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Precious Silver Chopsticks: A True Story of a Korean Noble Family
From her childhood in a North Korean mountain village to a successful life in the United States, the years have brought Mae Adams many challenges. With the past full of ghosts, her final challenge is to share her story. Rejected by a mother who did not want a second daughter, Mae grew up on the periphery of her aristocratic Korean family. Her loving step-grandma (a commoner) took care of her, allowing her to explore the joys and perils of their rural home. Mae describes her emergence into Korean culture, from her Japanese-style education to her most prized her pair of silver chopsticks. She endures her mother’s abuse, almost-tragic accidents, and her father’s funeral. But things would get much worse. At the end of World War II, Mae and her family flee to South Korea, while her grandma stays behind. Within five years the Korean War erupts, and again they spend several years as refugees before Mae came to the United States for a college education. Her memoir delves into Korean history and the Japanese occupation, following Mae until her happy marriage to a US Marine colonel and a family and career of her own. Precious Silver Chopsticks is a wonderfully written memoir of a North Korean girl and her journey to America. A truly inspirational story that you will not want to miss. Scroll up and grab a copy of Precious Silver Chopsticks today.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
March 26, 2020
Mae’s remarkable life story will inspire all who read it!
Mae’s generation suffered the Japanese Occupation, World War II and the Korean War. Her triumphant story culminates with her marriage to Hewitt, a US Marine colonel, a family and career of her own. This memoir is the living record of a generation, crisscrossed by the personal history of a family and the most intimate fibers of Mae’s being. It is an exemplary human response to dire straits.
Precious Silver Chopsticks: A True Story of a Korean Noble Family is a powerful and inspirational story about a woman’s triumph over incredible adversary. It was a brilliant read that will leave you feeling like a better person for having read it. It’s an impressive work by author Mae Adams and I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from her in the future. I would highly recommend this extraordinary and inspiring autobiography. A well-deserved five stars from me.
Mae’s generation suffered the Japanese Occupation, World War II and the Korean War. Her triumphant story culminates with her marriage to Hewitt, a US Marine colonel, a family and career of her own. This memoir is the living record of a generation, crisscrossed by the personal history of a family and the most intimate fibers of Mae’s being. It is an exemplary human response to dire straits.
Precious Silver Chopsticks: A True Story of a Korean Noble Family is a powerful and inspirational story about a woman’s triumph over incredible adversary. It was a brilliant read that will leave you feeling like a better person for having read it. It’s an impressive work by author Mae Adams and I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from her in the future. I would highly recommend this extraordinary and inspiring autobiography. A well-deserved five stars from me.
November 27, 2018
‘Now I can reflect on my life in this world and prepare for the afterworld.’
South Carolina author Mae Adams shares a luminous memoir in PRECIOUS SILVER CHOPSTICKS. Though the book shares her biographical history (she is descended from an aristocratic family, having been born and spending her childhood in North Korea, moving to the US following the Korean War to attend college and marry a US Marine Colonel), the manner in which she shares the trials of life as an abused ‘girl child’ makes for a sweeping panorama that blends history with psychology and perseverance.
The Introduction to Mae’s novel, written by Harry Hafer, offers the facts: ‘Precious Silver Chopsticks is a real-life story, a kaleidoscopic tapestry interwoven with threads of the lives of these family members: Grandpa, a descendant of a Chinese imperial scholar and a Korean princess, was a Landlord, herbal medicine doctor, a Christian minister, and a Kung Fu instructor. Grandma, a commoner, and ex-sea-diver raised Mae and gave her the silver chopsticks as a symbol of her love. Father, a prodigy, and a musician suffered from tuberculosis. Mother, the daughter of a nobleman was a college graduate, and her relationship with Mae was stormy. Little-Pa, a mathematical genius, loved Mae like a father. Big-Sis, Mae’s older sister, was a movie star in the 1940s-50s. Intaek, Mae’s little brother, was a commercial designer-artist. Mae, the useless second daughter, is the narrator of this book. A Marine Colonel, Hewitt Dayne Adams commanded the First Marine Regiment during the Korean War and later married Mae. Mae uses ironic humor to tell us about the Korean spirit and culture through her birth and education, the death of her father and his funeral, Grandpa’s sixtieth birthday, and a Korean wedding that coincides with the Japanese occupation. After World War II, the family escapes to South Korea at a personal loss of Grandma. Her story of the Korean War from a refugee’s point of view and survival through the indescribable chaos is vivid. The telling of her life story—the good, the bad, and all in truth—was an arduous task that demanded a great deal of emotional exertion. Since English is her fourth language, she wrote this book from her heart, out of love and gratitude for her grandma and her husband. I hope you can get some insight into other people’s lives lived in different corners of our world at a different time in history through the journey of this book.’
There is so much history to learn in this memoir – not only the life of a amazing woman, but also the conditions in Korea at the time of WW II and the Korean War, and Mae writes all of this so beautifully. ‘One bright September morning, my mother was busy gnawing on the strange dream she had the night before, in which she saw a blooming Rose of Sharon. As she reached out to pick some blossoms, a sharp object pricked her finger. She cried out in pain and saw angry thorns sprouting from the stems. “That’s strange. The Rose of Sharon shouldn’t have thorns,” she muttered and sucked the little drop of blood from her finger. “Let’s see if you can stop me,” snapping at the prickly thorns in a sharp tongue, she deftly picked a handful of blossoms and hugged them close to her bosom, caressing them with her fingers. She loved those flowers. She used to pick them often at her family’s estate, as they flourished regardless of the weather or soil conditions. Mother was not alone in her love of Rose of Sharon; most Koreans did. They called it the “Everlasting Flower” and believed it was a gift from heaven. More than 1,400 years ago, during Three Kingdoms Period, the Silla Kingdom was known as “the Kingdom of Everlasting Flowers.” The Korean national anthem said, “… the land of a thousand miles of beautiful mountains and rivers where Everlasting Flowers bloom.” Koreans adopted the Rose of Sharon as their national flower, for it symbolized the strength and resilience of the nation. Hadn’t the country endured countless invasions and wars for almost five thousand years?’
The source of the title tells much – ‘My step-grandma raised me in that mountain village and gave me a pair of silver chopsticks as a symbol of her love and to detect poison in my food. The silver found poison in food by turning its color.’
This is both a deeply moving book and a fine literary work. Highly recommended.
South Carolina author Mae Adams shares a luminous memoir in PRECIOUS SILVER CHOPSTICKS. Though the book shares her biographical history (she is descended from an aristocratic family, having been born and spending her childhood in North Korea, moving to the US following the Korean War to attend college and marry a US Marine Colonel), the manner in which she shares the trials of life as an abused ‘girl child’ makes for a sweeping panorama that blends history with psychology and perseverance.
The Introduction to Mae’s novel, written by Harry Hafer, offers the facts: ‘Precious Silver Chopsticks is a real-life story, a kaleidoscopic tapestry interwoven with threads of the lives of these family members: Grandpa, a descendant of a Chinese imperial scholar and a Korean princess, was a Landlord, herbal medicine doctor, a Christian minister, and a Kung Fu instructor. Grandma, a commoner, and ex-sea-diver raised Mae and gave her the silver chopsticks as a symbol of her love. Father, a prodigy, and a musician suffered from tuberculosis. Mother, the daughter of a nobleman was a college graduate, and her relationship with Mae was stormy. Little-Pa, a mathematical genius, loved Mae like a father. Big-Sis, Mae’s older sister, was a movie star in the 1940s-50s. Intaek, Mae’s little brother, was a commercial designer-artist. Mae, the useless second daughter, is the narrator of this book. A Marine Colonel, Hewitt Dayne Adams commanded the First Marine Regiment during the Korean War and later married Mae. Mae uses ironic humor to tell us about the Korean spirit and culture through her birth and education, the death of her father and his funeral, Grandpa’s sixtieth birthday, and a Korean wedding that coincides with the Japanese occupation. After World War II, the family escapes to South Korea at a personal loss of Grandma. Her story of the Korean War from a refugee’s point of view and survival through the indescribable chaos is vivid. The telling of her life story—the good, the bad, and all in truth—was an arduous task that demanded a great deal of emotional exertion. Since English is her fourth language, she wrote this book from her heart, out of love and gratitude for her grandma and her husband. I hope you can get some insight into other people’s lives lived in different corners of our world at a different time in history through the journey of this book.’
There is so much history to learn in this memoir – not only the life of a amazing woman, but also the conditions in Korea at the time of WW II and the Korean War, and Mae writes all of this so beautifully. ‘One bright September morning, my mother was busy gnawing on the strange dream she had the night before, in which she saw a blooming Rose of Sharon. As she reached out to pick some blossoms, a sharp object pricked her finger. She cried out in pain and saw angry thorns sprouting from the stems. “That’s strange. The Rose of Sharon shouldn’t have thorns,” she muttered and sucked the little drop of blood from her finger. “Let’s see if you can stop me,” snapping at the prickly thorns in a sharp tongue, she deftly picked a handful of blossoms and hugged them close to her bosom, caressing them with her fingers. She loved those flowers. She used to pick them often at her family’s estate, as they flourished regardless of the weather or soil conditions. Mother was not alone in her love of Rose of Sharon; most Koreans did. They called it the “Everlasting Flower” and believed it was a gift from heaven. More than 1,400 years ago, during Three Kingdoms Period, the Silla Kingdom was known as “the Kingdom of Everlasting Flowers.” The Korean national anthem said, “… the land of a thousand miles of beautiful mountains and rivers where Everlasting Flowers bloom.” Koreans adopted the Rose of Sharon as their national flower, for it symbolized the strength and resilience of the nation. Hadn’t the country endured countless invasions and wars for almost five thousand years?’
The source of the title tells much – ‘My step-grandma raised me in that mountain village and gave me a pair of silver chopsticks as a symbol of her love and to detect poison in my food. The silver found poison in food by turning its color.’
This is both a deeply moving book and a fine literary work. Highly recommended.
August 16, 2020
Like many in Korea, Mae Adams and her family were firm believers in dreams and omens. Pregnancy dreams foretold the birth of a child. If a mother-to-be dreamt of picking seeded fruit, she was predicted to give birth to a boy. But if she dreamt of a flower, then she was predicted to give birth to a girl. When Adams's mother, Yi Nam Hyang was pregnant with her second daughter, she dreamt that she picked a Rose of Sharon, the official flower of South Korea. The thorns pricked her fingers, even though Roses of Sharons don't have thorns in reality.
A first born son is important in Korea. He is the heir and is believed to carry on the family legacy. A first born daughter is considered useful, because she is marriageable, but a second daughter is considered unimportant. After Nam Hyang dreamt of the Rose of Sharon, she tried to abort the pregnancy. When that didn't work, she gave birth to her second daughter, Yum Mae Hee, who would one day grow up to become Mae Adams. Adams's mother's dream and her ambivalence about her second daughter's birth cemented their relationship forever.
Mae Adams's beautiful and tragic memoirs, Precious Silver Chopsticks: A True Story About A Korean Noble Family tells about Adams's difficult childhood and youth, and relationships with her family, particularly her abusive mother. She tells her story with memorable description and details that reveal what life was like for a Korean woman in the years preceding World War II and Korean War and afterwards.
Adams's childhood was largely shaped by her parent's dismissive attitudes towards her and their preferences for their other children: oldest daughter, Mae Ree (whom Adams nicknamed "Big Sis") and youngest child and only son, Intaek.
Adams described her father, Yum Suck Jung, as an angry and distant man with great artistic talent, but a strong addiction to alcohol. He painted watercolor art, embroidered fabric, carved figures, composed and played music. Some of his songs were famous, particularly in the Korean countryside. Suck Jung was something of an iconoclast and rebel, not wanting to work in a regular non-artistic job. He was quite well known, but family responsibility and his role in Korean tradition as a husband and father appeared to weigh him down with disappointment.
There was a dark side to Suck Jung's behavior. Many times, he visited the tavern and got drunk on soju. He then returned home with an empty wallet and to an angry wife.
He also wasn't above playing favorites with his children. Suck Jung lavished attention towards Mae Ree by always bringing her beautiful gifts after he returned home from travels, but ignored Adams and beat Intaek. This had a detrimental effect on the siblings's childhood, especially the sisters.
Her father's preference caused sibling rivalry between the two as Adams thought of Mae Ree as rather vain and superficial and Mae Ree saw Adams as argumentative and obstinate when they were children. Mae Ree however longed for attention and inherited her father's musical abilities to become a singer and actress, ultimately becoming a film star in Korea in the 1940's-'50's.
Yum Suck Jung was very frail and succumbed to tuberculosis at the age of 32. One chapter describes a hunt that Adams and Mae Ree went on for a snake to treat their father's illness, maybe a live miracle snake that would cure him. After the hunt, in which the two girls nearly drowned in a river, the sisters eventually bought a dead snake from a peddlar. This incident haunted Adams. "The failure of catching a miracle snake to save our father, which had seemed such a hopeful idea in the morning, totally crushed my spirit," Adams wrote. "Would it be my fault if he died?"
Later as her father lay dying, Adams still remembered that day. She gained immense knowledge through her studies, but considered herself a failure anyway. "Should I have tried harder to catch that miracle snake?" She asked. "But knowing how to count and read was quite different from catching a snake."
Suck Jung's death left Adams confused and uncertain about her feelings for him. She didn't remember him as a loving man, only one who was a drinker who preferred his oldest daughter over his other children. "Whether I was a filial daughter or not, I had to mourn his death and forgive him for the wrong things that he had done to me," Adams wrote. "For his death canceled all his sins and debts. But it wasn't easy to do so, because I harbored complex feelings about Father's indifference towards me."
As complex as her relationship with her father was, Adams's relationship with Nam Hyang was consistently contentious.Adams believed that much of her mother's behavior was because of her youth, as the daughter of a noble family and a fourth daughter. She was held in little regard except as a target for marriage and to be cared for by a husband and family.
However, Yi Nam Hyang wanted more out of life. She received a college education, despite objections from her traditional family.
"Mother had full of aspirations at one time in her life," Adams wrote.
"She'd wanted to conquer the world. She'd wanted to smash the social inequity, and become the first woman to achieve fame and to stand tall, right beside any great man in the world. But by the time she grew up, Korean society had already brainwashed her with its stringent Confucian doctrine, and didn't even realize until it was too late."
While this doesn't excuse her behavior towards her daughter, Adams allowed herself to see her mother, as she saw her father. They were people who were disappointed by life. Her father had the talent and her mother the education, but neither were able to do much with it. Nam Hyang especially lived a life of disappointment, made even worse by an education that gave her a thwarted ambition and then told her that she could do more with life and was unable to do so. She took her frustrations and anger out on her second daughter.
Adams explored the ambivalence that her mother felt towards her birth with wry observation.
"Saddled with another girl, (Nam Hyang) grumbled, 'Who needs more than one daughter?' Although she had been born a fourth girl and her mother endured a full term, she felt no appreciation for her mother's labor. Her mother had two sons to show off before she gave birth to daughters," Adams wrote.
"Mother knew that it was every mother's duty to give a child a place in the world as a wife and mother, and her birth family and her in-laws all upheld the principles, but that call could sail down the river for all she cared. Mother thought that she had little to look forward to in life with the impending arrival of a second daughter, useless in every way."
Even after Adams was born, Nam Hyang still wasn't happy. She refused to bond or feed her newborn child, leaving Adams's grandparents to search for a wet nurse. No sooner than her daughter was born, than she took off for Seoul leaving Adams to be raised by her grandparents. She returned a year later, not wanting her children to grow up as country kids.
She periodically allowed Adams to return to her grandparents' country home. Adams hovered between her city home with a cold unloving mother and her country home with her grandparents, who became the loving adult figures in her life that her parents could not.
Nam Hyang subjected Adams to frequent physical and verbal abuse.
Adams's first memory of her mother was when she was 2 1\2 and she tried to collect rainwater. She slipped and hit her head knocking over a metal dustpan. Nam Hyang took her to the doctor, but only after she gave her a few blows to the head.
Like her husband, Nam Hyang too had a favorite among her children, particularly after her husband's death. That was her only son, Intaek She smothered the boy with maternal affection and indulged his every whim. As he grew and became a commercial artist, Intaek became a spoiled entitled brat unable to accept adult responsibility, because of his mother's influence.
There was a ray of hope during Adams's childhood and that was in the form of her paternal grandparents. Yum Hyung Kee, her grandfather came from an Imperial academic family and worked as an herbal doctor, Christian missionary, and Kung Fu instructor. Go Jaesoon, her grandmother came from a family of commoners and worked as a sea diver. Despite their different backgrounds, they had close marriage and were able to give young Adams the love that she lacked from her parents.
After Adams was born, Go Jaesoon declared, "Being a second daughter is nothing to be ashamed of," and held the newborn close, the way that her mother should have.
Adams's grandparents always greeted her with embraces and cries of joy, when she visited them. They allowed her to eat and sleep whenever she wanted and didn't criticize her when she made a mistake or broke something. They defended her firom her mother. They treated Adams as a daughter, better than her mother did.
The title of the book comes from a gift that Go Jaesoon gave her grandaughter on her birthday. The silver chopsticks were made by the best silversmith in the country and were decorated with pretty drawings on the upper and wider sides and the words "Happy Long Life" in Chinese characters on the back. The chopsticks were a sign that portended Adams would never go hungry. They also changed color if the food being served was poisoned.
Adams considered the chopsticks as symbols of her grandmother's love for her. Adams kept the silver chopsticks with her, everywhere she went as if keeping Go Jaesoon's spirit with her. She never sold them, even through war and poverty. To Adams, selling or losing them would be like selling her grandmother's spirit.
After the Korean War was over Adams took over her cruel second husband Chang's business and made a profit from it. This success gave her financial satisfaction and became the first step towards her independence from her mother. The second step came from her desire to study business management and textile design in America so she could learn to create and sell handicrafts and run an export business. She settled her affairs with Nam Hyang and Intaek by offering them a house and money if they allowed her to go. She paid her respects to her grandfather, uncle, and her grandmother's spirit. Adams finally obtained her freedom from her family.
Besides freedom, Adams's plans allowed her to get acquainted with the man who would eventually become her third husband: Hewitt Dayne Adams, a Marine colonal. Introduced by a mutual American friend, Hewitt not only proved to be a kind sympathetic man, but was useful for her business. One of his responsibilities was to help Korean citizens begin and operate businesses.
While she found him to be a charming man, Adams knew that Hewitt was married to another woman. Unlike the passivity that was forced upon her by Confucian doctrine, her abusive mother, and previous unhappy marriage, Adams refused to continue the relationship while Hewitt was still married. Her newly won independent spirit would no longer accept being a mistress or a concubine.
They separated while she continued her ecucation. He obtained a divorce and the two resumed their relationship, eventually marrying. Hewitt became a professor in Asian and American History at Clemson University and Adams ran a successful business. They had two children, Michael and Mae Lee, along with Hewitt's two daughters from his previous marriage.
There were two incidents in Adams's life that helped provide closure towards her unhappy past. The first concerned her mother. After her children grew, Nam Hyang hovered between them and friends continuing to live off of other people's money and kindness. In 1998, as the older woman lay dying, Adams wrote a letter condemning her for all of the abuse and manipulations that she submitted to her all those years. Even though she never sent the letter and later learnedabout Nam Hyang's death, Adams believed that the letter finally gave her a chance to liberate herself from all of the anger and negative feelings that her mother bestowed upon her.
The second incident concerned Hewitt and her grandparents. Adams gave the silver chopsticks to Hewitt while they were dating. She told them that if he didn't want to see her again then he was to return them to her. She never got them back until after his death in 2003. While going through his belongings, she found the silver chopsticks realizing that he kept them close all those years.
With tears streaming down her face, Adams placed the silver chopsticks inside her husband's urn. The once traumatized young girl shared a gift of love from her grandmother with another person that she truly loved, allowing that love to continue beyond death and into the next world.
April 25, 2018
“Precious Silver Chopsticks” is a raw, unfiltered memoir of life in a society broken by oppression, sexism, and scarcity. Much of the troubles Mae Hee encountered were the result of anachronistic, anti-woman beliefs enforced by the fact that Korea had been held down or war-ravaged by nation after nation without mercy. The dire pressures of life manifest themselves in resentment of mother against daughter, of daughter against mother, and most of all in men against women.
Mae Hee does not hold back in the telling of her tale. The abuse she felt at the hands of her mother, whose noble birth imparted an attitude of superiority, is explored in full and contrasts starkly with the love she received from her country-born grandparents. Unburdened by the need to keep up social appearances in cities with radically different – and rapidly changing – cultural views, her grandparents and their “country folk” neighbors were able to reflect on and reject the desperation-borne philosophies that led the rest of Mae Hee’s family to reject her as a “useless second daughter.”
I can thoroughly recommend this memoir to anyone who wishes to gaze with honest eyes at the pain and corruption that is born from inequality, from hatred, from desperation. It is not an easy read at first, but it is an educational, moving, and powerful one.
Mae Hee does not hold back in the telling of her tale. The abuse she felt at the hands of her mother, whose noble birth imparted an attitude of superiority, is explored in full and contrasts starkly with the love she received from her country-born grandparents. Unburdened by the need to keep up social appearances in cities with radically different – and rapidly changing – cultural views, her grandparents and their “country folk” neighbors were able to reflect on and reject the desperation-borne philosophies that led the rest of Mae Hee’s family to reject her as a “useless second daughter.”
I can thoroughly recommend this memoir to anyone who wishes to gaze with honest eyes at the pain and corruption that is born from inequality, from hatred, from desperation. It is not an easy read at first, but it is an educational, moving, and powerful one.
January 20, 2019
Mae Adams acknowledges that English is her fourth language and that English grammar is her "minefield." The book she has written is a complex mixture of Korean history, culture, mythology and her own family history, especially the extremely tangled web of her relationship with her mother. Born in 1933, Adams lived through the Japanese Occupation, World War II, the Partition of Korea and the subsequent Korean War, Her book covers the first twenty-seven years of her life, and barely touches on her life once she left the Korean Peninsula for the United States. My chief objection is that I found it tiresome reading about her mother's treachery over and over and over. I'm tempted to include this in my Book Riot's 2019 Read Harder Challenge #10, 'A translated book written by and/or translated by a woman," as it is obvious that while writing in English, Mae Adams was thinking in Korean.
May 5, 2020
Silver Chopsticks not Wood
Precious Silver Chopsticks by Mae Adams is an intense, revealing and candid revelation of the Korean way of life and the interactions of the members of the family. Those members being grandpa, grandma, father, mother, brothers and sisters.
For the Western reader it may be disturbing to read about the inequities and treatment of children within the family over other members within the household. The culture and value of Korean families is such that the daughter's role in the family is less important that the son born within the family. This family was no different as the father wanted a son as did the mother. However, the father was not abusive towards the daughter unlike the harsh relationship of the mother towards her daughter.
Despite this seeming bias, it is nevertheless a reality for the Korean family and will ultimately reveal to the reader meaning, beauty and the overall power of love and perserverance.
This way of life is disclosed for us through the storytelling of the author Mae Adams. As the second-born in the Korean family and being a female she expresses the Korean value of this combination as the meaning of her life within the family. However, she doesn't allow this value placed on her by tradition to define her.
The story takes the reader through war, hardships of life, value of hard work, and the value of friendships.
By the way, the gift of silver chopsticks indicated that the receiver would never go hungry. A gift given by a loving and nurturing grandmother.
The true impact of the story is realized as we are absorbed in this story of a young Korean girl becoming a strong young woman and the lessons learned. Her character is tested and refined on her journey to America. Milestones on her journey include oppression by the Japanese during World War II, especially against Christians, falling in love with an American and bound for the shores of the United States of America.
Add in the love and devotion of a caring grandmother and you have the successful foundation for this young girl to move onto success and inspiring others.
Precious Silver Chopsticks by Mae Adams should be read with an open mind and heart. It is important not to judge the traditions of the Korean culture, but to honor the diversity. Therefore, the reader will be treated to a display of individual strength and the fortitude of the human spirit that transcends traditions, nationalities and cultures.
Ms. Adams has gifted us with a simple narrative that captures the complexities of life. An enjoyable and inspirational read.
Precious Silver Chopsticks by Mae Adams is an intense, revealing and candid revelation of the Korean way of life and the interactions of the members of the family. Those members being grandpa, grandma, father, mother, brothers and sisters.
For the Western reader it may be disturbing to read about the inequities and treatment of children within the family over other members within the household. The culture and value of Korean families is such that the daughter's role in the family is less important that the son born within the family. This family was no different as the father wanted a son as did the mother. However, the father was not abusive towards the daughter unlike the harsh relationship of the mother towards her daughter.
Despite this seeming bias, it is nevertheless a reality for the Korean family and will ultimately reveal to the reader meaning, beauty and the overall power of love and perserverance.
This way of life is disclosed for us through the storytelling of the author Mae Adams. As the second-born in the Korean family and being a female she expresses the Korean value of this combination as the meaning of her life within the family. However, she doesn't allow this value placed on her by tradition to define her.
The story takes the reader through war, hardships of life, value of hard work, and the value of friendships.
By the way, the gift of silver chopsticks indicated that the receiver would never go hungry. A gift given by a loving and nurturing grandmother.
The true impact of the story is realized as we are absorbed in this story of a young Korean girl becoming a strong young woman and the lessons learned. Her character is tested and refined on her journey to America. Milestones on her journey include oppression by the Japanese during World War II, especially against Christians, falling in love with an American and bound for the shores of the United States of America.
Add in the love and devotion of a caring grandmother and you have the successful foundation for this young girl to move onto success and inspiring others.
Precious Silver Chopsticks by Mae Adams should be read with an open mind and heart. It is important not to judge the traditions of the Korean culture, but to honor the diversity. Therefore, the reader will be treated to a display of individual strength and the fortitude of the human spirit that transcends traditions, nationalities and cultures.
Ms. Adams has gifted us with a simple narrative that captures the complexities of life. An enjoyable and inspirational read.
June 22, 2020
Mae had a very tumultuous childhood with a mother who abandoned her and a father who ignored her. Fortunately she had her precious grandma to love her and gave her a pair of silver chopsticks so Mae would never forget how much she was loved. She and her family were survivors underneath the Japanese rule where she was living in what was then the north part of Korea. Because of a sacrifice her grandma made (I never did understand that completely), her family escaped to the south, not to mention surviving World War II and the Korean War. Her mother continued to abuse her and yet she kept on taking care of her. I don't understand that kind of commitment and I really don't admire it. You can only do so much for someone… You are not allowed to forget how much her mother abused her and took advantage of her time and time again. I figure enough is enough and then you shouldn't be surprised anymore.
There is a good story in here and I would like to see Amy Tan take it and write it because the author admits that English is her fourth language, and while she does a good job (much better than I could ever do with Korean, Japanese or Chinese), things are lost in the translation, at least for me. Parts were rushed while other parts labored on, and while I'm happy she had a good marriage in the end, she never did explain how that took place considering he was already married with 2 children and 19 years older than her. She also abandoned her son, and so while she was critical of her mother, I would have liked to have seen her do better by her own child. I realize culture comes into a lot of this stuff, and again I didn't understand it all.
There is a good story in here and I would like to see Amy Tan take it and write it because the author admits that English is her fourth language, and while she does a good job (much better than I could ever do with Korean, Japanese or Chinese), things are lost in the translation, at least for me. Parts were rushed while other parts labored on, and while I'm happy she had a good marriage in the end, she never did explain how that took place considering he was already married with 2 children and 19 years older than her. She also abandoned her son, and so while she was critical of her mother, I would have liked to have seen her do better by her own child. I realize culture comes into a lot of this stuff, and again I didn't understand it all.
May 20, 2019
Precious Silver Chopsticks
My only complaint about this book is the cover. It doesn’t do the book justice. It’s a cover that many readers would likely pass over since it doesn’t grab your attention.
I found Precious Silver Chopsticks is so captivating, I read this book in just two days, so definitely a quick read.
Precious Silver Chopsticks is amazing and pulls you in from the beginning. I liked the introduction that presented the many characters the reader will meet later throughout the book. Also, the letter to the author’s husband sets the tone of the emotional roller coaster Ms. Adams is going to unfold in the following pages.
I know that there was some slight criticism over the flow of some of the sentences and wording, but for me, it worked. Precious Silver Chopsticks is a true story written by a woman born and raised in Korea.
The characters come to life from the very first page. Ms. Adams ability to write such a powerful portrayal of the characters is incredible. I’m the sort of reader that loves to connect with the characters, and I absolutely connected with the characters in this book.
Precious Silver Chopsticks is the type of book that draws strong emotions from the reader, which reveals the true talent of an author.
I would highly recommend this book to everyone interested in reading the incredible story of one woman’s struggles and ends with a happy and loving marriage.
My only complaint about this book is the cover. It doesn’t do the book justice. It’s a cover that many readers would likely pass over since it doesn’t grab your attention.
I found Precious Silver Chopsticks is so captivating, I read this book in just two days, so definitely a quick read.
Precious Silver Chopsticks is amazing and pulls you in from the beginning. I liked the introduction that presented the many characters the reader will meet later throughout the book. Also, the letter to the author’s husband sets the tone of the emotional roller coaster Ms. Adams is going to unfold in the following pages.
I know that there was some slight criticism over the flow of some of the sentences and wording, but for me, it worked. Precious Silver Chopsticks is a true story written by a woman born and raised in Korea.
The characters come to life from the very first page. Ms. Adams ability to write such a powerful portrayal of the characters is incredible. I’m the sort of reader that loves to connect with the characters, and I absolutely connected with the characters in this book.
Precious Silver Chopsticks is the type of book that draws strong emotions from the reader, which reveals the true talent of an author.
I would highly recommend this book to everyone interested in reading the incredible story of one woman’s struggles and ends with a happy and loving marriage.
July 22, 2020
A heartwarming and memorable tale of a Korean girl's memories of her life and her magical silver chopsticks.
A truly inspiring and wonderful autobiography of a woman's life that begun in Korea and ended in the United States. Packed with unforgettable images of a country that is unknown to many westerners, this autobiography includes historical details which are also startling and entertaining.
Despite the rather ordinary cover of the book, there are some vividly colorful scenes and descriptions of events from her extraordinary life. Despite circumstances that resulted in her suffering through dreadful times which included wars and social turbulence, it is a heartwarming and deeply moving account that is centered around the precious chopsticks that were a gift from her beloved grandma. Despite the fact that she could have sold these silver treasures of hers for money that may have helped her and her family hardships, she kept them concealed as her last and precious link to her deceased grandmother. The eventual fate of these chopsticks is sentimentally poignant and moving.
Not only is this extremely entertaining and unforgettable, but it is also a highly picturesque and informative account of a nation that few foreigners know very much about. It is compelling and unforgettable reading, and also a magnificent story.
A truly inspiring and wonderful autobiography of a woman's life that begun in Korea and ended in the United States. Packed with unforgettable images of a country that is unknown to many westerners, this autobiography includes historical details which are also startling and entertaining.
Despite the rather ordinary cover of the book, there are some vividly colorful scenes and descriptions of events from her extraordinary life. Despite circumstances that resulted in her suffering through dreadful times which included wars and social turbulence, it is a heartwarming and deeply moving account that is centered around the precious chopsticks that were a gift from her beloved grandma. Despite the fact that she could have sold these silver treasures of hers for money that may have helped her and her family hardships, she kept them concealed as her last and precious link to her deceased grandmother. The eventual fate of these chopsticks is sentimentally poignant and moving.
Not only is this extremely entertaining and unforgettable, but it is also a highly picturesque and informative account of a nation that few foreigners know very much about. It is compelling and unforgettable reading, and also a magnificent story.
May 8, 2018
Wow that was heartbreaking book! This book was so a true story that was so well-written. I really enjoyed this book even if it made me cry a few times.
This is Mae’s life story. And it was a heartbreaking one for being the second child born to a Korean family. Her father plainly rejected her and her mom was horrible. And very abusive to mae. I felt so sad for her. But thank god for her grandma and grandpa for they showed her what love truly was like. She and her family escaped to South Korea just before the Korean war broke out. While living in the south she got her education which was Japanese based. And she was able to help support her family. But then she finely was able to fulfill her dream and went to college in America. Before she left she met a Us Marine and fell in love. They corresponded with him and kept a relationship with the Colonel for three years and then eventually they married. This story is nothing short of an inspiration.
Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. If you do like this book, please consider leaving a review. The Authors really like it when you do; they value your opinions too.
This is Mae’s life story. And it was a heartbreaking one for being the second child born to a Korean family. Her father plainly rejected her and her mom was horrible. And very abusive to mae. I felt so sad for her. But thank god for her grandma and grandpa for they showed her what love truly was like. She and her family escaped to South Korea just before the Korean war broke out. While living in the south she got her education which was Japanese based. And she was able to help support her family. But then she finely was able to fulfill her dream and went to college in America. Before she left she met a Us Marine and fell in love. They corresponded with him and kept a relationship with the Colonel for three years and then eventually they married. This story is nothing short of an inspiration.
Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. If you do like this book, please consider leaving a review. The Authors really like it when you do; they value your opinions too.
June 24, 2018
Precious Silver Chopsticks: A True Story of a Korean Noble Family, Mae Adams, CreateSpace, 2017
This memoir is an attempt to tell the author's American-born husband what her life was like before they met.
Born in North Korea, her mother did not want a second daughter, so she tried to abort the pregnancy. When she was born, Mom gave her to her parents to raise. Grandma gave Adams lots of love, and allowed her to explore her Korean heritage. She received a Japanese-style education, and her most prized possession, a pair of silver chopsticks. It was a time when class structure was very important, along with religion and astrology.
World War II came, and the family was forced to flee south, while Grandma stayed behind. A few years later, the Korean War forced the family to again become refugees. The author was now old enough to get a job with the US military, and to begin thinking about marriage. Later in life, the relationship with her mother was still "difficult".
This is a really good book. The author does a fine job at showing one family's journey through the mid-20th Century, in a different part of the world. Yes, it is well worth reading.
This memoir is an attempt to tell the author's American-born husband what her life was like before they met.
Born in North Korea, her mother did not want a second daughter, so she tried to abort the pregnancy. When she was born, Mom gave her to her parents to raise. Grandma gave Adams lots of love, and allowed her to explore her Korean heritage. She received a Japanese-style education, and her most prized possession, a pair of silver chopsticks. It was a time when class structure was very important, along with religion and astrology.
World War II came, and the family was forced to flee south, while Grandma stayed behind. A few years later, the Korean War forced the family to again become refugees. The author was now old enough to get a job with the US military, and to begin thinking about marriage. Later in life, the relationship with her mother was still "difficult".
This is a really good book. The author does a fine job at showing one family's journey through the mid-20th Century, in a different part of the world. Yes, it is well worth reading.
December 22, 2018
Precious Silver Chopsticks came across as a surprise. It is a really interesting book written in a candid manner. The author takes us on her life journey as a young Korean girl living alternately between city and village, later to suffer as a refugee and finally to meet the love of her life. While the whole story was pretty engaging, I specifically loved her childhood part. She is truthful in her revelation of her family and herself and spares none. Hence, she shows a mother who is cold and snobbish. A grandmother who cooks snakes, frogs, silkworms, and caterpillars, and the author herself who does much mischief and gets herself into trouble by acting out the doctor and putting a wrong ointment on herself and her sister's wounds. I also liked the various intimate descriptions of Korean culture such as using dreams to visualize the gender of the child, the obsession with the male child to the extent that a man is ready to marry an extremely ugly woman, the naming process of children, the poverty of the country where families are obliged to sell their daughters to get a meal for everyone, etc.
The story is beautiful and well written with hardly any proofreading error.
The story is beautiful and well written with hardly any proofreading error.
April 3, 2020
Interesting and though-provoking autobiographic book. A must read!
This autobiographical book made me think about woman´s realities in other parts of the world. This depends on the culture where any woman is born, but how difficult is to comprehend some society's mindsets. “Precious Silver Chopsticks: a True Story of a Korean Noble Family” written by Mae Adams truly captured my attention from the start.
The story unfolds around Mae Adams life, a North Korean girl who faced significant and tough challenges throughout her life. From the very beginning her life was not like a “fairy tale” even though she was part of an important and wealthy family. In this book she tries to depict in detail her own life, how she endured her mother´s lack of love, her father´s death and some unfortunate accidents and how she overcame every stumbling block along her life.
The book is very descriptive and well-structured. The way the author writes is exquisite, clear and engaging. I was truly amazed with this book, I learned lots of things about Korean culture and customs. I definitely recommend it!
This autobiographical book made me think about woman´s realities in other parts of the world. This depends on the culture where any woman is born, but how difficult is to comprehend some society's mindsets. “Precious Silver Chopsticks: a True Story of a Korean Noble Family” written by Mae Adams truly captured my attention from the start.
The story unfolds around Mae Adams life, a North Korean girl who faced significant and tough challenges throughout her life. From the very beginning her life was not like a “fairy tale” even though she was part of an important and wealthy family. In this book she tries to depict in detail her own life, how she endured her mother´s lack of love, her father´s death and some unfortunate accidents and how she overcame every stumbling block along her life.
The book is very descriptive and well-structured. The way the author writes is exquisite, clear and engaging. I was truly amazed with this book, I learned lots of things about Korean culture and customs. I definitely recommend it!
April 18, 2018
Wonderful book full of heartbreak and triumphs.
Precious Silver Chopsticks: A True Story is a Korean Nobel Family by Mae Adams, is a truly fascinating book. It is the story of Mae from her life as a child in Korea, as the second daughter she was rejected by her father and abused by her mother, she found love with her grandmother and grandfather. In the wake of WWII, Maes family escaped North Korea shortly before the Korean War broke out. Growing up in South Korea, Mae received a Japanese based education, and was able to support her family as needed before she was able to fulfill her dream and attend college in America. Before she left for college Mae met her future husband, who was a US Marine Colonel, they were able to maintain their relationship while she was away for school for three years and eventually married. Maes story is truly a rising from the ashes story. She went from aristocracy to refugee to successfully married with children and a career of her own. The story is nothing short of an inspiration.
Precious Silver Chopsticks: A True Story is a Korean Nobel Family by Mae Adams, is a truly fascinating book. It is the story of Mae from her life as a child in Korea, as the second daughter she was rejected by her father and abused by her mother, she found love with her grandmother and grandfather. In the wake of WWII, Maes family escaped North Korea shortly before the Korean War broke out. Growing up in South Korea, Mae received a Japanese based education, and was able to support her family as needed before she was able to fulfill her dream and attend college in America. Before she left for college Mae met her future husband, who was a US Marine Colonel, they were able to maintain their relationship while she was away for school for three years and eventually married. Maes story is truly a rising from the ashes story. She went from aristocracy to refugee to successfully married with children and a career of her own. The story is nothing short of an inspiration.
November 28, 2018
A true story of success and the perils of reaching happiness
This is a true story about Mae Adams who was abandoned by her mother when she was born because she wasn't a boy. This is the story of her life and struggle to achieve happiness. She was raised by a step grandmother and was the main source of income taking care of the family. She met a marine colonel whom she fell in love with but left for her education in the United States. A few years later she married the colonel and was with him until he passed away in 2004. This book was a coping method of working through the grief of loss. This story was shared from the heart and she is working on a second book. Mae is in her eighty' s now and still very active in life. I recommend this story of life, love, sacrifice, and joy to anyone who loves to hear about a successful woman who fought the odds and came out on top. A great feel good story about an amazing life and what it means to the people she has touched over the years.
This is a true story about Mae Adams who was abandoned by her mother when she was born because she wasn't a boy. This is the story of her life and struggle to achieve happiness. She was raised by a step grandmother and was the main source of income taking care of the family. She met a marine colonel whom she fell in love with but left for her education in the United States. A few years later she married the colonel and was with him until he passed away in 2004. This book was a coping method of working through the grief of loss. This story was shared from the heart and she is working on a second book. Mae is in her eighty' s now and still very active in life. I recommend this story of life, love, sacrifice, and joy to anyone who loves to hear about a successful woman who fought the odds and came out on top. A great feel good story about an amazing life and what it means to the people she has touched over the years.
May 7, 2020
Precious Silver Chopsticks by Mae Adams is a first-rate, though heartbreaking, memoir of a North Korean girl and her journey to North America.
Mae Adams tells her own story, the story of a woman who has gone through a lot in her life, starting with her mother’s rejection. After reading this book we learn all the perils Adams had to endure after this first obstacle in her early life: not living with her mother, having to move to South Korea without her grandma who was the person that raised her, facing an almost tragic accident and coping with her father’s death. However, tables turned when she moved to the US in pursuit of college education. She was able to marry a Marine officer and her whole life took a different direction.
The book bears its name to the pair of magic silver chopsticks Adam’s grandma, who always took care of her, gave her as a symbol of love and protection.
Highly recommended for those who love moving autobiographies with a happy ending. A truly inspirational pick-me-up.
Mae Adams tells her own story, the story of a woman who has gone through a lot in her life, starting with her mother’s rejection. After reading this book we learn all the perils Adams had to endure after this first obstacle in her early life: not living with her mother, having to move to South Korea without her grandma who was the person that raised her, facing an almost tragic accident and coping with her father’s death. However, tables turned when she moved to the US in pursuit of college education. She was able to marry a Marine officer and her whole life took a different direction.
The book bears its name to the pair of magic silver chopsticks Adam’s grandma, who always took care of her, gave her as a symbol of love and protection.
Highly recommended for those who love moving autobiographies with a happy ending. A truly inspirational pick-me-up.
November 24, 2021
Precious Silver Chopsticks is a wonderful memoir by Mae Adams as she shares her journey of life full of adversities that she transforms into a life of accomplishments through perseverance and hard work. Nothing is ordinary about Mae's childhood in North Korea as it cascades from one tragedy to another. The story is awe inspiring and emotional as Mae stands strong through the tragic events in life from an early age as belonging to an aristocratic family did not bring her any comfort emotionally, her mother's rejection and abuse combined with strain of being in a war and becoming a refugee caused mayhem and changed her destiny.
I thoroughly appreciate the narration as she keeps it clear and easy. I am glad she found solace in her grandmother's company and had the opportunity to live life. It inspired me to see how she successfully pursued her education and went on to effectively run her own business. She did not let the hardships of her past reflect her future as she found love and built her own family. A heartening and motivational read, I highly recommend it.
I thoroughly appreciate the narration as she keeps it clear and easy. I am glad she found solace in her grandmother's company and had the opportunity to live life. It inspired me to see how she successfully pursued her education and went on to effectively run her own business. She did not let the hardships of her past reflect her future as she found love and built her own family. A heartening and motivational read, I highly recommend it.
April 8, 2024
Warning - this book describes graphic animal torture.
I so so wanted to love this book. I am thoroughly educated in anthropology so I have a trained method for approaching other cultures with disciplined lack of judgement from ethnocentrism. This was a golden chance to get a first-hand personal view of contemporary Korea, and I eager dove in. But, no matter what the culture, cruelty is cruelty. I came upon the scene early in the book and had read the description of the event before I realized what was happening. I closed the book and deleted it from my Kindle, absolutely sick at heart. I had a nightmare that night, and woke up the next morning still traumatized. I am not a vegan and I don't have a cause, other than Temple Granden's edict regarding food production, "Nature is cruel, but we don't have to be." No doubt the book is a beautiful story. But be warned, if animal cruelty is something you can't deal with, either skip the first part of the book, or put it down. Days later I am still haunted.
I so so wanted to love this book. I am thoroughly educated in anthropology so I have a trained method for approaching other cultures with disciplined lack of judgement from ethnocentrism. This was a golden chance to get a first-hand personal view of contemporary Korea, and I eager dove in. But, no matter what the culture, cruelty is cruelty. I came upon the scene early in the book and had read the description of the event before I realized what was happening. I closed the book and deleted it from my Kindle, absolutely sick at heart. I had a nightmare that night, and woke up the next morning still traumatized. I am not a vegan and I don't have a cause, other than Temple Granden's edict regarding food production, "Nature is cruel, but we don't have to be." No doubt the book is a beautiful story. But be warned, if animal cruelty is something you can't deal with, either skip the first part of the book, or put it down. Days later I am still haunted.
July 13, 2018
This book by Mae Adams takes the reader into the world of a Korean family. As a memoir of her life, it tells how Adams went through many tough challenges growing up. Before the Korean War, Adams’ family was born to a very rich family in North Korea. However, her mother rejected her as she didn’t want another daughter. Because of this, she was raised by her grandmother who gave her a gift she treasured: a pair of silver chopsticks. When the war breaks out, Adams’ family rushes to South Korea but leaves her grandmother behind. Eventually, Adams comes to the United States to attend college and raise a family.
This book is an interesting look into the life of a Korean family during this time period and the pains and trials Adams had to go through. It is well-written and contains intriguing information about this time that many might not know. If you enjoy reading about history or like biographies this book is one you should consider reading.
This book is an interesting look into the life of a Korean family during this time period and the pains and trials Adams had to go through. It is well-written and contains intriguing information about this time that many might not know. If you enjoy reading about history or like biographies this book is one you should consider reading.
December 21, 2018
Many customs and traditions Mae Adams is familiar with would be foreign to Americans as she recounts her memories of living and escaping North Korea. Precious Silver Chopsticks is entertaining, while the author tells of her humble beginnings, family life, and their flight. She told her story in a matter-of-fact manner without dwelling too much on the emotions she felt being rejected by her mother and the death of her father.
It fascinated me with Mae Adam's story as she recalls her life. Precious Silver Chopsticks is well written with vivid details of her personality. I could easily picture a smart little girl, almost sassy, as she held onto her self-respect. Even as a young girl she knew the importance of how to treat all classes of people and this carried her through many trials and difficult times. When others felt they were superior, though classes change as they go from different cultures.
It fascinated me with Mae Adam's story as she recalls her life. Precious Silver Chopsticks is well written with vivid details of her personality. I could easily picture a smart little girl, almost sassy, as she held onto her self-respect. Even as a young girl she knew the importance of how to treat all classes of people and this carried her through many trials and difficult times. When others felt they were superior, though classes change as they go from different cultures.
May 16, 2019
Reading through this one was rather entertaining. There were so many offbeat stories and tales that the narrator brings us through, and they are stories of how she grew up. We all have crazy stories of things that happened to us when we were young, but we didn’t all grow up in Korean families, much less as a nobleman. This part was interesting to me. I learned a little about their culture, and even though everyone isn’t nice to Mae, I liked reading about how the whole family interacted with each other. As she gets older, the tales become more about her and less about everyone else, which gets even more intense. The parts I liked best were about the prophetic dreams that different people had and what they were said to mean. This is something that fascinates me and not all people believe in. There are problems with the grammar at times, but it isn’t something that comes even close to taking away from the story.
May 8, 2020
I enjoyed reading this book as it was a very inspiring story that the author, Mae Adams, wrote about her life from birth to now. She had a lot of challenges to battle through in her life, from horrific treatment by her parents to dangerous situations caused by World War II and the Korean War. It was amazing to see her will and strength get her through all these different events in her life. I really liked reading about her relationship with her grandparents as it was very loving and provided her with the nurture she needed in her life. I think her grandparents helped her become the person she grew up to be: strong, smart, and kind. Mae’s life story is full of many hardships but also has moments of love, family, adventure, and perseverance. I think Mae does a great job of retelling all the events from her life, even from before she was born. Her attitude and actions through it all are very inspiring which makes her story even more enjoyable to read.
March 9, 2021
This story was so much more touching than I had imagined it would be before reading it. The familial abuse was hard to read, along with the levels of ignoring that Mae had to endure while growing up. This is a wonderfully written memoir that goes well below the surface of what the main character had to endure while growing up and living in Korea. The cultural information is hard to understand coming from a completely different world, but it was a very insightful read to have an opportunity to learn about different customs and beliefs and how that affects those who grow up differently. The story itself is inspirational and deep and goes a long way to show the life Mae endured while reaching her happy ending on her journey to find happiness in America. This story was full of heartfelt messages and wise words from a woman who has lived through the unthinkable and still has enough left to share her story with the world.
March 10, 2021
Real Life and Its Moments
Written as a memoir, Mae Adams brings to life her childhood. We get taken on a journey from Korea to the United States, as well as her career and her family life. As I read, I could identify with the types of grandparents that she had, although she had both grandfather and grandmother, whereas I only knew my grandmothers (both paternal and maternal). Adams goes through a lot, from her outright rejection from her mother to her life with her grandmother, only having to leave her home country when Japan invaded. Her tale is not just of survival, in a way, but also of perseverance. She marries a Marine that she meets while in Korea, and establishes a fairly good life until her eighties. I love the fact that she put all that she went through in a book, and even gives credit to others where her memory might have been faulty. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about a culture from the eyes of someone who lived through it.
Written as a memoir, Mae Adams brings to life her childhood. We get taken on a journey from Korea to the United States, as well as her career and her family life. As I read, I could identify with the types of grandparents that she had, although she had both grandfather and grandmother, whereas I only knew my grandmothers (both paternal and maternal). Adams goes through a lot, from her outright rejection from her mother to her life with her grandmother, only having to leave her home country when Japan invaded. Her tale is not just of survival, in a way, but also of perseverance. She marries a Marine that she meets while in Korea, and establishes a fairly good life until her eighties. I love the fact that she put all that she went through in a book, and even gives credit to others where her memory might have been faulty. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about a culture from the eyes of someone who lived through it.
November 29, 2018
Precious Silver Chopsticks: A True Story of a Korean Noble Family by Mae Adams is a huge true story of Mae Adams, the second and unwanted daughter of an aristocratic North Korean family. After the death of her husband, Mae decided to write this memoir detailing her young life and the trials and tribulations she faced as she ultimately makes it to America. To say that this book is harrowing and emotional is an understatement. But it is also a great history lesson, one which illuminate your knowledge of a time many have forgotten. Mae has overcome a lot of abuse to live a rich, full life, even if hers started out as an unwanted baby. Raised by her commoner Grandmother, and ultimately moving to the U.S., the author has carved out a substantial life, one that is rich and rewarding. This is an enthralling recounting of her life experiences, and is well worth a read. Highly recommend.
May 2, 2020
What an amazing read! “Precious Silver Chopsticks: A True Story of a Korean Noble Family” is a story written by Mae Adams, who is also the protagonist of this incredible story. In this book you will learn about her hard life, world history and Korean’s culture. You will feel part of this book and sympathize with the protagonist.
The story, narrated in first person, is written through the eyes of Mae Adams. It gives you a lot of vivid details about her own life experiences. One of the best things about the book is the way the author gets you to know how her culture is.
It's a great story, with lots of pace, lots of familiar situations, and a little bit of magic. The dialogues makes it easy to be inside the story. The text is supported by dramatic illustrations
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I highly recommend it! You won’t forget about this novel.
July 30, 2020
Precious Silver Chopsticks: A true story of a Korean Noble family is an autobiographical work written by Mae Adams.
By sharing her story with the world, the author reaches our heart and boggles our minds. With her captivating and descriptive writing, Mae Adams manages to make us feel as a protagonist of her inspirational story. The tragic situations and traumatic events she went through, inevitably lead us to value our own lives, and to not take for granted the affections we have.
As the plot unfolds, it is easy to put ourselves in the author’s shoes. The book contains around 300 pages, which I believe that should be read in more or less a week.
The language used is informal and plain, and the tale itself is very easy to follow.
I would recommend this book to adults because it will leave them with a great deal to think about.
By sharing her story with the world, the author reaches our heart and boggles our minds. With her captivating and descriptive writing, Mae Adams manages to make us feel as a protagonist of her inspirational story. The tragic situations and traumatic events she went through, inevitably lead us to value our own lives, and to not take for granted the affections we have.
As the plot unfolds, it is easy to put ourselves in the author’s shoes. The book contains around 300 pages, which I believe that should be read in more or less a week.
The language used is informal and plain, and the tale itself is very easy to follow.
I would recommend this book to adults because it will leave them with a great deal to think about.
July 15, 2018
As heartwarming as it heartbreaking
Precious Silver Chopsticks is a biography of the author’s life growing up as a second daughter in Korea. This is a big deal as women were expected to produce sons and a first daughter is “okay” but a second daughter is basically a failure to the mother. It’s amazing to see her grow with her grandparents and to fall in love with an American military man. Her journey is nothing short of remarkable. It’s amazing what we take for granted having been born American.
The novel itself is very raw but that’s life. The writing is reflective of the fact that Mae is not primarily an English speaker but it doesn’t take away from the heart of the story.
I truly wish Mae well the rest of her life.
Precious Silver Chopsticks is a biography of the author’s life growing up as a second daughter in Korea. This is a big deal as women were expected to produce sons and a first daughter is “okay” but a second daughter is basically a failure to the mother. It’s amazing to see her grow with her grandparents and to fall in love with an American military man. Her journey is nothing short of remarkable. It’s amazing what we take for granted having been born American.
The novel itself is very raw but that’s life. The writing is reflective of the fact that Mae is not primarily an English speaker but it doesn’t take away from the heart of the story.
I truly wish Mae well the rest of her life.
May 28, 2019
Mae Adams takes us on the extraordinary story of her life. She takes us into the world of a Korean aristocratic family as the younger of two daughters. There were so many events in her life that make this story so powerful and thought-provoking, she makes you feel like you are right there beside her growing up. From the Japanese occupation during World War II, the run-up to the Korean War, her life as a refugee, her journey to the United States, going to school, and her life married to a US Marine, Mae never fails to make you feel something deep. Anyone who loves to learn about incredible people that grew up in a society so different from ours would love this book. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an enjoyable thought-provoking read.
June 3, 2019
Precious Silver Chopsticks: A True Story of a Korean Noble Family is written by Mae Adams, the “second” daughter in a Korean family. Sons are all important to Koreans (or at least they were when Mae was growing up) and a first daughter may be appreciated or tolerated, but a second daughter’s status was nothing short of worthless.
Mae grows up hated and abused by her mother, but is lucky enough to have loving grandparents, who she is raised by for much of her youth.
After World War II, the family flees to South Korea and then become refugees during the Korean War before immigrating to the United States. Mae struggles through many hardships during her life, but gets an education, becomes a successful businessman, and marries the man of her dreams.
A fascinating and inspirational story!
Mae grows up hated and abused by her mother, but is lucky enough to have loving grandparents, who she is raised by for much of her youth.
After World War II, the family flees to South Korea and then become refugees during the Korean War before immigrating to the United States. Mae struggles through many hardships during her life, but gets an education, becomes a successful businessman, and marries the man of her dreams.
A fascinating and inspirational story!
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