Everything Belongs to Us

by Yoojin Grace Wuertz

Two young women of vastly different means struggle to find their own way during the darkest hours of South Korea's economic miracle, in a striking debut novel for readers of Anthony Marra and Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie.

Seoul, 1978. At South Korea's top university, the nation's best and brightest compete to join the professional elite of an authoritarian regime. Success could lead to a life of rarefied privilege and wealth; failure means being left irrevocably behind.

For childhood friends Jisun and Namin, the stakes couldn't be more different. Jisun, the daughter of a powerful business mogul, grew up on a mountainside estate with lush gardens and a dedicated chauffeur. Namin's parents run a tented food cart from dawn to curfew. Her sister works in a shoe factory. Now Jisun wants as little to do with her father's world as possible, abandoning her schoolwork in favor of the underground activist movement, while Namin studies tirelessly in the service of one goal: to launch herself and her family out of poverty.

But everything changes when Jisun and Namin meet an ambitious, charming student named Sunam, whose need to please his family has led him to a prestigious club: the Circle. Under the influence of his mentor, Juno, a manipulative social climber, Sunam becomes entangled with both women, as they all make choices that will change their lives forever.

In this sweeping yet intimate debut, Yoojin Grace Wuertz details four intertwining lives that are rife with turmoil and desire, private anxieties and public betrayals, dashed hopes and broken dreams while a nation moves toward prosperity at any cost.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Asia, Literary Fiction, Asian Literature, Adult

368 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2017

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

ENGAGING!!!!! EXCELLENT!!!!!!! A wonderful surprise discovery!!

Yesterday I spent a full day - [so it felt] - traveling from California to Florida. I have several books I could have chosen for 'airport-emergency-comfort-reading'.
While 'test-reading' a few of my choices from my Kindle- I would never have believed THIS BOOK TOOK FIRST PLACE ... from my 5% 'emergency-testing'!
My game was ...."Read 5% of 3 books. The book with the most interesting 5% beginning is what I would read in the air. ( and continue while on vacation).
"Everything Belongs To Us, - ( debut) - by Yoojin Grace Wuertz opens with a BANG.
Factory Women are protesting in the streets of the Capital of South Korea: Seoul.
It's a three day protest. On the third day--- things turn ugly.... but we have been introduced to characters Sunam and Juno. We are interested to know them more when the focus changes a little....
One factory working woman takes her shirt and bra off during the protest. Other woman follow suit. Police are shocked to see women nakedness. Violence grows. At least 70 woman end up in one small cell together - after having first been tossed into vans.
One of those women, Jisun, in that cell, is the daughter of a very influential father with government leaders. Although she comes from wealth and has all the benefits of a princess at her fingertips... she is a rebel-with-a-cause!
Her best friend from back in middle school is a girl, Namin, who comes from poverty.
Both girls are now students at Seoul National University. Namin is on scholarship.
They are beginning to argue. Namin has dreams of wealth and success. She isn't a natural anti-establishment girl. Namin wants to be one of those leaders. Jisun tries to tell her she is better than that - that the politics is corrupt in their country. Namin thinks, "easy for Jisun to be so causal about her thinking". She has never felt raw survival the way Namin has.

"Jisun was unimpressed with the grandeur of her family's home, her wardrobe,
which appeared magically stocked with new clothes each season, her driver, her housekeeper--her effortless life in general. She had everything, yet she refused to understand why someone like Namin, for example--might want a taste of that fantasy for herself."

This story takes place in the 70's......contemporary dialogue. The characters are especially well written. It's was easy to understand the moral conflicts that the key characters struggled with.
Jisun and Namin were both different-- yet things change for both of them after they meet Sunam....( a male - University student who was mentored by a man named Juno).

This story gets you thinking about Korea, dictatorship, the youth who are beginning to think for themselves and challenge what they have been taught... their thoughts - beliefs - and choices they make. The author explores friendships, families, the wealthy, the poor, and South Korea's anxieties.
This realistic plot shows how divided people are when it comes to their political situations, ( hello,?...sound familiar?), ... and how easily some can be influenced and manipulated by fear.
Jisun and Namin are standouts! GREAT CHARACTERS!

Thank You Random House, NetGalley, and Yoojin Grace Wuertz

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seoul, 1978. A three day protest by women's textile workers is an outcry for basic labor rights. President Park Chung Hee's party slogan is "work cheerfully, courageously for a more prosperous nation". Attending university would mean the difference between working in a factory or steel mill as opposed to a cushy job, living in a high rise apartment, having indoor plumbing and owning a car. Three students at Seoul National University are among the few having the opportunity to live the dream of success and upward mobility.

Jisun's father, Ahn Kiyu, owns the largest shipping conglomerate in South Korea. He is a self-made man coming from humble beginnings. Ahn claims that achieving wealth takes long term planning. Jisun's brother is reckless with money so Ahn intends to transfer his business to Jisun when he retires. Jisun, however, secretly becomes involved in college activism. Wealth and possessions are unimportant to her.

Namin and her family live in a three room flat. The apartment contains no indoor plumbing. Her parents run a tented food mart and work from dawn to dusk. By scoring high on her exams, she has earned a place in Seoul National University. If she becomes a physician, she can single handedly lift her family out of poverty.

Sunam thinks about where he is in life and what he wants to achieve. His father tells him that if a family is prosperous, the children must be prosperous. His father is the director of a shipping company. Sunam aspires to join an elite campus club called The Circle. Exclusive membership can open doors and secure his future if he passes the initiation process.

Jisun and Namin have been friends since middle school. Their paths now diverge as Jisun rejects family wealth and privilege seeking activism, self expression and freedom. Namin, ever the student, constantly studies despite continuous family upheaval. Into this mix, Sunam, insecure and unsure of his path in life, has a complicated relationship with both Jisun and Namin. Each of them tries to follow their instincts and blaze a path to a fulfilling future.

"Everything Belongs to Us" by first time novelist Yoojin Grace Wuertz is a fascinating read. We experience the rocky road traveled by three college students with high aspirations, hopes and dreams as they navigate life's tumultuous journey.

Thank you Random House Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Everything Belongs to Us".

[Taryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars. This book wasn't what I expected at all! I really enjoyed the first third, but I was disinterested in the college drama and romantic escapades after that point. It became a story that I wouldn't be interested in, regardless of the setting. If you're looking for a story about college students navigating relationships during a tumultuous time in history or if you like Sunam's chapters, you’ll probably enjoy this one more than I did. Even though the story was just okay for me, I did appreciate the thought-provoking commentary on the corruptive power of money and the barriers between economic classes.
________________

Seoul, South Korea, 1978: three coming-of-age tales that mirror the growing pains of a nation. Three college students from different economic classes are each trying to forge their own path. While Jisun wants to distance herself from her family's wealth, both Namin and Sunam want to move up on the economic ladder. When middle-class Sunam has to make a choice between the life he has chosen and the life that is expected of him, he runs the risk of betraying everyone.

The "for readers of Anthony Marra and Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie" blurb piqued my interest, but my love of those two authors didn't transfer to this novel. I think it depends on what you think of when you hear those names. It fits if they make you think of stories about regular people living ordinary lives while their country is in turmoil. However, Marra has a distinct style. Invoking his name makes me expect absurdity and dark humor. Everything Belongs to Us has a serious tone. I've only read Half of a Yellow Sun from Adichie, but those characters were more immersed in the historical drama. However, HoaYS did face some criticisms of being soapy.

WHAT I LIKED

• Jisun, the rebellious daughter of a wealthy businessman with political influence. She feels burdened by her family's wealth. She has an antagonistic relationship with her father and is always challenging him, but he still has a hold on her. Jisun is determined to distance herself from him by joining the resistance against President Park Chung-Hee's authoritarian rule. Her upper-class status makes it difficult to prove herself with the activist groups.

• Namin - Each member of the Kang family has a job and Namin's job is to lift her family out of poverty. She spends all of her time studying, in hopes of becoming a doctor. Her sister Kyungmin works long hours at a shoe factory to help pay for Namin's college tuition, but she's getting tired of living for someone else. Namin is also grappling with a family secret that her parents are determined to keep buried (loved the relationship that developed from this storyline). Resentments are threatening to pull the family even farther apart than they already are.

Shame was not just about secrets or covering up. Or about failure and not having the things other people casually had. Shame was being afraid that she was from crippled, graceless stock, unworthy of the good things other people had. That the mistakes that would chart her life forever had already been made

• The unequal friendship between Namin and Jisun - Namin and Jisun have been best friends since middle school, but they're growing apart. Namin lives in a home without indoor plumbing, while Jisun lives in gated mansion. Namin's family's livelihood depends on her success, while Jisun has had everything handed to her. Jisun is completely blind to her privilege. She admonishes Namin for working so hard to get ahead, worried that Namin will become another "stupid bourgeois sheep." She thinks Namin should be grateful to her for becoming an activist and fighting on her behalf. Namin is frustrated with Jisun's self-righteousness and condescension, but she feels forever indebted to her for a past kindness.

• History - It showed the everyday side of oppression and class struggle that I haven't read a lot about because many stories focus on violence and war. It addresses the labor protests, the United States military presence, the activist groups, and the activism of US Christian missionaries. I was especially interested in Jisun's search for an activist group she identified with. Each group had its own personality: the activists who become the people they detest, the ones that demanded ideological purity, the overly-practical, etc.

WHAT DIDN'T APPEAL TO ME:

• The structure - I prefer straightforward narratives. When a story meanders, it makes it hard for me to zero in on the message. I was really interested in Namin's family story in Part II, so I was disappointed when it didn't return to Namin's point-of-view until the end (Part VII).

• Sunam - Sunam enters the two women's lives after Namin applies to join the Circle, a club that will allow her to join the ranks of the elite. The story becomes very Sunam-focused in the middle. He's described as "charming" and "ambitious," but I thought he was bland, weak-willed, and entitled. Jisun and Namin even seemed flattened in his presence and their interactions with each other were clumsy and awkward. Love triangles annoy me most of the time, but it's even worse when I don't understand the appeal of the shared party. I was most interested in Sunam's growing resentment of Namin's ambition and success. On the bright side, Namin's reaction after meeting Sunam's family melted my heart!

“You don’t have to be a shark, you just have to be one little step ahead. And if everyone else is thinking today, all you have to do is think tomorrow.”

• The supporting characters - Juno, Peter, & Kyungmin have interesting parts to play, but they barely registered with me. Manipulative Juno is Sunam's mentor. He's one of the "four intertwining lives" mentioned in the description, but it didn't feel like he was on the same level as the other three. Peter is a Christian missionary who Jisun met through her activism. Namin's sister Kyungmin was the most fascinating and I'd love to read an entire book just about her!

Jisun learned instead that money was the least reliable measure, sliding from great value to worthlessness depending on the spender. With the same amount of money, you could feed a family for a month or a single person one extravagant meal. You could pay a man’s wages or unlock two thousand pages of vocabulary, an entire universe of words. You could clothe a soccer team. You could save someone’s life.

What I got from the story is somewhat influenced by the current uncertainty & rhetoric in the United States. The scariest thing about this story was how anything can be rationalized. When I read about the shuttering of media outlets and prohibition of anti-government activity, I think "Dictator! Bad!" But Jinsun's father is giddy over President Park Chung-Hee's reign. He describes President Park as a man who “gave this country back to the people.” He goes on to say that “no one loves this country more than our president does. He understands the sacrifices we need and works harder than anyone, sacrifices more than anyone. ... We must pursue development first and foremost. Development first. Then democracy.” Sunam also comments on how South Korea recovered from the war more quickly because of Park Chung-Hee's policies.

Are speedy economic rewards ever worth sacrificing your freedoms or trampling over others? What is the true cost of accepting that money? Do you have to compromise your ideals to be successful? Despite disapproving of Park Chung-Hee's methods, many people—even a segment of the younger generation—have a positive view of him as an individual, in large part because of the economic prosperity under his reign. (See: The Mixed Legacy of a South Korean Dictator & Why Late South Korean Dictator Park Chung-hee Is The Most Popular President Ever) His daughter was even elected president of South Korea in 2013, although she is currently undergoing impeachment proceedings. It may seem incomprehensible to an outsider, but I think the author does a good job of showing why the trade-offs might not seem so bad depending on your situation.

Now he’d know what it meant to be trapped between his conscience and his pride. It was never as black and white as he thought, the decisions of love and duty.

The story was a little too heavy on the romantic drama of college kids for my tastes, though I did find value in reading it. It takes place during a specific time in South Korea's history, but the issues it addresses are relevant to everyone. For a more positive perspective of this book, check out the starred review at Kirkus. Warning: It mentions plot points that I haven't mentioned here, many that don't occur until after the 80% mark. I anticipated the book all over again after reading their review, so I think part of my problem was that the conflicts I was most interested in didn't occur until very late in the story.

If you are interested in South Korea's political situation in the late 1970's, you might be interested in Human Acts by Han Kang. It's a darker read about people who were caught up in the middle of a government crackdown. Those who enjoy Everything Belong to Us might be especially interested in "The Factory Girl" chapter.
_________________

I received this book for free from Netgalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The publication date is February 28, 2017.

To read later: The Cultural Politics of Remembering Park Chung Hee

[Cheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

!! NOW AVAILABLE !!

3.5 Stars

1978 Seoul, Korea is when and where this story begins, telling the stories of two men and two women, primarily. One of the women from a very wealthy family - Jisun, the other – Namin, the daughter of parents who operate a push food cart as many hours of the day as possible just to barely survive. At the start, Jisun seems a bit frivolous in her determination to avoid being a part of her father’s world, where power and money reign. She becomes involved with an activist movement, while Namin works tirelessly to maintain the best grades. Namin is determined to rise above the life of her parents, and to help her disabled brother by becoming a physician. It is the only way for her family to escape the poverty they’ve come to know, the poverty they’ve become trapped by.

This debut novel opens in April of 1978 with a three-day protest scene, women factory workers are protesting, chanting their demands for guaranteed basic labor rights, and more.

*This excerpt is from an advance uncorrected copy*

“In the predawn, the women gather like ghosts around the factory yard and formed rows as if on lines etched into the concrete. They sat shoulder to shoulder, close enough to link arms and share warmth. The drumming began with the sun.”

Two young men, Sunam and Juno stand watching each day from the roof across the street, both also students at Seoul National University. Juno, a year older, had already made those oh-so-necessary connections at University, and Sunam hopes to gain entrance to the prestigious group known only as the Circle by virtue of his connection with Juno.

On the third day, police in riot gear arrive, give their last warning. In response, one woman protestor steps away from the line, removes her top, then her bra, tossing them to the ground. Other women follow. A riot breaks out, Sunam and Juno watching from their perch. When things have settled down, Juno sends Sunam to collect some “souvenirs.”

The story revolves mostly around these four primary characters, all University students. Their individual drives and ambitions are very different from each other, and yet in other ways they are more alike that different. Both Jisun and Namin, from two very different families, disparate lifestyles and dreams are bonded by their inner strength and commitment to their individual visions. No damsels in distress but passionate about their desires for their futures. For every man like Juno, there needs to be one like Sunam. Juno - the bossy almost bully type, has to be one better than anyone else, but especially those he is “mentoring,” training him to exude that put-on confidence that comes across more like arrogance. He needs someone to be his subject, his peon, in order to play the “master” and Sunam fits the bill.

I enjoyed this story, some parts more than others, but I rarely felt completely pulled into this story. The writing was fine, as in good enough, although there were parts where I felt the author showed promise of more, and I wanted more of that promise and less of the wandering ways of the story.

All that is not to say that this is not an enjoyable read, it is, I just found it to be an uneven distribution of enjoyable. Perhaps that’s because I was expecting more, perhaps it was from all the meandering hither and yon. Would I recommend it? Yes, it is still an interesting portrait of a time and place when the world changed yet again, with the lives of those at the top lording it over the others, the lives of those climbing to the top trying to grab every possible advantage, even when it meant climbing over others.


Pub Date: 28 Feb 2017


Many thank for the ARC provided by Random House

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love Everything Belongs to Us, and perhaps that was my issue, going in with higher expectations than I should have. But I honestly felt like the characters and plot didn't start clicking with me until about halfway through, and though the second act was much stronger than the first, the ending itself was a definite let down and felt deeply unsatisfying just when I had started to care about most of the main characters. I would also say that from literary fiction, at this point I'm expecting the writing to be top notch, and I heartily look for for different styles and atmospheres, but the craft and execution should be strong. I thought the writing itself in Everything Belongs to Us fairly standard, not much transformative or particularly beautiful or well observed in the first half, though the second half was much, much stronger and more interesting and showcased Yoojin Grace Wuertz's talent. I would rate this a 3.5 star title, rounded down to 3 stars.

We are introduced to the three main characters in slow succession, all university students in Seoul in the 70s: Sunam, hoping (and failing) to attain access to an upper level social club called the Circle; Jisun, the wealthy daughter of a tycoon, rebellious and bored, seeking herself in protest causes and political activism; and Namin, an ambitious, smart girl with a complicated family history wanting nothing more than to raise her family from poverty. I will say that I never responded to Sunam as a character: he felt like such a blank slate, desiring everything but working for nothing, resenting Jisun, Namin, Juno and other characters for an array of aspects and circumstances he does not possess but can't quite attain or develop either. He's weak and cowardly often, especially with regard to his relationship with Namin, in his thoughts and actions, and yet no sympathy was aroused in me for his situation. Sunam to me felt like a small minded, emotionally stunted young man, and his fate in the epilogue shows not much progress in that characterization.

I grew to enjoy with some trepidation the friendship of Jisun and Namin, and I thought the characters of both girls were drawn very well, both transcending base principles of the poor little rich girl and the actually poor girl striving for more. Namin is the character that it's easy to like: she's smart, disciplined, pragmatic, focused on her family and bettering their lives, continuing a relationship with a cast off brother, supporting her wayward sister's mistakes. Jisun is less likeable, but I found it easy to sympathize with her and get a full understanding of how and why she acts as she does. Rejected by a man she loved and cast from a cause she at least mildly cared about, Jisun is a bit adrift through most of the novel, chafing at the inevitability of being her father's daughter and turning into what he wants or expects her to be. The friendship between Namin and Jisun goes through difficult patches, shown in flashbacks to adolescence, but is rocked twice in the main part of the novel, and I had genuine emotion for both girls' struggles with themselves and each other. But Sunam, the weak link for me, also plays a role in their rollercoaster friendship, which I liked less.

The only other thing I can say about the writing is that typically, I'll bookmark pages and underline and highlight quotes and passages and ideas in good literary fiction, or my pace will wildly vacillate between slow savoring of what I'm reading to eagerness to read whatever comes next, not just for plot but for new concepts and turns of phrase. I really didn't get much of that from Everything Belongs to Us: the writing felt very flat, removed from the characters and proceedings, especially in the first half as the current situation and backstory is laid bare. In the second half, I found the writing to be much stronger, much tighter, with more profound ideas, better observational detail, more turns of phrase and sentences to bookmark and remark on. If the whole novel had been as good as the second half, my rating probably would have been 4 stars rather than 3. I was actually a bit bored reading the first half, taking me awhile to push on, though it did really improve at the halfway mark.

Ultimately, I was a bit let down by Everything Belongs to Us, which again could have been my higher expectations more than anything; that said, it is still a good debut novel with some fine writing and characters, particularly in the second half, though it lacks a strong ending. I would recommend this with some reservations. I would be interested in other works from Yoojin Grace Wuertz, as she's demonstrated talent in this book, and hopefully future craft and edit will be tighter. If you are looking for great Korean fiction in 2017, I would start with Pachinko, a broader and yet more intimate work with beautiful writing and more memorable (IMO) characters - my review of Pachinko is here..

-Received an ARC on edelweiss, thanks to Random House.

[☮Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since I don't exactly keep abreast of what happens in South Korea, this story of student protests in the 70s was interesting at first. Halfway through, however, I felt a little lost and my interest waned. The two female friends Jisun, rich girl studying life, and Namin, poor girl studying medicine, were refreshingly independent and intelligent. The two rebellious male characters did not engage me in the least. By the end, I was skipping pages and cared only what happened to Namin. Her struggle to become someone was probably very typical. I am not sure what I was supposed to glean from this story. Everyone seemed so remote and distant from each other it was hard to feel anything for them.

My thanks to Random House for a free review copy.

[Joce (squibblesreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Full review at this link: https://youtu.be/3KV2wglaWI4

Powerful as all hell. Images of hundreds and thousands of women in Seoul protesting grim working conditions in factories that barely meet basic needs. Two women - one well off and outspokenly activist but unaware of some aspects of the privilege that her wealth allows her, the other fighting for good grades while her parents work night and day in a small market. One misled boy trying to earn status in a university social group. All set against the backdrop of a strict government ruthless in silencing citizens, especially women. Haunting and provocative.

[Karen R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Yooijin Grace Wuertz immigrated to the US from South Korea at the age of 6. In her beautifully crafted debut set in 1970’s Korea, a time of unrest and escalating turmoil, her characters come alive. It is told through intertwining character perspectives, friends who’s upbringing were vastly different. As the story progresses, lives diverge along different paths. I admired the author’s perspective on the highly charged historical events of Korea which I knew very little about. The discontent that sparked its’ social and political turmoil in the late 70’s was eye opening. I also especially appreciated the interpersonal relationships of her memorable characters.

[Jessica Woodbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in South Korea in the 70's during cultural and political upheaval, Everything Belongs to Us follows three college students in a coming of age story about ambition, class, activism, and friendship. Namin lives in poverty, all the hopes of her family rest on her brilliance and she is their only hope for success and stability. Sunam is from a comfortable family but longs to be accepted by the elite Circle social club. Jisun is incredibly wealthy but longs to escape from her father's plans for her and find something to be passionate about.

There is so much to unpack here that feels incredibly relevant to current events in the US. But the book never comes across as a political novel. The characters and their stories always come first. Namin, in particular, drew me in and left me unable to let go. Besides her intelligence, life has done Namin no favors and she struggles to understand the choices her family makes even as she gets all the privilege her family has to offer. Jisun longs to be an activist and help struggling laborers but due to her family and status she can never be fully accepted among them. Sunam has the kind of life where he gets where he is without much effort but always feels entitled to more. I felt so close to these characters, so drawn in to their lives, that I usually read the book in long stretches at night, picking it up again immediately when I woke up.

The ending didn't satisfy me, but the rest of the book is so good that I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

[Jessica J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not at all what I thought it would be, and while not all of the characters quite popped off the page into real people, I found it hard to put down. A full review to come.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book of historical fiction, taking place during the 70s in South Korea. The country is run by a dictatorship. There are four principal characters, all college students:
Sunam--a charming man who becomes involved with two women
Jisun--spoiled daughter of a rich man
Namin--daughter of a poor family
Juno--mentor to Sunam
There are worker demonstrations/strikes, awkward/failed romances and an illegitimate child of an American soldier and a Korean woman. While I enjoyed reading this book, it dragged in spots.
Two quotes: "She felt the years of loneliness and private struggle evaporate off her chest, weightless as a cloud."
"Sometimes the arguments rose and fell around her like the crackle of a large bonfire, jagged and lulling."
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Thanks to NetGalley for sending me this ebook.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The two main characters are quite different women. Jisun has had a privileged life, although not much of a loving family life. In rebellion against her father, she joins an underground activist group. Her best friend, Namin, comes from a poor, hard-working family and is struggling through college at the Seoul National University in the hope that she will be able to offer her family a better life. The two main male characters are Sunam, a student trying to join the prestigious Circle, and Juno, Jisun’s conniving brother.

The story takes place in the 70’s and the author does a very good job of describing the hopes and fears of the young generation in South Korea at that time. There were those who rebelled and protested the harsh working conditions and there were those who strived to make the right connections so they could move upward. The living conditions for many made it very difficult to break out of their dismal prospects. While politics play a big part in the book, it’s not heavy handed and the author smoothly blends it into the story. I became engrossed in the story of these young people, their loves, their families and their friendships. The author offers excellent insight into the moral dilemmas faced by her characters and the choices that each makes. I felt the ending sort of petered out but I did enjoy this book as a whole and recommend it.

This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Care · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revolving around the lives of three college students in 1978 Seoul, Korea, Everything Belongs to Us paints a story that is just as much about the tumultuous, roiling political and activist climate as it is about the pains and responsibilities facing and burdening the three young adults trying to figure out who they intend to grow into. Jisun is a wild daughter of a wealthy and prominent father who is painfully naive as she believes herself to be firmly plugged into questions of class consciousness. Namin is her childhood friend, growing up as the willing recipient of all the expectations of her impoverished family, utilitarian and driven. And Sunam is from a family somewhere in between, himself untethered and confused as to what and who he believes in.

The prose of the novel is superbly written and very engaging and fascinating. The characters are distinctive and fresh, although sometimes so full of different aspects and characteristics that they don't seem to be individual people. The plot, while quick, was a little disjoint with a lack of a strong base or tether. There were times I felt one plot line could've been given more weight while others could have been disregarded.

The novel paints a beautiful picture of different aspects of 1978 Korea, touching on questions of class and wealth, of activism and focus, of familial responsibility and disdain. It is an enjoyable read, despite being a little disconnected, and I would recommend it for anyone interested in the time period or in a somewhat coming of age tale.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a fair review!

[Shawn Mooney (Shawn Breathes Books)]

The story seems quite interesting, but the writing was not good enough for me to continue past around page 35.

[Oreoandlucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A longer review is available on my blog:
http://reviewsofbooksonmynightstand.b...

The characters in this novel could have been a lot more developed. They were enjoyable but were also very one-dimensional, too. My favorite character was Namin. I wish that the background of the political climate in South Korea was less of a background and more of a main theme. There was one part where a political meeting was held in furious whispers that showed the frustration and the fear of the workers. It was so haunting but, yet, so beautiful and I wish there were more parts like that in this book. The writing was superb. It read very easily but could also seem somewhat poetic, at times. The story is a sad one but I believe it to be an important one because of the political back story. I did enjoy this book and I would recommend it to any reader that enjoys novels that take place during political revolutions or changes and to those who enjoy cultural fiction, in general.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an advanced copy of this book for review purposes.

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two young women who come from opposite sides of the economic spectrum struggle to find their way in Seoul 1978. The pressure is on to succeed so that one can live a life of prestige, status, and wealth, because to fail means a life of poverty and being left in the dust.

Jisun and Namin are friends. Jimsun grew up wealthy. Her father is a successful business man and they live in a beautiful home and she is driven by a chauffeur. Namin grew up with parents who owned a food cart that they worked all day just to survive. Jisun wants to leave her privileged life behind to get involved in the underground activist movement. Namin wants to end her family's poverty and she studies and works hard so that she can be a success and change all of their lives.

Then one day they meet Sunam (and his mentor Juno) a male student at the university. Everything changes for them. This book touches on intimacy, betrayal, coming of age, oppression, and relationships. This is all I will say about the plot.

What I will say is that this book took me forever to read. I just could not get into it. I would start it and then find another book to read. I just did not connect with the book especially in the beginning. Toward the later part of the book, it did pick up for me but not enough to warrant higher rating. Some reviews are saying this had a soap opera feel to it, I am not sure about that. I just could not get into this book.

Received from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

see more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate it when this happens!! I was very much looking forward to reading "Everything Belongs to Us" to improve my understanding of the on-going situation in Korea. It started off on a promising note, set in Seoul, South Korea starting in 1978, it begins with a 3 day protest by women textile workers. We meet two strong female characters who are diametrically opposite: Jisun, from a very wealthy family, and Namin, who is very poor and whose family has had to struggle for everything they have. Jisun is trying to break away from her family and become a rebel, while Namin will do anything she can to rise into the upper circles Jisun wants so desperately to leave. Yet these two women are friends and university students. Enter two male university students also striving to fulfill their separate ambitions and we should be set for a story of politics, class differences and friendship. I'm ready!!

But the story never really took off for me. It was slow, wandering, and didn't fulfill the promise I had been led to expect from the publicity. The characters seemed flat, and to me, that is a big flaw. If you can't engage with the characters, why are you reading the book? Unfortunately, I asked myself that question multiple times as I worked my way through the book.

I do appreciate NetGalley and Random House for giving me the opportunity to read an e-ARC of this book.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everything Belongs to Us is a debut novel by Yoojin Grace Wuertz. It is 1978 in Seoul, South Korea. Jisun, Namin, Juno and Sunam are all going to college, but each one of them is different. Jisun and Namin are friends, though, they are from very different backgrounds. Jisun is from a wealthy family and she protests every single thing her father believes in. She has joined the underground activist movement despite her father’s efforts to curtail her activities. Namin’s parents work hard running their food cart while Namin studies to become a doctor. She needs to graduate and then help her family especially her disabled brother. Juno Yoon is a member of the Circle and Sunam would like to join. Juno has become Sunam’s mentor in teaching him the right way to behave (basically, Sunam does Juno’s bidding). Their college years are just the beginning. Read Everything Belongs to Us to see how these four students evolve and where they eventually end up.

I had a hard time reading Everything Belongs to Us. It took me three tries to get through the whole novel. The story shows people at each end of the spectrum. We can see how money can corrupt a person and change their personality. These young people are discovering who they are and what they want. I did appreciate the epilogue (even if I did not like how the book ended). I wish, though, that it had not been written from just one character’s perspective (would have preferred third person). It was interesting to see how the 70s played out in a different country (one of the reasons I choose to read this book). I found the writing to be overformal and flat. It reminded me of some textbooks I read in college. I could not get involved in the story. Part of the reason is the wandering storylines. The book jumps from character to character. Then we are in the present and then the past. I was not a fan of the characters (another reason I could not get into this novel). There are the expected college exploits and the various romantic relationships. I ended up skimming through sections after a while. I read the first 1/3 of the book, the middle section, and the last third (it was the best I could do with this novel). I give Everything Belongs to Us 1 out of 5 stars (I really did not like this book). The author was very thorough in her details. Some scenes are a little off-putting. This novel sounded fascinating, but I was not the right reader for Everything Belongs to Us.

[jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In an age of rampaging hyperbole, it is probably best to cut to the chase: Yoojin Grace Wuertz has written the best debut novel of recent memory. The novel follows three university students through the fraught world of late 70’s South Korea, a society on the edge of upheaval. One, the daughter of a wealthy family, longs for a life among the workers in South Korea’s factories, where she hopes to help lead the brewing revolt (a surprisingly not uncommon choice of the time). The second, her childhood friend, comes from a poor family with an embarrassing secret. Having made it to university, this character, Namin, carries the weight of all her family’s hopes for a better a future. The third character is the son of a well-to-do family striving to make it the next wrung of Korean society, even though he’s unsure if that would make him happy. While the novel shifts between characters and perspectives, it is Namin who ultimately provides the novel’s beating heart, and it is her struggles and choices around which the rest revolve.

“Everything Belongs to Us” proves an appealing read from start to finish. Thoughtful characters face trial after trial, without ever feeling unnecessarily abused by the author. On a whole other level, it is fascinating to learn about South Korea’s modern history, a country most Americans only think about in terms of old MASH reruns. I for one got to the end and immediately began searching google for further reading on the topic. It is just so hard to imagine South Koreans looking North and imagining a happier more prosperous society. How fast things race in our strange, strange world.

Yet the real success of this novel is Wuertz’s lively prose. Many young writers with similar gifts for image and metaphor, let their sentences slip the reigns and run wild. Wuertz impressively avoids this pitfall. Instead, she deploys her considerable talents purely in service of delivering an excellent story, never trying to leap center stage and draw attention to herself. Such control is tragically rare in young writers. It speaks volumes to what is surely a bright future.

What more can I add? The book is a pleasure and sure to get a great deal of much deserved attention. Get the jump on the stampede and read it now.

[Megan]

An accessible and sometimes interesting read about college students in 1970s South Korea. The Marra and Adichie comparisons in the blurb do a disservice here; Wuertz's prose is far closer to average, and her characters, aside from Namin and Jisun, are maddeningly flat--and there was zero indication that the flatness was purposeful. In particular, Sunam's lack of depth meant that those supposedly animating relationships he had with the two women turned out to be the most tedious aspects of the book. The family relationships of Namin and Jisun, however, were dynamic and original, and those kept me reading despite the frustratingly stereotypical college-novels-are-novels-about-class stuff going on.

[Faith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I didn't connect with this book at all. The writing felt wooden, I wasn't interested in the characters and I abandoned it after 50 pages. I received a free copy of the book from the publisher.

[The Geeky Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the start of the year, I mentioned that one of my blogging goals was to read more diverse books. Set in South Korea in 1978, Everything Belongs to Us is the first diverse book I've read this year.

I went into this book knowing very little about South Korea's history and culture, so I had no preconceived ideas about the location or how the characters might be portrayed in the story. I think this made the book more interesting to me, because I wasn't just reading a story; I was learning about a place I knew practically nothing about.

The story centers mainly around Jisun, Namin, and Sunam, three Seoul National University students who come from vastly different backgrounds:

Jisun is the rebellious daughter of a wealthy and powerful man. Rejecting the wealth she was born into, Jisun is a political activist who regularly takes part in protests. She's often frustrated in her efforts, however, because of who she is.

Namin—Jisun's childhood friend— is the smart, ambitious daughter of poor parents who make their meager earnings by operating a food cart. She dreams of becoming a doctor to help her disabled younger brother, and lift her family out of poverty... but her older sister Kyungmin makes that goal difficult in more ways than one

Sunam is the son of middle class parents. He desperately wants to become part of an elite group known as the Circle, via his connection to Juno—Jisun's older brother. When he's invited to attend a Circle gathering for prospective members, he meets Namin (who is also yearning for acceptance into the group) and Jisun... setting into motion a chain of events that will affect all of their lives.

Of the three, the story of Namin and her family was the most captivating for me. I've always been fond of characters who must overcome seemingly insurmountable odds in order to achieve their dreams, and Namin certainly had a tough row to hoe in that regard. Kyungmin resents that she must work long hours, and deal with unenviable household tasks while Namin is expected only to study. Kyungmin's resentment of her life of toil reaches the boiling point, and she makes choices that have a devastating affect on Namin's dreams.

There were times my attention would wander a bit as I was reading. Sunam's story, in particular, evoked that reaction from me. He was easily the least interesting character of them all, in my opinion. Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I'm glad I read it. Solid three star rating for this one.

I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley and Random House.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course, everything belongs to us and we should all have it but to obtain it, it is not such an easy task. For the three main characters in this novel find that going against the norm is uplifting but it a battle nonetheless.

I wasn’t sure exactly what I was going to find inside this novel but once I started reading it, I found individuals who were willing to fight for what they thought was fair and just. Jisun had the world in her hands but that was not her dream, it was her father’s. She was a determined and bright individual, using these talents to get exactly what she wanted; to be accepted and to follow her dream. Namin, I felt for her, as I thought she felt conflicted. She was her families escape out of the poverty that they lived in yet I didn’t think she felt that she actually had a life. Namin studied continuously, day in and day out while her family worked to keep her in school and keep themselves out of the street. It felt like too much pressure to put on Namin and when the author introduced her sister, her feeling pertaining to the situation at home just added more weight to how I felt about the situation. Namin and Jisun had met each other when they were little and now as they begin their journey at the University, new opportunities awaited them. The girls soon meet Sunam, a young man who is part of The Circle, an elite social circle. I liked that he helped the girls branch out and that he encouraged each of them. There was a part in this novel that had me speechless. I can’t exactly tell you what happened but I was laughing so hard, I just couldn’t believe that Suman had actually opened his mouth and spoken those words out loud. This guy…….he really is something.

It’s the 1970’s and you can feel the tension, the freedom, and the movement, that’s in the air. The girls, they start to have relationships yet the time for commitment is not now, the family images have to be maintained, grades have to secured and family issues have to be dealt with. These are young people and they feel that their lives matter, they want their voice to be heard even if it has be underground.

I received a copy of his novel from NetGalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
2.5 stars

** I received an advanced readers copy from Random House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

This book centred around three college aged people living in South Korea in 1978. Jisun never wanted for anything and came from wealth but had no interest in it. She was wrapped up in the political underground. Her best friend Namin came from a family that worked hard but struggled for everything they had. Their hopes and dreams were lying on Namin's shoulders to get the education that would get them above poverty. Lastly there was Sunam, a college boy that lacked ambition but craved prestige.

I have to say that I enjoyed getting to know a little about the history of South Korea. I was not very familiar with the area and its history. However, I found it really slow to take off. It took me longer than I would have liked to become really interested in the story and what was going on. It slowly gained momentum as I continued to turn the pages and at about the half way mark I was finally invested in the story.

My biggest struggle with the story were the characters. I wasn't overly fond of any of them and I strongly disliked Sunam. He was lazy and whiny and made every situation about himself even when it wasn't. he had no ambition or motivation and was generally selfish. In fact, I found all of the characters selfish but in different ways and for different reasons. Because of this, I really didn't care very much where the story went with them and what happened to them. The romance between Sunam and Namin was dull and lacked depth.

Even though I wasn't fond of any of the characters I still wanted to know how it played out. It was the setting and culture that was kept me turning the pages. Unfortunately I found the ending to be anti-climatic and it really let me down. I wanted to like this book way more than I did. It wasn't that I hated it, I just found it a little on the sleepy side with characters that I didn't really care about.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Korea in the 70's experienced a transformation that went virtually unnoticed in America. Several books have been published recently set during these times, the most revealing being Human Acts by Han Kang (author of the highly regarded, award-winning novel The Vegetarian). That book told of a senseless death of a young boy during riots and its ripple effects. This book, purporting to use the same material to springboard the coming of age of three people in Seoul at approximately the same time, is not as successful in that it devolves into a soap opera. Instead of presenting what could have been a more insightful look at the events, it disappoints.

[Margaret Fisk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over

I’ve reviewed books that have uncommon narrative styles before, but this is the first time I found myself lost in cultural differences, not just between my culture and theirs but within their culture and the different social strata. No, this is not a criticism. It was fascinating to catch myself having expectations because of the seemingly traditional narrative approach only to have them turned upside down.

Basically, Everything Belongs to Us is a small story, or rather a collection of small stories, that became a deep dive into the culture of South Korea starting around 1978, long enough for a new generation to grow up after the Korean War. This is critical because of the consequences and impact the war left behind in both the physical world and the social structures while the main characters have neither experienced the time before nor the war itself.

The economic disparity, the focus on education and children as the guardians of the future, and the political rhetoric is presented in a matter-of-fact manner that begs you to reflect on what you’re seeing. This is not a simple story despite being shown through often uncritical eyes because it reveals the tradeoffs and consequences both within families and the larger picture. It shows the path to radicalization, but also the conflict and social strata within the radical movements and society as a whole.

It’s not a happy story, though it has its moments, and the cultural differences are never clearer than when a ghost appears but does not transform the book into a paranormal fantasy. It’s another fact of life in their culture. No one questions this as out of the ordinary.

The novel offers a fascinating look at the various reactions to wealth, poverty, honor, and survival through the eyes of young people struggling for control over their own existence beyond the demands of tradition and parents. At the same time, the main characters are trying to meet those expectations, creating the paradoxical conflict in which, to some degree, they are both the rescuer and the jailer of their futures. This is true for everyone except Jisun who is a perpetual rebel and experimenter. Even this is a commentary on social status and wealth as her very willingness sets her apart from those she most wants to connect with. She is unable to see how her giving up advantages does not make her the same as those who never had them in the first place.

While not a single character made it through the book without doing something or making a choice that repelled me, none of the main figures lost my interest, not even Sunam who tried hard to do so from the very start. There’s a large cast with many main characters and time jumps into the past that are subtle and easy to miss, but though I was disoriented at times and had trouble figuring out the who and when for a little bit, I was never lost.

The novel offers a glimpse into their world followed up with a summary and where these people are in modern times, having survived complicated childhoods. It shows the culture with both strengths and shadows, the impact of interaction with foreigners near and far, and the unwieldy balance between respect for a benefactor and spite because the aid has been necessary. It also shows the changes in the meaning of patriotism and honor between generations. While focusing on these young characters, it manages to paint a picture that spans much farther than I had imagined, from bridges mined with explosives in case North Korea invades to families putting all their hopes and dreams into the one child able to compete academically, which has far reaching consequences because they never look to see what their focus has created.

It’s not an easy read, though in some ways it’s all too easy, but I think the book does a good job of bringing another reality into my view, many layered, and both familiar and alien all at once. It was worth the time spent within its pages.

P.S. I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it starts out with a protest scene, this book is NOT about civil rights. Political unrest was a defining part of Korea in the 1970s, so Wuertz includes mentions to help characterize the heros/heroines and root you in their motivations. Instead, this book is about a female friendship, and the effect of class tension on their values and ability to relate to one another. One is the privileged daughter of a wealthy tycoon who wants to fight against current government policies - you get to explore whether it's genuine or her momentary rebellion. Another is an extremely poor, extremely ambtious woman trying to turn her family's life around by testing her way into a successful career. A lot of shit happens to her. Centered between the two is a spineless wuss who can't even rush right.

I would read this book if you enjoyed Swing Time by Zadie Smith or The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker. It has some elements of Pachinko by Min Jin Lee in that everyone's trying to make it during a really hard time in Korean history (different time periods though).

[kaylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely immersed in this book from the beginning: the history of a country at a crossroads, the saucy college romance storyline, the nuanced depiction of the inequality that Korea still faces today. It’s pace was steady and measured but the plot still moves along leaving the reader wanting more. Excited to see what comes next from this talented author.

[SooYoung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost half way through the year, and this book is a strong contender for my book of the year. It just touched me. Granted, I am half-Korean and have a complicated relationship with my Korean-side; so it's possible that the complex lives of the main characters meant more to me than say a non-affiliated reader. But I don't think so. The book is a shining of example of unique and universal. I think people from all backgrounds will relate to the characters, situations and relationships that ebb and flow over the course of the novel. I was hooked, and even after closing the book, I feel moved.

A few excerpts:

"It was always her strategy to meet force with force. Pain with pain." p 71

"'It hurts more because you're paying attention.'" p 185

"But lies were for people who didn't believe in the future. Who saw only an endless stretch of present without consequences or change." p 189

"Never underestimate those you despise. They have caught your attention for a reason." p 198

"Many days it was a kind of uncomfortable luck, like finding a precious thing and realizing the rest of his life was shabby and common in comparison." p 220

"The purest luxury not to do battle with the sky." p 240

"Everything was a threat against his life. Everything, including himself." p 300

[Tish · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I've bumped it up to 4 because this is the author's debut novel, so kudos! Also, I lived in Korea for 3 and a half years (and married a Korean guy), so I am probably more interested in the history of Korea during the 70's than your average person. I liked the look into the very different lives of Namin and Jisun the most. However, Sunam, the other main character, was insipid and weak-willed and I kept wishing he would start playing a more active role in his own life! What I liked the least were the relationship drama and that the characters seemed a bit one-dimensional.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of this book.