The Evening Hero

by Marie Myung-Ok Lee

A sweeping, lyrical novel following a Korean immigrant pursuing the American dream who must confront the secrets of the past or risk watching the world he’s worked so hard to build come crumbling down.

Dr. Yungman Kwak is in the twilight of his life. Every day for the last fifty years, he has brushed his teeth, slipped on his shoes, and headed to Horse Breath’s General Hospital, where, as an obstetrician, he treats the women and babies of the small rural Minnesota town he chose to call home.

This was the life he longed for. The so-called American dream. He immigrated from Korea after the Korean War, forced to leave his family, ancestors, village, and all that he knew behind. But his life is built on a lie. And one day, a letter arrives that threatens to expose it.

Yungman’s life is thrown into chaos—the hospital abruptly closes, his wife refuses to spend time with him, and his son is busy investing in a struggling health start-up. Yungman faces a choice—he must choose to hide his secret from his family and friends or confess and potentially lose all he’s built. He begins to question the very assumptions on which his life is built—the so-called American dream, with the abject failure of its healthcare system, patient and neighbors who perpetuate racism, a town flawed with infrastructure, and a history that doesn’t see him in it.

Toggling between the past and the present, Korea and America, Evening Hero is a sweeping, moving, darkly comic novel about a man looking back at his life and asking big questions about what is lost and what is gained when immigrants leave home for new shores.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Historical, Asian Literature, Book Club

430 pages, Hardcover

First published May 24, 2022

About the author

Marie Myung-Ok Lee is an acclaimed Korean American writer and author of the young adult novel Finding my Voice, thought to be the first contemporary-set Asian American YA novel. She is one of a handful of American journalists who have been granted a visa to North Korea since the Korean War. She was the first Fulbright Scholar to Korea in creative writing and has received many honors for her work, including an O. Henry honorable mention, the Best Book Award from the Friends of American Writers, and a New York Foundation for the Arts fiction fellowship. Her stories and essays have been published in The Atlantic, The New York Times, Slate, Salon, Guernica, The Paris Review, The Nation, and The Guardian, among others. Marie is a founder of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and teaches creative writing at Columbia. She lives in New York City with her family.

Reviews

[Catherine (alternativelytitledbooks) - tired of sickness! · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Marie Myung-Ok Lee for an ARC of this book!! Now available as of 5.24!**

Dr. Yungman Kwak has immigrated to the United States from Korea, living now in a time where a hospital closure and his retirement from the Ob-Gyn world have left him adrift. Unable to just sit at home sipping Johnnie Walker Black, he begrudgingly takes a job at a Rent-A-Doc type stand at the mall after some encouragement from his son Einstein. This storefront is unusual, however...he is set to essentially provide hair removal services to women in a medical fashion for money, on a specific clock and promoting the brand all the while.

His past is about to find him, however, in a big way...a letter from Yungman's younger brother will change everything, and memories of his life in Korea and the tangled string of events and secrets that took him from Korea to America rise to meet him once again. Can he find his way back to his family AND reconcile his feelings about the state of the America that is his reality now rather than the America of his nearly forgotten dreams?

I'll be honest, this book may have THE most misleading blurb I can think of in recent memory. I didn't even see that this novel was supposed to be 'darkly comical' until revisiting the summary just now, and I am even MORE baffled. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was funny about this book. Odd? For sure. Satirical? Maybe, if you consider the aforementioned futuristic version of the Docs-For-Hire in a local mall to be satirical. Honestly, the book purports to be ALL ABOUT this plot, and it is only truly present in the first 25% or so.

So what IS this book about?

War. Lots and lots of details about the Korean War, the history of Korea, and of course Yungman's rambling and ambling backstory.

The blurb also says this book "toggles back and forth between past and present", which is patently untrue. After a brief sojourn through Dr. Kwak's current state of affairs, you go pretty far back in his life...and then move forward...at a snail's pace. I remember thinking early on how wordy this book felt, and that feeling only grew the further I read. No emotional pull had me cheering or caring for the characters, and they weren't particularly dynamic on any level. This book was not sold as historical fiction...but it sure read like historical fiction. I doubt even finding the 'humor' in the situation would have saved it for me. I tried to keep from skimming, but honestly couldn't help it.

I can't remember the last time I felt such a foreboding air from early on that this would be a book I would likely have put down entirely if I wasn't set to review it...and despite forging ahead and seeing it through, this book for me was (sadly) heavy on the Zero and light on the Hero.

3 stars

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

About the book: “A sweeping, lyrical novel following a Korean immigrant pursuing the American dream who must confront the secrets of the past or risk watching the world he’s worked so hard to build come crumbling down.

Toggling between the past and the present, Korea and America, Evening Hero is a sweeping, moving, darkly comic novel about a man looking back at his life and asking big questions about what is lost and what is gained when immigrants leave home for new shores.”

I couldn’t wait to read The Evening Hero. The cover has been calling to me. The premise sounded fascinating. What I loved most, and what I think made it most unique, is the way the timelines are done. It’s not one chapter past, one chapter present, like many books that blend contemporary and historical fiction timelines. This one completely immerses you in the present before it begins to explore the past.

I also enjoyed the thoughtful meditation on the American Dream and healthcare in the United States. Yungman arrived in the US after the Korean War, and he was expecting a dream, and instead found more restrictions, walls, and limitations, in the tiny place in which he landed.

I highly recommend The Evening Hero to those readers who are looking for a completely fresh voice in literary fiction. As I mentioned, the timeline structure feels like the author’s own, as does her subtle characterization, as well as her intricate plotting. I could tell immediately this book was a labor of love.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Katie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Evening Hero almost a month ago and the story still sticks with me and I have a feeling that will be the case for a long time. It's a tough and thought-provoking read and each reader might take away something different as to what has a lasting impact. For me, the chapters focusing on the character's time in Korea is what made it an unforgettable read.

For fifty some years Dr. Yungman Kwak has worked as an obstetrician in a rural town in Minnesota. As a Korean immigrant he didn't have lots of options for employment in his field when he came to the United States so many years ago. There are thing he has kept hidden from everyone, including his wife and son. And now, a letter arrives threatening to expose it all. Dr. Yungman Kwak might finally confront his past head on.

There are quite a few elements to the story and character that make it a rich and layered read. Rather than competing for attention they are woven seamlessly into the story. At the beginning you are presented with the harsh realities of the American healthcare system. Much of the story also focuses on the issues Yungman has faced as an immigrant. Father-son dynamics play out as well. Eventually things shift gears a bit and you get a look at Yungman's childhood in Korea. It's gripping and haunting and horrifying. So much so I found myself pausing at certain points and needing to discuss what I had just read. (Thanks husband for listening and providing input!)

I don't give five stars very often but this book struck a chord. I really hope other readers and book clubs give this one a look.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately just couldn’t get into this book mostly because of the writing style. I think The Evening Hero touches on important topics such as the Korean War, the for-profit health care system in the United States, and immigration and what we owe ourselves and each other. Some may describe the affect of the novel as darkly comedic. For me, the prose was too dry for me to feel immersed or invested. Onto the next book!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, still reaching for the tissues. I mention this because it takes a lot to make me cry when reading a book. But the accumulation of carefully crafted scenes, history, observations, character building really coalesced for me at the end. This is an intelligent, partly historical novel dealing with the effects of war (in this case the Korean War that split the two countries). There are some graphic descriptions of the role the Americans played in their time there. But no one gets off easy. This is a brave look at what men of all nations can do to one another, both violently in physical ways and subtly in everyday language and behavior.

What transforms this work and lifts it above the generic war/immigrant story is the story of family. The author doesn't spare the hero she creates. He is flawed. But "steady." And that steadiness colors all that he does and eventually brings him circling home, in the Korean way, honoring his ancestors and realizing how his life radiates out from them and creates its own beautiful pattern. This book will stay with me for a long time.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a stunning novel! With amazing storytelling and a combination of social satire and devastating historical insight into the Korean War, The Evening Hero is the story of a Korean American doctor, from his childhood in war-torn Korea to the near future.

Dr. Yungman Kwak is almost a pathetic character, a nuisance to his wife, hopelessly anachronistic to his son, filled with guilt for leaving a brother behind in Korea. In Minnesota, he is surrounded by Finns named Maki who think he is Chinese and patients displaying anti-immigrant signs. His frustrated wife, who in Korea would have been a successful doctor, spends all her time volunteering at a Christian church run by the Kimm family.

After the rural hospital closes, Dr Kwak is forced to retire, but he has no hobbies, nor even a bucket list. His son Einstein Albert Schweitzer Nobel Kwak is part of a new venture and gets his dad a position in Retailicine, medical care offered in mall-based retail outlets. At the mall HoSPAtal, Dr. Kwak performs Brazilians on his ‘patients’.

In comparison to his life in America, the back story of how his family survived the Korean War, how he got into medical school, and the courtship of his wife, reveals a different man, a man of courage and persistence. It’s also a horrendous story of survival and loss. Continual war and devastation, from the Japanese occupation to the arbitrary division of Korea after the war, will likely be a revelation to most American readers.

“Sometimes, Yungman wishes he had something akin to a computer chip, a floppy disk he could just insert in his friend’s head and Ken would experience and learn and know exactly what he’d gone through, from age ten to now.”
The Evening Hero by Marie Myung-Ok Lee

When the doctor and his wife join with Doctors Without Borders to return to North Korea, the area he knew as ‘home’, he finally lives up to his name–The Evening Hero–for its never too late in life to fulfill one’s legacy and duty.

I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's quite a feat for an author to be able to write a book like this! She has covered so much--addressing contemporary issues, healthcare in America (the shopping mall medical practice descriptions are hysterically funny), racism--and to me, most importantly, the Korean history that so very few Americans know anything about. Korea has such a sad and unique history. It would be unimaginable to most Americans, yet Americans played a huge part in it. Kudos for the author for unearthing so much and presenting in in story form. As you learn more about the main character, you grow more and more curious about his history and what made him the man he is. By the time you get to the last section, you are cheering him on all the while being fully cognizant of his faults, regrets, mistakes, and humanity.
I hope this book will gain a wide audience and be the impetus of discussions on a wide range of topics. And lest you think that this book is too "heavy" I will again reiterate that some of it is quite funny!

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Yungman Kwak, a Korean whose name translates to 'Evening Hero.' His is the twelfth generation of Kwaks so there is a lot of tradition being passed by his many ancestors. But Yungman and his wife leave for America after the Korean Conflict ends and their home village becomes part of North Korea, purely by how the lines are drawn during the peace agreements.

'Yungman had presumed that with enough effort, anything could be achieved, including seamlessly becoming an American.' He finishes his courses to become an ob-gyn and finds a position at a small-town hospital in Minnesota. There he and his wife have a comfortable life and raise a son named Einstein who also becomes a doctor. But it's not that easy to fit in and he finds so much of this culture to be so inexplicable.

Now in the twilight of his life, everything changes in a blink of an eye. The hospital closes with little notice and Yungman finds himself working for boutique-style retail medicine at the Mall of America. In the midst of all this new craziness, he can't help but look back at the events that have shaped his life, remembering his beloved family and homeland...and the secret he's kept all these years, even from his wife.

Beautifully written descriptions of Korea, the countryside, its people and customs and the events that tore their country and lives apart. The author contrasts this seriousness so poignantly with the silliness of modern-day American life and politics that one cannot help but cringe.

I received an arc of this new novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful for the opportunity. Compliments for the beautiful cover art as well.

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Youngman Kwak’s life has been all encompassing. He has survived the worst of Korean history, been a refugee, experienced the racism of Birmingham, AL and northern Minnesota. He is at loose ends when the hospital in which he has been employed suddenly closes and he is harboring a secret he has kept for years from his wife and child.

A well written, memorable saga, there is much to this book; many layers that intersect. It is poignant, humorous, entertaining, horrifying, engrossing. With evocative descriptions, there are thought provoking cultural and generational comparisons. I also appreciated learning more about the brutality visited upon Korea by Japan, Russia, China, and the United States.

I highly recommend this book.

My husband also read it and really liked it.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of both a marriage and a country split in two, seemingly without any way to mend them. It’s the story of Dr. Yungman Kwak whose Korean name translates into “Evening Hero.” But Dr. Kwak doesn’t feel like much of a hero when hiding a terrible secret from his past. And no matter how good a person he has tried to become in the years since he began covering it up, the secret weighs on him and leaks into his new life as an obstetrician in the US.

I enjoyed reading this historical fiction/family drama which was well written and gave me a new perspective on the history of North and South Korea and the war that upended those living there. And it did it in a way that was seamless when bringing that history into the fictional story, one with both humor and sadness.

The characters, which at first seemed closed off to me, little by little, opened up like flowers that would either bloom or wilt, depending on which way their lives evolved. It was a story in which fate battled against free will and the notion that it’s never too late to assert control over one’s life or change its direction. It’s about family and the amount of responsibility we owe to them, and ultimately, to ourselves, and what might happen when the two are at odds with one another. I recommend this book to historical fiction fans who enjoy bits of humor sprinkled into a consequential story that surprised me by the end.

[rina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Evening Hero, though not exactly long, is what I would call a dense read. It took me longer than usual to finish because it’s not something that could just be skimmed. The themes are heavy, although the author made it feel satirical at times but serious on the other. The time jumps were also a bit jarring; I enjoyed the historical parts more than the present, it’s what made me warm up to the prose and made it a much easier read. The commentary on social issues was something I could commend, especially when it comes to the American healthcare system since “The Evening Hero” was a doctor. There’s a lot more to unpack here in the history of North and South Korea, as well as Korea and the US that deserves more marinating from the reader.

The characters on the other hand, are what I think made this less engaging than it could have been. Dr. Kwak’s reflections took up a big part of this book, and sometimes in the middle of a dialogue he would think about something from his past that would take up a lot of paragraphs and pages that I would forget who he was originally talking to in the first place; things felt directionless in some instances so I had to backtrack a lot. After spending an entire book in Dr. Kwak’s head, he still wasn’t the character I looked to warmly. I wished Young-ae - his wife - had a POV at the very least, or his mother or younger brother, Young-sik. That said, maybe the author’s style just isn’t up my alley although it’s not something I’d call bad. I still found poignancy in the storytelling and was satisfied with the ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Tracy Guth Spangler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the main character and the subject matter so much, but I ultimately found this book frustrating. In an effort to explain Korea and the war and all the history, the writer used far too much exposition, which got in the way of the story’s flow. And the protagonist’s son and his wife are drawn in such a caricature, I couldn’t connect to that part of it at all. It feels like she was trying to do too much, was overly ambitious. And it all clearly means very much to the writer, so I really wanted it to work. Some parts did. But it needed a different kind of edit, I think.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Evening Hero
By Marie Myung-Ok Lee

It is said that history is written by the winners – and this seems to be a true statement. However, this book presents a Korean-American doctor, Yungman Kwak, and tells his story from a poverty-stricken childhood in a small village under the Japanese occupation through the Korean War to his emigration to the US to become a doctor and to raise a family as an outsider in Minnesota.

This is a tale of what it is like to never fit in, whether in your own home country or an adopted country. Yungman is a bright and hard-working young man who, through his own efforts, the support of his younger brother (whom he abandons in Korea), and a bit of luck, becomes a physician and a US citizen. He is married to a woman he has loved all his life, but he feels she was tricked into marrying him by an unplanned pregnancy which left her dreams shattered. Yungman always feels he is not good enough for her and that she maybe does not love him.

Through a series of circumstances, Yungman and his wife decide to return to Korea under the auspices of Doctors without Borders, to help with a humanitarian crisis. They also want to return to their past, to honor their ancestors as is the Korean tradition and to revisit what they left behind.

This is a wonderful book. It addresses the Korean Peninsula and all the sufferings of the Korean peoples – both North and South – brought on by the interference of other nations: Japan, Russia, China and the United States. These nations treated the people of Korea as lesser beings, never realizing that they too were people. I gained a new perspective on – and a great sympathy for – a nation I knew almost nothing about.

[Kate Vocke (bookapotamus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Evening Hero released last year and I’m so glad I finally was able to read it.⁣
⁣
Alternating between past and present, Korea and America, it follows Dr. Yungman Kwak, an obstetrician living in Minnesota whose hospital has suddenly closed and he’s left wondering what happened to his American dream. When he left Korea almost 50 years ago - he also left behind a secret. And just as he’s dealing with so much uncertainty in his life, a letter arrives.⁣
⁣
There is so much to unpack in this sweeping saga of an immigrants life. Told with such beautifully smooth prose - it’s a pleasure to read and absorb every word. The perils of war, the loneliness an immigrant faces, perpetual racism, a flawed healthcare system, and the push and pull of family, all build the foundation to this heartbreakingly stunning story. And though it sounds quite heavy, there’s quite a bit humorous moments neatly tucked into Yungman’s thoughts - and I loved reading about this brave man who has tried his entire life to just do his very best.⁣
⁣
A gorgeous novel of how our past makes us, how a better future is uncertain, and how the present is a longing for both.⁣

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where was the editor for this book? 428 pages, split into five chapters? What? This book really seems to be two different concepts. I'm a big fan of books about immigrant experiences and historical fiction especially in countries I don't know a lot about. I've been reading a lot more historical fiction set in Asian countries lately. This book was really disjointed and uneven. I found the parts about modern Life and the way healthcare has become commercialized really comical. I really enjoyed the parts about Yungman interacting with his son, daughter in law, grandson. He was really lost and confused about their value system and how he didn't seem to understand them and they didn't seem to understand him. It was really funny at times and I think this was the strongest area of the story. I also really enjoyed the parts of the book with the Kimm (2m's) family, and the internal jealousy of Yungman.

Normally I would find the backstory about growing up in Korea really fascinating. But it didn't work. It was so different from the other part of the story, much more serious, and yet moved way too fast and I didn't really know what was going on. Many characters were introduced but never really explained and I didn't know who any of them were.

I think the problems with the book are a result of poor decisions on the part of the editing team. It really feels like a first draft, it could have been much stronger with more chapter breaks and more clarity. If the story had flowed together even if it had jumped back and forth in time more frequently, that could have potentially worked better. I wish I could give it a better rating, and some parts of this book were really strong, but it's just meh.

[Gabe Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishing line by line but also in the brilliant symmetry and epic sweep of the storytelling. Yungman's life has been torn in half by war, just as his home country Korea has been torn in half by war. Our Evening Hero's journey will entail trying to heal the invisible wounds of war and to make his life whole. Elegiac, fiercely intelligent, historically astute, full of hard won emotional truths and pathos, this book is a mesmerizing investigation into the mysteries of the human heart.

*This review is based on Advanced Reader's Copy

[Nathan Kirk · Rating 2 out of 5]

The satire was a bit too obvious and on-the-nose, with some heavy-handed punnery. As an immigration narrative, this covered a lot of very familiar ground. The prose is not bad and the plot at least kept me reading. I can see why this could be popular as it touches on a lot of hot-button issues, but personally I found it pretty clumsy.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book, but it fell kind of flat for me. There were parts that really grabbed me, but many others that had my mind wandering and had me feeling like I didn’t even want to finish the book. I liked the main character and learned a lot about Korea’s history.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel seems torn between being satirical and sincere. Marie Myung-Ok Lee captures both tones well, but the swinging between the two can be jarring at times.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Copy gifted by publisher]

READ IF YOU LIKE...
• Getting a deeper understanding of East Asian history
• Dystopian technological advances
• Exploring generation gaps

I THOUGHT IT WAS...
An intelligent, if not a little disjointed, delve into how reconciling with a troubled past can bring peace to your future. In Dr. Yungman Kwak's present, the structured walls are crumbling: the hospital in his small rural Minnesota town is closing, his son has financially overextended himself while practicing medicine in a bizarre new "boutique medicinal services" start up, and his wife grows increasingly distant. How much of his present is an effect of his past growing up in wartorn Korea?

This novel has two distinct parts to it: the present and the past. It's really interesting how different they feel -- almost like two separate novels in one book. And while both are compelling, the bridge connecting the two isn't as strong as I was hoping for.

Between the past and present sections, the past is clearly the stronger of the two. The present introduces an extremely fascinating company that gave me Dave Eggers' The Circle vibes. Unfortunately, it mostly serves to flesh our Dr. Kwak's son, a foolhardy man trying to build his own version of the American dream. The stilted relationship between the two is yet another connection that's left hanging.

What I loved about the novel is the firsthand look at Korea's heartbreaking history. From suffering at the hands of the Japanese to suffering at the hands of America, this is a country who's fate has constantly been at the mercy of outsiders, including the decision of where it should be split in two. It seems that all Koreans inherit this pain and learning that humbled me deeply.

[Korey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley.

Yungman Kwak is a mild-mannered obstetrician living in the rural town of Horse Breath, Minnesota. Accompanied by his wife, Young-ae, who has an icy demeanor and a new found devotion to the local Korean church. Their egocentric son lives in a nearby town, with his wife and son, working for a start-up medical corporation as a “doctorpreneur.” They are all living the “American dream.” That all changes when Yungman finds himself out of work and the recipient of an unspecified aerogram from Korea.

The novel is separated into five “Books” spanning present day Minnesota to 1950s Korea. Book I and Book II are interwoven with satire and humor; which I don’t always love, but Lee did an exceptional job of presenting irony in (mostly) subtle ways (his son lived in a replica castle, moat included!). I have to admit, I was unsure where this story was going, it felt meandering during these first two books. However, when “Book III” opened in 1949 Korea, I was hooked. There is unspeakable tragedy that Yungman and his family endured as a result of the Korean War. These experiences, along with the decisions that Yungman made in the aftermath, have haunted him throughout his life.

I was impressed with Lee’s ability to cover such an expansive topic and the assiduous character development of Yungman. I found myself laughing with Yungman, rolling my eyes at ignorant characters, and was distraught from the callousness of war. It was evident how much research Lee conducted in order to accurately portray a divided Korea. I enjoyed reading this and recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction and character-development novels.

[Dani Littel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This is one I had to sit with for a bit. Moving, lyrical and complex. The Evening Hero takes you on a journey with two different sides of Yungman Kwak in exploring his identity.

The book has two parallel timelines. One is set in Korea around the start of the Korean War, and the after-effects/rebuilding of Seoul. The other timeline is set in present-day or perhaps futuristic Minnesota.

I enjoyed the flashbacks a little more, but I did enjoy the look of the privatization of modern-day healthcare and the consequences of abandoning rural hospitals, especially with the masterful satirical voice that is in the novel. The look into Korea was heartbreaking, but also highly unapologetic and valiant.

Some insight into the history of Korea and the hope of reunification may provide helpful before starting the novel. Though, I think the novel is moving if you are unaware of Korea's complex history. I have been very privileged to spend a few years living in Korea and the author's descriptions of modern-day Korea moved me, especially in parallel with a Korea of old.



The Evening Hero is a wonderful work. Marie Myung-Ok Lee finds a perfect balance of humor, heartbreak and light.



Thank you to Simon and Schuster as well as NetGalley for an advance copy for an honest review!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. There was so much I loved about this book, particularly the flashback to the protagonist's youth in Korea, but what kept this from being a 5-star book was the unevenness of tone in places. While I understand the author likely wanted to throw in some levity, I thought some of the more farcical ideas (the medispa situation, for instance) really clashed with the seriousness of the rest of the novel. I really felt that whole section took me out of the story and I didn't really get into it until after that was over. I'm all for a bit of lightheartedness and even flippant social commentary, but I prefer it to be made in a linear way, whereas this flip-flopped between frivolous and heartbreaking.

That being said, it was a very good read in places, and another one I imagine will end up on many Best Of lists by the end of the year and into 2023. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Fon]

The Evening Hero is described as a novel "about rural hospital closures, anti-Asian racism, and how war trauma seeps into everyday life for an immigrant-themes that have become suddenly more urgent and topical."

Full review to come soon.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie ~~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mesmerizing!

[Aylin Niazai · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pfffffff i did not love this?? It’s a nice story, but i feel like the buildup lead to absolutely nowhere.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Evening Hero is such a beautifully written book. I gained a new perspective on Korea. The sufferings of the Korean people is unimaginable. The book covers many important topics. All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It truly is an incredibly written historical novel, and I highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

[agata · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Evening Hero follows the life of Doctor Yungman Kwak, a Korean immigrant and an obstetrician working in a small town in Minnesota. Yungman is seemingly perfectly ordinary - he has a wife and a son, he cares about his patients, he has a routine that hasn’t changed in years. But Yungman carries a huge secret about his past back in North Korea - one that even his wife doesn’t know about. When one day Yungman is notified that his hospital is closing down, it sets in motion a chain of events that force him to face his secrets head on.

Reading this novel felt like reading two books at once. The parts about Yungman’s current life and the fallout from him losing his job had an absurdist, even quirky atmosphere (like his son tricking him into working at a ‘medical startup’, where Yungman basically ends up doing bikini hair removal), while the chapters dealing with his past are emotional, informative and at times disturbing. I loved this stark contrast because it put Yungman and his struggles in the US in a very different light. I also appreciated that a lot of this novel was dedicated to the issues of immigration, racism, poverty, and the atrocities of war. I enjoyed the plot more and more the further I got, but some of the side characters felt very one-dimensional and too stereotypical (for example Yungman’s daughter-in-law, who is a typical stuck up Karen).

TLDR: The Evening Hero is an interesting, unique novel that blends different genres together, and does it in a very satisfying way. A perfect read for anyone who expects something more from their historical fiction.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the rural Minnesotan hospital where Youngman Kwak works closes, he no longer has work to keep his mind occupied. This means that memories of his life in Korea during and after the Korean War start to creep back into his conscious mind. It also means that Youngman has time to reflect on his relationship with his wife, how they raised their son, the medical profession, and the casual racism he and his family have always faced. There’s a lot going on in Marie Myung-Ok Lee’s The Evening Hero. Unfortunately, it’s a little too much and the tone veers from beautifully thoughtful to absurdly satirical. To me, it read like two novels spliced together...

Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss, for review consideration.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Marie Myung-Ok Lee, and Simon & Schuster for my arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

"The Evening Hero" is first and foremost not an easy book to read. It is a multilayered story about the "American Dream" and what that really means. I have to admit that I struggled with reading this book; it's painfully and beautifully written with some satirical and comedic moments but the story is just so heartbreaking and tough. That said, I do think it's a story that needs to be told and needs to be read.

Yungman Kwak reminded me so much of my elder uncles and my grandpas. Some of the ways he's treated by his family made it difficult for me to read cause I mean, he's trying and he cares so much and sacrificed so much. I don't want to give too much of the story away, but I just need more people to read this because of how good it is.

Lee is such a prolific writer and this offering is a perfect example of their abilities.