The Calligrapher's Daughter

Living in Korea during the early twentieth century, Najin Han is the daughter of a famed calligrapher, from a long line of prestigious artists. Her life spans the Japanese occupation of Korea, the Second World War, and the end of the last Korean dynasty. This debut novel by Eugenia Kim, follows the lives of the Han family as Japan infiltrates the country, their traditons and their lives. Najin, with the support of her mother, seeks independence in a traditional family. She is educated, refined, and equipped to survive war and occupation. Male & female roles, food, living arrangments, marriage, work and the arts are all intertwiend as Father Han stubbornly refuses to let go of tradition and Najiin carefully moves forward to the new world order.

This reveiw by Denise R

This book can be found in our catalog www.newberglibrary.org

Honolulu

Alan Brennert has written another wonderful story set in Hawaii. The story takes place in the early 1900s as Koreans and other nationalities immigrate to Hawaii for various reasons. Korea is under attack from the Japanese. Jin and 3 other picture brides from Korea decide to leave and travel to Hawaii, a foreign and tropical land, only to discover their husbands are not what they were led to believe. Spanning four decades, Jin marries, has children, experiences hardships and abuse, joy and love. Additionally Brennert intertwines the history of Hawaii and its governmental struggles throughout the book.

This book is available at the Newberg library (http://www.newberglibrary.org/)

Reviewed by Denise R