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Clay Walls
"A whole generation of Korean immigrants and their American born children could have lived and died in the United States without anyone knowing they had been here. I could not let that happen" --Kim Ronyoung
Clay Walls weaves the complex threads of Korean culture into the tapestry of American society while telling the story of the early Korean immigrants, who arrived in Los Angeles in the decade prior to World War II, and of their American born children.
Haesu, a yangban of the nobility class, is betrothed against her wishes to Chun, a farmer's son. Bound not by love, but by tradition, she follows him to America where they begin their life together. Born in a land where class defines one s status, Haesu s rank in the United States is acknowledged only by her fellow Koreans. Servility is anathema to her and she fiercely resists the slights she experiences in California.
Chun, on the other hand, embodies the Taoist mentality. "If you want muddy waters to become clear, you have to lie still," he tells Haesu. He seeks no affirmation of his worth from strangers, wanting it only from his resentful wife.
These two irreconcilable strains of Eastern tradition, personified in Heasu and Chun, are rerated as one by a disinterested America which fails to distinguish one Asian immigrant from another. Within the walls of their home, however, the Chuns wage unrelenting war over their differences. It remains for their children, born in the United States, to integrate these conflicts and, ultimately, find their place in the New World.
Clay Walls weaves the complex threads of Korean culture into the tapestry of American society while telling the story of the early Korean immigrants, who arrived in Los Angeles in the decade prior to World War II, and of their American born children.
Haesu, a yangban of the nobility class, is betrothed against her wishes to Chun, a farmer's son. Bound not by love, but by tradition, she follows him to America where they begin their life together. Born in a land where class defines one s status, Haesu s rank in the United States is acknowledged only by her fellow Koreans. Servility is anathema to her and she fiercely resists the slights she experiences in California.
Chun, on the other hand, embodies the Taoist mentality. "If you want muddy waters to become clear, you have to lie still," he tells Haesu. He seeks no affirmation of his worth from strangers, wanting it only from his resentful wife.
These two irreconcilable strains of Eastern tradition, personified in Heasu and Chun, are rerated as one by a disinterested America which fails to distinguish one Asian immigrant from another. Within the walls of their home, however, the Chuns wage unrelenting war over their differences. It remains for their children, born in the United States, to integrate these conflicts and, ultimately, find their place in the New World.
208 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1986
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925 people want to read
About the author
Ronyoung Kim
1 book3 followersRonyoung Kim (March 28, 1926 – February 1987), aka Kim Ronyoung, was the pen name of Gloria Hahn, a Korean American writer. She was born and raised to Korean immigrants in Los Angeles's Koreatown and died not long after finishing Clay Walls (1987), a Pulitzer Prize-nominated novel about a Korean family that leaves Japanese-occupied Korea in the 1920s to live in the United States that was "the first major novel to illustrate the experiences of Korean immigrants and Korean Americans in the United States".
(from Wikipedia)
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 31, 2013
I had a special interest in this book since the writer was the wife of my mother's cousin... I learned a lot about my mother's side of the family... The names of the characters were fictional, tho I could tell from the characters who the real people were...Sadly, most of the characters are no longer alive... The author as well passed away years ago... My mother has an original book w/an inscription from the author.. The book is sentimental.. Some may not think the writing or story is up to standard, its unimportant but important to the family...
To me the storyline is equivalent to Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club... and it makes me smile since Clay Walls came out way before Joy Luck...
To me the storyline is equivalent to Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club... and it makes me smile since Clay Walls came out way before Joy Luck...
August 23, 2025
“‘It’s hard to be Korean living in the United States. Especially for you children. For me, it’s not so hard. I know I’m one hundred percent Korean.’” - Haesu to daughter Faye
Enjoyed. Published in 1987, the story of “early Korean immigrants who arrived in Los Angeles in the decade prior to WWII and of their American-born children.” The first part is told from the POV of mother Haesu, the second part from dad Chun, and the third and last from youngest child Faye as she grows from child to young adult.
Grateful to be connected to a long line of Korean American immigrants with similar experiences. I feel like I got to live through history in this family’s lives. It’s giving Pachinko. Very narrative.
Lots of commentary on so many cultural, racial, and socioeconomic tensions: Japanese vs. Korean, racism against “Orientals”, being Asian in a Black American neighborhood, being a “yangban” (upper class) vs. working class. Also lots of commentary on the role and struggle of being a man vs. being a woman.
Faye’s section resonated with me the most. It felt a little bit “let’s try to wrap up what a deeper meaning might be” at the end with the random introduction to Daniel, who feels like a foil to Faye (contrast of how different American-born Koreans can feel so culturally different depending on where they were raised/what culture community they were raised in - relatable, I am Daniel in the WASP world LOL). But even that felt like a cultural fusion - American books try to tell you something, Asian narratives just tend to tell you the story, is what I’ve gathered. Also why don’t young people go social dancing regularly anymore?
Picked this up in a used bookstore in RVA :) shoutout Abi’s Books and Brews
Enjoyed. Published in 1987, the story of “early Korean immigrants who arrived in Los Angeles in the decade prior to WWII and of their American-born children.” The first part is told from the POV of mother Haesu, the second part from dad Chun, and the third and last from youngest child Faye as she grows from child to young adult.
Grateful to be connected to a long line of Korean American immigrants with similar experiences. I feel like I got to live through history in this family’s lives. It’s giving Pachinko. Very narrative.
Lots of commentary on so many cultural, racial, and socioeconomic tensions: Japanese vs. Korean, racism against “Orientals”, being Asian in a Black American neighborhood, being a “yangban” (upper class) vs. working class. Also lots of commentary on the role and struggle of being a man vs. being a woman.
Faye’s section resonated with me the most. It felt a little bit “let’s try to wrap up what a deeper meaning might be” at the end with the random introduction to Daniel, who feels like a foil to Faye (contrast of how different American-born Koreans can feel so culturally different depending on where they were raised/what culture community they were raised in - relatable, I am Daniel in the WASP world LOL). But even that felt like a cultural fusion - American books try to tell you something, Asian narratives just tend to tell you the story, is what I’ve gathered. Also why don’t young people go social dancing regularly anymore?
Picked this up in a used bookstore in RVA :) shoutout Abi’s Books and Brews
May 30, 2025
I really really liked it.
Clay Walls is a novel about Korean Americans from the 1920s-1940s, which is something I've almost never seen apart from in Younghill Kang's East Goes West. It tackles so many unique Korean American issues and themes of the time period, and much of it is related to the Korean independence movement.
That's actually one thing I've been thinking about: In modern Korean America, how much of the independence movement is still infused in the culture, if at all? Do Korean Americans now still celebrate March 1st? Are we still knowledgable about our origins - the sugar plantations, the missionary connections, etc.? It strikes me just how informed all of the characters in this book are, and the extent of political involvement they all have. I've been reading so much 20th century Japanese American literature lately, so it's especially interesting to see what the Korean American side of it is like.
I enjoyed Haesu's personality, her stubbornness to a detriment. The sequence on the boat was one of my favorite parts, and I loved the characters of Elena and the Captain as well.
The author explores a lot of the complexities with interethnic relations, and how it creates generational rifts. There's this one scene where a Korean American character returns to California after fighting in WW2 (having just served in the 442nd and gotten honored by the US president), only for his father to kick him out of the house for having supposedly "[commanded] a Japanese battalion". An interesting look at how it's a higher priority to hate Japan (and by association Japanese Americans) than it is to support America's efforts against Japan.
One thing that does bother me is the romanization. The author spells 냉면 as "nang mien" and 예쁘지 as "ibuji", among other offenses. Every time I came across a Korean word it took me a few moments to try and decipher what it was actually saying.
Anyways, I think every Korean American should read this book. It covers so much ground and there aren't that many books about first wave immigration out there.
(Also, because I'm insane and only listen to vintage jazz as my music of choice, I recognized all of the songs and the lyrics that the characters reference. Further proof that this book was written for me specifically.)
Clay Walls is a novel about Korean Americans from the 1920s-1940s, which is something I've almost never seen apart from in Younghill Kang's East Goes West. It tackles so many unique Korean American issues and themes of the time period, and much of it is related to the Korean independence movement.
That's actually one thing I've been thinking about: In modern Korean America, how much of the independence movement is still infused in the culture, if at all? Do Korean Americans now still celebrate March 1st? Are we still knowledgable about our origins - the sugar plantations, the missionary connections, etc.? It strikes me just how informed all of the characters in this book are, and the extent of political involvement they all have. I've been reading so much 20th century Japanese American literature lately, so it's especially interesting to see what the Korean American side of it is like.
I enjoyed Haesu's personality, her stubbornness to a detriment. The sequence on the boat was one of my favorite parts, and I loved the characters of Elena and the Captain as well.
The author explores a lot of the complexities with interethnic relations, and how it creates generational rifts. There's this one scene where a Korean American character returns to California after fighting in WW2 (having just served in the 442nd and gotten honored by the US president), only for his father to kick him out of the house for having supposedly "[commanded] a Japanese battalion". An interesting look at how it's a higher priority to hate Japan (and by association Japanese Americans) than it is to support America's efforts against Japan.
One thing that does bother me is the romanization. The author spells 냉면 as "nang mien" and 예쁘지 as "ibuji", among other offenses. Every time I came across a Korean word it took me a few moments to try and decipher what it was actually saying.
Anyways, I think every Korean American should read this book. It covers so much ground and there aren't that many books about first wave immigration out there.
(Also, because I'm insane and only listen to vintage jazz as my music of choice, I recognized all of the songs and the lyrics that the characters reference. Further proof that this book was written for me specifically.)
September 3, 2025
Very moving and insightful novel.
December 23, 2019
Having done some reading on Korean related topics and fiction in the last year or two I hoped this well regarded novel would be a worthwhile read. Unfortunately, it was only marginally so.
Its strenghts included the strong characterization of the protagonist Haesu and to a lesser degree her husband Chun. The author Kim also wove an effective, albeit limited, portrayal of the country's colonial history under the repressive and violent domination of the Japanese in the early years of the 20th century. Aspects of the culture's social and family relations as well as its dress and food were depicted in an informative way as well.
The book's weaknesses included the fact that a few times the narrative skipped far ahead in time with only the briefest of explanations. This was more than just jarring. It was frustrating that the author failed to develop some of the themes and/or the characterizations as thoroughly as she could have by making the plot more comprehensive in places.
The struggles experienced by Haesu's children as second generation of immigrant parents were presented in a rather superficial way. They were largely two dimensional, stereotypes rather than real young people trying to find a balance between their heritage and the mainstream American culture in which they were living. For example, Kim noted many times how the youth compared themselves to white Anglo Hollywood movie stars or how they liked the popular music of the times. Unfortunately, she made no observations about what this did to the self image or the self esteem of these young people.
As noted above, the author included elements of Korean culture in the story. But I ended up feeling that much more of this could have been done. Likewise with her depiction of the Japanese occupation of Korea. There was so much more she could have written about that. IMHO, it seemed as if the novel suffered from a lack of focus. Either it could have been about Korea during the Japanese occupation or about Korean immigrants in the USA confronting racism and other challenges. In trying to portray both of these the book lacked as much depth and substance as I would have liked.
Overall, the disappointments were at least equal to, if not more than, those things which I found redeeming in this novel. For these reasons the best I can give it is a 2.5 star rating.
Its strenghts included the strong characterization of the protagonist Haesu and to a lesser degree her husband Chun. The author Kim also wove an effective, albeit limited, portrayal of the country's colonial history under the repressive and violent domination of the Japanese in the early years of the 20th century. Aspects of the culture's social and family relations as well as its dress and food were depicted in an informative way as well.
The book's weaknesses included the fact that a few times the narrative skipped far ahead in time with only the briefest of explanations. This was more than just jarring. It was frustrating that the author failed to develop some of the themes and/or the characterizations as thoroughly as she could have by making the plot more comprehensive in places.
The struggles experienced by Haesu's children as second generation of immigrant parents were presented in a rather superficial way. They were largely two dimensional, stereotypes rather than real young people trying to find a balance between their heritage and the mainstream American culture in which they were living. For example, Kim noted many times how the youth compared themselves to white Anglo Hollywood movie stars or how they liked the popular music of the times. Unfortunately, she made no observations about what this did to the self image or the self esteem of these young people.
As noted above, the author included elements of Korean culture in the story. But I ended up feeling that much more of this could have been done. Likewise with her depiction of the Japanese occupation of Korea. There was so much more she could have written about that. IMHO, it seemed as if the novel suffered from a lack of focus. Either it could have been about Korea during the Japanese occupation or about Korean immigrants in the USA confronting racism and other challenges. In trying to portray both of these the book lacked as much depth and substance as I would have liked.
Overall, the disappointments were at least equal to, if not more than, those things which I found redeeming in this novel. For these reasons the best I can give it is a 2.5 star rating.
March 19, 2009
I picked this book up off my shelf last week while I was sick...I wanted some fiction in English, and I actually have sadly little of that in actual physical form sitting around. This was a book from Korean civ in college. Rereading it, I found it interesting and a good way to spend an afternoon, but it it so cliched and trite...I can't believe this was part of Korean civ at the U of C. Actually, maybe I can... It's not a bad book at all, and it does teach something about Korean American history and WW2-era Korean/Japanese/American relationships, and if you didn't know much about Korean/Japanese relationships in this period, it would be very enlightening. I guess it's just hard to look back now and realize that maybe there was a period in my life, a period in my so-recent life, that this book would have been at all eye-opening for me. But then, even now, if this book was about Iraqi-Americans or any other ethnic group, it would probably be astounding and very interesting to me.
And with that I'm reminded of a friend's recent review of The Kite Runner. Perhaps this is the Korean version of the Kite Runner (set 30 or so years previously). If you don't know a lot about the cultural history of said group, it's astounding and wonderful and extremely interesting and eye-opening and teaches you so much about the culture and history through a personal story that is touching and therefore memorable. But if you do know about it already, it's cliched and two-dimensional and overly simplified and boring. This book really isn't boring, but it feels like it's written for high schoolers or something.
And with that I'm reminded of a friend's recent review of The Kite Runner. Perhaps this is the Korean version of the Kite Runner (set 30 or so years previously). If you don't know a lot about the cultural history of said group, it's astounding and wonderful and extremely interesting and eye-opening and teaches you so much about the culture and history through a personal story that is touching and therefore memorable. But if you do know about it already, it's cliched and two-dimensional and overly simplified and boring. This book really isn't boring, but it feels like it's written for high schoolers or something.
November 24, 2013
There are some things that were excellent about this book, but its portrayal of African Americans was shockingly, unforgivably racist. For a book that addressed issues of racism in early 20th century America, it sure seemed to be doing its part to keep racism alive. That said, the voice is strong and unique.
August 29, 2015
This book is 5 stars to me because the author is my great-aunt (my grandfather's sister). The book is loosely based on my great-grandparent's life in America, and it is an important Korean-American history as well. It does portray the pioneers of the Korean-American community well, along with all the struggles.
Read
August 10, 2011Great IGE reading
February 1, 2023
I picked this book out from my parent's bookshelf when my mom recommended it to me. I was intrigued by the online synopsis and gave it a shot, which I'm glad I did. Kim told a very informative story. I didn't know much about pre-WWII immigration, especially for Koreans in the U.S. Reading about the experiences in Korea while it was under Japanese rule was also something new for me. I had little prior knowledge of this time so I was happy to have the chance to read Haesu, Chun, and Faye's stories. I almost forgot it was a fictional story with the details and realistic storytelling used. The stories were written in a way that made me greatly empathize with the characters, especially Haesu. Her character was very well-written and her experiences were realistic and relatable to immigrants like herself (or so I've heard). She had a fiery personality that was admirable as a main character. It made her part an enjoyable read, although it was a bit slow. Chun isn't a character I personally enjoyed much, but he did tell an interesting and quite sad story. He was a well-written character, I'd just want to slap him for the awful way he treats Haesu. In the final part, Faye's section was a bit slow as well. I did enjoy her character, however, and the overall lesson told in her story. I do have some criticism regarding the execution of the writing, however. The pace was a bit slow and confusing, the major time jumps were unsatisfying to read. I understand that the author was likely trying to get all three characters' stories into the novel, but many times I felt something was left unfinished. It feels like Kim didn't dive into many plot points that I would've liked to see. It felt a bit all over the place. The plot definitely could've been more organized and paced better. The story itself was a well thought-out one that felt very realistic, I would've liked to see more details of the story that were only touched upon at one point. Besides the errors in writing, I think this book told an important story. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to take a personal approach to learning about life pre-WWII for immigrants. Even if you don't know any Korean immigrants in your life, this book is a good option. Enjoyers of historical fiction who haven't given this subject a chance should definitely give it a read. I believe immigrants and children of immigrants might enjoy it as well, as I saw in other reviews they found it relatable and refreshing to see written about. Korean literature can be a bit underrated in America, so I'm glad I happened to come across it. Considering I'm not usually interested in historical fiction, I'm surprised I found genuine enjoyment in this story. I'm glad I gave this book a chance, considering I'm not usually interested in historical fiction. I believe it's sparked my interest more in the subject, which I'm grateful to Kim for.
April 10, 2021
Slow-moving but engrossing study of a Korean family gradually moving into the American mainstream. Interesting format in that the book switches narrators three times. The story begins through the eyes of Haesu, a young Korean woman who has emigrated to the U.S. after an arranged marriage to Chun, a farmer who is somewhat below her upper-class rank in society. We see Haesu struggling to cling to her status and the values of her Korean upbringing while Chun quickly rises up the economic ladder as produce salesman, gaining government contracts and rapidly expanding his business. The second chunk of the novel switches to Chun as narrator and deals with the family's changing fortunes. In the final third, the perspective switches to Faye, the couple's youngest daughter who is gradually becoming more Americanized.
Overall,if you're looking for a novel where a lot happens, this isn't the one. It's more slice of life than plot-driven and at times seems paradoxically frustratingly slow and moving way too fast. At times, especially during the Faye section, the book feels like it's hopping from scene to scene without ever quite taking a deep dive into its ideas.
Still, I found myself engaged by the novel throughout. It was fun spending time in a world that is so different than my own and from page to page I enjoyed the slow pace and the "fly-on-the-wall" perspective even if , by the end, I felt like the novel should have given me a little more resolution. A worthy read.
Overall,if you're looking for a novel where a lot happens, this isn't the one. It's more slice of life than plot-driven and at times seems paradoxically frustratingly slow and moving way too fast. At times, especially during the Faye section, the book feels like it's hopping from scene to scene without ever quite taking a deep dive into its ideas.
Still, I found myself engaged by the novel throughout. It was fun spending time in a world that is so different than my own and from page to page I enjoyed the slow pace and the "fly-on-the-wall" perspective even if , by the end, I felt like the novel should have given me a little more resolution. A worthy read.
August 6, 2023
I taught this novel in Asian American Studies at UC Berkeley but I must be fair. The prose is poor. Second language interference may account for that or it may simply be that Kim isn't a very good writer. Nonetheless, it was a pioneering work, hence "teachable." See the documentary, "Korea: The Unending War," originally aired on PBS in 2019. It may add understanding about arguably the least well-known of the three brutal wars the U.S. fought in Asia in the 20th century, and the ongoing tensions South Koreans live under. Add to that Japan's annexation of Korea and the Christianizing of the country, and we have a volatile contemporary brew that produces excellent but exceedingly disturbing films and KPop.
April 8, 2020
Tracking a Korean wife and husband, and subsequent Korean American daughter, from the 1910s to late 1940s, Kim's novel is a fascinating study of how class expectations shape gender attitudes. We have an upper class woman resentful of her prone-to-gambling husband, which only exists because of her parents' adherence to Confucian principles. It's a good study that reflects the ways that gender is imposed by others and how efforts to demonize an enemy -- the Japanese imperialist -- become more problematic in America when Americans believes that Koreans are equally Japanese because of the Japanese occupation of Korea in that time.
June 24, 2018
Story of Koreans who came to this country while the Japanese ruled their country. The children were born in this country. The mother had belonged to the upper crust in Korea and does not want to do menial work. Money becomes a problem. Mom is involved in a patriotic Korean club. Children want to be like those with whom they play. The book continues through WWII. Very interesting insight into the Korean experience in this country.
February 19, 2019
As a first generation american living in a majority immigrant family, this book was highly relatable. It really illustrates the clashes between cultures and trying to satisfy both. The ending was clean and satisfying and the book was mixed with so many different emotions. I loved how the story of one immigrant family is told from the point of view of three people in that one family (mother, father, and daughter).
October 18, 2019
A dear friend gifted this book to me after gifting her the book Pachinko. Clay Walls reminds me of the struggles that my own parents went through as they themselves immigrated to the states. The book captures the hardships and resilience that many immigrant parents experienced in order to provide a better future for their children.
May 23, 2021
I like the way this story moves seamlessly from the troubles of one generation to the next, and you see both through the other's eyes. Unfortunately I felt like it lacked major plot points and moved quite slowly at times. It helped me understand a new perspective as well as gave me a glimpse at early 1900s Korean politics and culture.
Want to read
May 27, 2020Recommended by Min Jin Lee: https://youtu.be/-chc2oPFNRo
June 15, 2025
2.5/5
Want to read
July 12, 2025LTIK
July 23, 2025
Sometimes required high school reading expands your horizons and stays with you forever. This is a story of Asian families trying to survive during WWII and the prejudice they endured.
January 27, 2025
Two steps forward, one back.
Standards for this kind of thing was significantly lower in the past... but the way she wrote black characters seemed a bit stereotypical.
Standards for this kind of thing was significantly lower in the past... but the way she wrote black characters seemed a bit stereotypical.
March 9, 2025
A sweeping historical novel following Korean immigrants in early 20th-century America, Clay Walls brings multiple voices to life with beautifully layered storytelling. The characters face hardship and prejudice but remain fiercely determined, making this a compelling tale of resilience, identity, and survival. Fans of epic family sagas will appreciate its depth and emotional weight.
——
Un vaste roman historique qui suit des immigrés coréens dans l’Amérique du début du XXe siècle, Clay Walls donne vie à de multiples voix grâce à une narration riche et nuancée. Les personnages, confrontés aux épreuves et aux préjugés, font preuve d’une détermination farouche, rendant ce récit captivant et poignant.
Une histoire de résilience, d’identité et de survie, qui séduira les amateurs de grandes sagas familiales par sa profondeur et sa charge émotionnelle.
——
Un vaste roman historique qui suit des immigrés coréens dans l’Amérique du début du XXe siècle, Clay Walls donne vie à de multiples voix grâce à une narration riche et nuancée. Les personnages, confrontés aux épreuves et aux préjugés, font preuve d’une détermination farouche, rendant ce récit captivant et poignant.
Une histoire de résilience, d’identité et de survie, qui séduira les amateurs de grandes sagas familiales par sa profondeur et sa charge émotionnelle.
June 1, 2016
In the beginning, I chose this book because the idea of reading about asian immigrants in 1920’s United States was appealing to me. Partly due to my own background, I am quite interested in historical fiction novels about immigration. Indeed, what I imagined this novel to be like when I first started was something like the over-romanticized China and Korea towns that I have in my mind, with brightly painted signs and bustling restaurants full of happy people. Soon after I began reading however I realized that this novel, a memoir-style historical fiction about Korean immigrants in California during the 1920’s, is completely different from what I had expected.
This is partially due to my lack of knowledge about pre-WWII immigration, a subject much less prevalent in literature. Through reading this novel, I was taken aback by some of the struggles faced by the first stream of Korean immigrants in the US, and it dispelled my preconceived, over-romanticized image of Asian American history. The author is brutally honest, sometimes to the point of slight discomfort of the reader. She explores the plight of the early 20th century Korean immigrants, describing their dilemma choosing between the political turbulence and social injustice of their home country and the hostility and racism of the US. Through the use of Haesu, a twenty year old Korean woman who has just immigrated to the US, as the main character, the author is able to subtlety display the deepest fears, secrets and desires of the immigrants, and does so in a way which accumulates as the reader’s familiarity with Haesu increases.
In addition to the profound ideas discussed in the novel, the setting of the story was equally engrossing. It begins in a rather placid setting in California, where Haesu and her husband lived in a friend’s house. As the story and plot progressed however, the settings followed suite and reflected the increased dynamism of each event. Ranging from a luxurious cruise ship haunted by paranoia, to the sunny and innocent streets of 1920’s San Francisco, to the foggy and tense environment of Korea under Japanese rule, each setting is used skillfully to reflect the progression of the plot and the character’s actions.
Initially, this novel seemed like a light read of trivial importance, however after reading it, I feel as I have truly gained insight into the world of the first wave of Korean immigrants. I’ve learned more about the intricacies of their society’s culture, and now understand more about the origins of Korean Americans today. To conclude, this is an easy to read novel filled with complex and intriguing themes, and it provides deep, truthful insight into the roots of Asian American immigration.
This is partially due to my lack of knowledge about pre-WWII immigration, a subject much less prevalent in literature. Through reading this novel, I was taken aback by some of the struggles faced by the first stream of Korean immigrants in the US, and it dispelled my preconceived, over-romanticized image of Asian American history. The author is brutally honest, sometimes to the point of slight discomfort of the reader. She explores the plight of the early 20th century Korean immigrants, describing their dilemma choosing between the political turbulence and social injustice of their home country and the hostility and racism of the US. Through the use of Haesu, a twenty year old Korean woman who has just immigrated to the US, as the main character, the author is able to subtlety display the deepest fears, secrets and desires of the immigrants, and does so in a way which accumulates as the reader’s familiarity with Haesu increases.
In addition to the profound ideas discussed in the novel, the setting of the story was equally engrossing. It begins in a rather placid setting in California, where Haesu and her husband lived in a friend’s house. As the story and plot progressed however, the settings followed suite and reflected the increased dynamism of each event. Ranging from a luxurious cruise ship haunted by paranoia, to the sunny and innocent streets of 1920’s San Francisco, to the foggy and tense environment of Korea under Japanese rule, each setting is used skillfully to reflect the progression of the plot and the character’s actions.
Initially, this novel seemed like a light read of trivial importance, however after reading it, I feel as I have truly gained insight into the world of the first wave of Korean immigrants. I’ve learned more about the intricacies of their society’s culture, and now understand more about the origins of Korean Americans today. To conclude, this is an easy to read novel filled with complex and intriguing themes, and it provides deep, truthful insight into the roots of Asian American immigration.
March 30, 2008
This is an historical fiction of Korean Immigrants, the effect of Japan's rule on the nationals, and the effect of rigid class structure when assimilating to American culture.
Kim provides an accurate view of Korean culture and influence of Confucianism and its social heirarchies.
Kim provides an accurate view of Korean culture and influence of Confucianism and its social heirarchies.
May 1, 2016
I know the cover is minimalist, but the content is gold. Inside are 3 perspectives. They make up an ethnography of the earliest Korean immigrants to America. I like the mother character. She is yangban.
July 8, 2009
Engrossing. But an abrupt ending1
February 2, 2023
This is one of the few books that I never finished reading. In fact, it was the only book assigned to be read in high school that I did not finish. I just absolutely hated it.
September 5, 2007
I really love this book. I like it so much, in fact, that it is the basis of my master's thesis.
November 5, 2007
I loved the three viewpoints -- mother, daughter, father.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews