Starred review from February 27, 1995
Espionage acts as a metaphor for the uneasy relationship of Amerasians to American society in this eloquent, thought-provoking tale of a young Korean-American's struggle to conjoin the fragments of his personality in culturally diverse New York City. Raised in a family and culture valuing careful control of emotions and appearances, narrator Henry Park, son of a successful Korean-American grocer, works as an undercover operative for a vaguely sinister private intelligence agency. He and his ``American wife,'' Lelia, are estranged, partly as a result of Henry's stoical way of coping with the recent death of their young son. Henry is also having trouble at work, becoming emotionally attached to the people he should be investigating. Ruminating on his upbringing, he traces the path that has led to his present sorrow; as he infiltrates the staff of a popular Korean-American city councilman, he discovers the broader, societal context of the issues he has been grappling with personally. Writing in a precise yet freewheeling prose that takes us deep into Henry's head, first-novelist Lee packs this story, whose intrigue is well measured and compelling, with insights into both current political events and timeless questions of love, culture, family bonds and identity. This is an auspicious debut for Riverhead Books, Putnam's new division. First serial to Granta; QPB selection; audio rights to Brilliance; author tour.
September 1, 2022
Lee's (On Such a Full Sea) award-winning first novel originally appeared in print in 1996. First-generation Korean American Henry Park is happily married to a white American speech therapist, until their son dies in a tragic accident. In New York, Henry works for a spy-for-hire company that infiltrates organizations and gathers information requested by clients. He is assigned to shadow a Korean American running for city council. Circumstances at home and at work confront him with cultural differences, bias, racism, violence, and both inter- and intra-ethnic fighting. The numerous inner conflicts cause Henry to lose his incentive to continue his work, while the political campaign implodes. Lee captures the sea of issues immigrants and first-generation Americans face. Ingrained traditions conflict with the aspiration to become American, leaving immigrants feeling alienated from both cultures. The story is beautifully performed by David Colacci, including convincing accents for the many nationalities represented. VERDICT Recommended for listeners of general fiction.--Joanna M. Burkhardt
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