling to get enough food, an education, and a path to a better life, as we watch this person with such stated determination do everything possible to undermine herself, and listen to the endless justifications, it gets to be a bit much.

Although this is an interesting story on some levels, you can't take away from it lessons, wisdom, or even a new perspective or understanding of the world. What I took away was a lot of wonder at how she can see herself the way she does, and how she got this book published. Because the fact is, there are so many more interesting and admirable life stories out there.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not connect with the protagonist. When she chose to drag her kids into poverty just for her own selfish reasons I was sick. Once you have kids it's no longer about your dreams but what's best for them. I feel bad for her but most of the things that happened to her she brought on herself. That's not resilience, that's stupidity.

[Dennise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved loved this book. Is amazing and inspiring to see someone who started as low as no food poor to being a successful human being. The story of his woman is powerful and it kept me on my seat all the time.

[richwire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is part rags-to-riches, part tragedy, and part train-wreck. It wraps up nicely at the end making it seem like a feel-good story but honestly, I didn't feel that way throughout the book. The author overcame a dirt poor childhood but made her share of mistakes growing up and in her adult life that raise doubts about her judgement and motives. Her weary mantra in the beginning was education, education, education solves all of life's problems. Then the mantra became money, money, money. Maybe the mantra should have included a dose of common sense. For the most part, it's an interesting read that I'd recommend and I'd be interested to hear your own conclusions.

[Louisa Giddings · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well what can I say I don’t understand why this book is getting 5 stars you are literally rewarding a selfish self centred narcissist. That is all I took away from this book and all I can say is I,m so glad I never paid for this book.
For one all she cared about was her dream and nothing else she didn’t need to bring 3 kids in to this world for that and drag them along for the ride in her screwed up world. Two all she wanted was a education that’s all she cared about and then because of a man another trait of a narcissist she chucked it all away then ended up not using the education she got in the job she wanted no she just started selling tat. Which in my mind she didn’t need to go through everything she went through just to do that.
The real turn off for me was when she just allowed her then husband to walk out of her house (well she threatened him with a gun) with her 3month old baby no no no no. That just annoyed me so much she didn’t even try to fight for him she had all these friends and not one of them told her she could get him back no. She just let her baby go that was until one of her other sons died the she got all centre mental and wanted him back. I would have loved to have seen what would have happened if one of her other sons had not died. Because before that she couldn’t care less.
Rags to riches yes but all the people that had to suffer along the way to her riches is what gets me no I would not recommend this book and wish I had not read it I should of given up ages ago but in the beginning she was a nice person. I suppose her up bringing and where she comes from turned her in the selfish person she became

[Laurel Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The note in the beginning stating that the translation showed errors that were not corrected was good to know since there were lots of disjointed sentences and grammatical errors. Having knowledge of the Asian mindset (they tend to be workaholics and “energizer bunnies”) helped me to understand Jeanhee’s need to work crazy hours to support her family. Her story is one of hardships, three marriages and three divorces, and her unending optimism and resilience.

[Donya Soltis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Run Away: One Woman's Story of Resiliencewas an interesting read, to be sure. I was saddened by her description of how she was so hungry as a small child that she would day-dream of her next meal. My heart ached for the little girl scrubbing the dirt floor and crying and shivering in the cold winters.

Without giving too much away, though, there were times as I delved further into the book that I was disappointed with the turn of events. I will admit that I was hoping to see only pure and untainted goodness come from the little girl I remembered from the beginning of the book. I was expecting a happy marriage to her GI and a life lived happily ever after with 2.5 children and a modest home in the suburbs.

But, that was my own naivety and my desire to have things neatly wrapped up in the happiest possible way. And, you know what? Jeanhee Kang could very well have written her book that way. And I'll bet it would've been easier for her to put that 'happily ever after' story out there. But she was honest. She just told the story. That could not have been an easy thing to do.

I don't know if I could take an unflinching look at my own life and say, "Yes, I made this questionable decision, this is WHY I did it. It may not have been the best decision, but I own it, for better or worse." But, Jeanhee Kang did just that, and I respect and applaud her for it.

Far be it from me to judge anyone until I have walked a mile in their shoes (or lack of shoes) as was the case for Jeanhee as a little girl. All in all, I enjoyed Run Away: One Woman's Story of Resilience.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

How I choose my star ratings:
1 = Groaner. Probably didn't even finish it.
2 = Yawner. Poorly written or weak story.
3 = Recliner. Sat back in my cozy chair and enjoyed the read.
4 = Page Turner. Hard to put down.
5 = Keeper. A story that stays with me.

Ms. Kang tells a compelling story of her rise from poverty in South Korea to success in the United states. She details her trials from childhood to adulthood- some that are visited upon her, some that are of her own choosing. Sometimes you'll weep for her and others, why, you'll just want to shake a bit of sense in to her! Her indomitable spirit reminds me of Thomas the Train who never quit trying - only Ms. Kang steps it up a notch from " I think I can" to "I will"

The reason this book received 3 stars, instead of the 4 I'd have preferred to give it, is primarily an editing issue. Misspelled and/or misused words. A few sentences where there was an obvious change in how the author wanted to write it but some of the old words are still hanging out in the sentence confusing the thought. Story lines that become repititious... the same thoughts or events described multiple times , with little variance, over the course of several pages or appearing again in a later chapter. It just needs to be sharpened up a bit.

That being said, the book is definitely worth the read.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Jeanhee, a Korean woman who grew up in the poor rice paddies of South Korea but dreamed of America. She works hard to get an education but it expelled after she makes a mistake with a boy. Then she becomes a prostitute, hoping to snag a G.I. so she can go to America. She ends up finding a G.I. and ends up in the U.S. but this is one of 3 failed marriages. She ends up being successful running her own business after many years of struggles.

I know some people are saying that this book drags but I didn't have that issue. The grammar mistakes must have also been fixed as I didn't catch any. I found it interesting and enlightening.

[Mimi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've struggled with rating someone's memoir a 2. Ms. Kang's life is remarkable and she has experienced so much in her life which is well deserving of a 4 or 5 star rating for overcoming her circumstances. However, the writing style is awful which is the reason behind giving her 2 stars. I'm reviewing her writing not her life in this review.
I wish her the best in her endeavors.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful book, true stories really are stranger than fiction. Vivid description, heart-breaking, courageous, fascinating and funny - un-put-downable! I really enjoyed this book; half way through I wondered what else could possibly happen to this woman - there was lots more to come.

[Zom Osborne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book. The story was a good one. There is no question that Jeanhee has lead an interesting life. But the writing was repetitive and much too much 'telling' rather than showing. She needs a good editor.

[Alison]

kindle memoir

[Christina]

Yje best memoir I have read to date. what an inspiration to follow your dreams no matter the trials and tribulations. way to go Jeanhee!

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its amazing what she went through to be a successful person and the heartache and trials she faced.

[C Estrada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing story of struggle and perseverance of one woman. Could've been written better.

[Val · Rating 2 out of 5]

The true American dream "From rag to riches " but was Very, very long and Drawn out! Definitely needs someone to do corrections on text

[Connie Klinkam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest and powerful. Doesn't sugar coat or trivialize the plight of one brave and strong Korean immigrant.