Customer Reviews

The Calligrapher's Daughter: A Novel

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is truly a heartwarming and lovely tale, one of those novels that touches you in such a way, you hate for it to end. It is story of a Korean girl and her mother, a story of a proud nation battling the aggressiveness of another, a story of a man coming to understand and accept that old ways and lifestyle must change, and a story of love that survives many hardships. All these stories in one magnificent novel. The Korean girl, Najin, is growing up in a very Confucian household. Her mother, however, strives for Najin to get an education and to make something of herself. Throughout the many years, wars, and tribulations, Najin's mother is there for her, supporting her and fighting for her, even standing up to her strict husband to save Najin's future. Najin, does indeed, make something of herself despite her nation's constant battles with Japan and being separated from her husband and even imprisoned. Readers also see things from Najin's father's point of view, as he comes of age in a society that is straying from his traditional beliefs and he comes to slowly accept that his daughter is not so "worthless" after all. Tho taking a minor role in the novel, a love story also thrives. Being married for only a day and separated for eleven years, reader's will find out if love is enough for Najin and her husband. The ending will leave reader's dabbing their eyes. Truly, a gem and absolute must read. Highly recommended.

I just finished the final paragraph of this beautiful, stunning book. I loved it in its entirety and simply did not want it to come to an end. I am struck by how each chapter stands on its own ... and yet the author continues to move the narrative and the character exploration to the next level, making the tale even more richly satisfying. The final chapter is gorgeous. I was overcome by feeling at several points in the book and then, during the final chapter, I simply had to put the book down and let the tears flow (as they are right now, again). What an achievement. It is an epic tale, told in an intimate, personal, spiritually generous, and deeply moving manner. I am also moved by how the author told the story and message of faith, its challenges and progression, its meaning in our lives (culminating in the image of the open head and heart of the final paragraphs)... her direct yet subtle (non-preachy or judgmental) way of addressing a living faith was masterful. Faith is mysterious and inexplicable. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the faith community doesn't pick this book up and champion it.

The Calligrapher's Daughter is an exceptionally written historical fiction novel. I can't imagine how much time and effort Eugenia Kim must have put into finding out as much as she could about the customs during the time period she writes about. Additionally, I have to say that I was a bit shocked at how little I knew about Korean history. I appreciated the insight that this book provided, as well as the historical note at the end of the novel which gave a brief summary of Korean history.

Eugenia Kim writes with a confidence usually reserved for seasoned writers. As a result, I was incredibly surprised to learn that The Calligrapher's Daughter was her first novel. The novel starts out a bit slow and has a somewhat languorous pace. In this case, it works well - just don't expect this to be a super quick read. One technique I did like was Kim's use of letters in order to skip over long periods of time. This way, the reader is able to learn what is occurring, but isn't bogged down in unnecessary storytelling.

Najin is a great character that I really enjoyed getting to know. I loved how strong she was, yet how flexible she had to be in order to deal with whatever was thrown at her. I thought the juxtaposition of tradition vs. modernism, and how determined Najin's mother was to ensure that she was educated was incredibly interesting. Najin is the embodiment of the change within Korea at that time; it was very well done. I also sympathized with her plight, especially when she was at the house of her in-laws. Kim really makes the reader emotionally involved in Najin's life.

The Calligrapher's Daughter is a wonderful historical fiction read that I highly recommend. If I'm not mistaken, there isn't much in this genre about Korea, so it's an opportunity to learn a lot about a place we really should know more about. I definitely think any fans of historical fiction or Asian literature would enjoy this novel.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

I highly recommend THE CALLIGRAPHER'S DAUGHTER especially if you are a fan of historical fiction. The story is compelling, the characters are well developed and the writing is beautiful! I really, really enjoyed this book! When I started reading this novel, I wasn't familiar with the history of Korea at all, so I feel like I learned a great deal about that country and its inhabitants. I thought the author did a wonderful job of incorporating the story of Korea and all of its changes along with the story of Najin and her personal changes. It was extremely well done, and it touched me deeply!

One thing that really struck me about this novel was the character of Najin, the calligrapher's daughter. I fell in love with her! Ms. Kim developed Najin so well that I felt as if I knew her. Every time she experienced the ups and downs in her life (and there were many), my heart just went out to her. At times, life was extremely unfair to her; yet she always was able to keep perspective and keep moving ahead -- I honestly don't know how she did it. I finished this book a few days ago, and I will admit that Najin is still in my thoughts. She was an amazing character and one who has made a lasting impact on me.

Besides Najin, I absolutely adored her mother! She is also a very memorable character for me because of her inner strength. Najin's mother loved her so much that she was willing to stand up for her against her husband, even if it meant she had to incur his wrath. She devoted her entire life to making things better for her daughter, and she was continually generous with whatever she could provide to Najin. Her strength and resilience were so admirable -- I loved how she was able to use her faith and spirituality to get through difficult times.

Another thing I absolutely enjoyed about this book was all of the historical information that was presented. As I mentioned earlier, I knew nothing about the history of Korea, especially as it pertained to Japan. I found it absolutely fascinating, but I was even more amazed with all of the changes that occurred in this country in a relatively short time period. I thought Ms. Kim did a wonderful job of showing all of the turmoil, and I truly appreciated how she used Najin's father as a symbol of the traditional culture throughout the entire book.

I thought Ms. Kim did a fantastic job of telling Najin's story. Most of the book was written in first person from Najin's point of view since it really was her story. I loved having Najin's insight into the events in her life as well as what was occurring in Korea -- I felt as if I really could understand her feelings and that I got to know her as a friend. While I loved these chapters, I also liked that the story was written using other methods -- some parts of the story were written in third person and others were written in the form of letters. I loved the mix that the author used to tell this story, and I thought the blend was extremely effective. In addition, I thought the author's prose was just beautiful. I really couldn't put this book down.

There is a fantastic website devoted to THE CALLIGRAPHER'S DAUGHTER that I found enhanced my reading experience. Of course, you can learn more about the book and the author, but you can also see a photo gallery of Ms. Kim's family. In addition, I really enjoyed reading the interview with the author because it provided some insight into her inspiration for writing the novel.

There is so much about this novel that I would like to mention in this review but it would go on forever. As a result, I would love for my book club to read and discuss THE CALLIGRAPHER'S DAUGHTER because I still have so much to say! Not only did I love the story and the writing, but there are also so many thought-provoking issues to discuss. I have a feeling that this novel is going to be a popular choice for book clubs everywhere. I was happy to see that there is already a reading guide available which is filled with many of the same topics that I wanted to explore further. Some of the main themes that your group will want to touch on include traditions, family values, the role of women, faith and spirituality, marriage, political and social issues, and self-discovery. It truly is a great book for discussion!

Soft, gentle prose shapes an unnamed girl's story as she endures a diminished pedigree, loss of hopes and home together with a failed marriage during the Japanese occupation of Korea in Eugenia Kim's The Calligrapher's Daughter.

A traditional, upperclass Korean man, the girl's father shows his disappointment at the birth of a daughter, by declining to name her when her birth coincides with the fall of Korea to the Japanese. Najin, as the girl comes to be nicknamed at age eight, struggles to understand her namelessness. Her future clouded by her father's opposition and sweeping government reforms, Najin cobbles together a delicate balance of her father's ideals and the reality of Korea under Japanese rule.

Kim's sweeping tale offers a woman's perspective on Korea's strict patriarchal society. Heavy with sentiment, Kim tells her mother's winding story in an uncomplicated way. It may be historically accurate that protestant religions flourished in Korea long before missionaries arrived, but the Christian motif runs a bit rampant here, overly pedantic and at times even pushy. Thorough as a sermon, the underlying religious aspect of the novel is inseparable from its characters and, in fact, largely motivates them. At the root of the book is the bond of family, which Kim beautifully displays. Holding true to the emotional restraint of the characters, Kim heightens a reader's ability to infer meaning from tone, posture and word selection.

No one expected anything of her, an unnamed Korean girl. But her honest struggles with identity, education, marriage and faith will resonate deeply, striking a bright and surprisingly modern chord with readers.

The Calligrapher's Daughter follows the story of Najin Han, a girl growing up in occupied Korea during the early 20th century. Najin is the daughter of a prominent artist and political activist during the Japanese occupation of Korea. As the first surviving child, and a girl, Najin faces a choice between her traditionalist father's wishes for her to marry and serve her family, and her and her mother's desire for further education.

A bright and hardworking girl, Najin manages to earn the "modern" privileges of higher education, while learning the importance of balancing that against tradition and family. Najin's is an interesting story made better against the backdrop of the occupation and Korea being forced to let go of its own past. Political history never takes center stage in this novel, however. In the end, this book is about family, love and personal freedom - but not in a chick-lit way.

The Calligrapher's Daughter is a beautifully written book, but one that does not get bogged down with overtly floral language, a mistake often seen in authors who are trying too hard. Eugenia Kim has a natural ability to engage the reader and set the scene at the same time.

Interestingly, Ms. Kim tells the story through different narrative points of view, as well as some epistolary chapters of letters written by Najin's mother while her daughter is away from home. These narrative changes help provide depth to her characters, especially in the beginning of the book.

I would highly recommend this book for individuals, as well as book clubs to read. I look forward to reading what else this first-time novelist comes out with.

I'll admit to having doubts about this book as I first opened it. But I quickly became engrossed in this beautifully written and gripping story of life during times of turmoil. Each evening, I found myself saying, "just let me look at the first page of the next chapter before going to bed," and then reading way past bed time.

Let me repeat that this book is beautifully written. Every line has the ring of truth and seems so vivid and instant - seldom have I felt so much as if the events were happening as I read them. This is a remarkable skill on the part of the author, who provides true insight into the setting. I can feel how she poured her heart and soul into this book.

The story follows the life of a young Korean woman, based on the author's mother, from her childhood in a privileged and traditional family. (Don't be put off if you don't know anything about Korea - you will not be confused or lost.) She was born at the time that Korea became the unwilling colony of the aggressive and cruel Japanese empire. The intimate story of her family within the wider context of foreign occupation and war makes compelling reading.

Her proud and patriotic father will forever associate her birth with that humiliation and the ensuing changes in the family's welfare and stability. Her mother's resilience, steadfastness and faith make her one of the most admirable characters in literature. The mother is usually totally and "appropriately" subservient to her husband, but she will not let her remarkably intelligent, energetic and independent young daughter be lost to the oblivion of an arranged marriage at the age of 14.

The daughter struggles to combine the best of all worlds. She desperately wants to succeed in non-traditional ways - intellectually and personally, by attending college and becoming a doctor, but when adversity strikes, she looks to the lessons learned from her mother and family, their traditional Korean views and their Christian faith. (There is a major theme of Christian faith in this book, and although I do not personally like to read about religion, I did not find it off-putting.) She is a fascinating character, and her growth as a person, and particularly a woman, is a captivating story. I was particularly intrigued by her trying to find her way with one foot in the traditional world, where she is expected to be silent and servile, and one foot in the changing world, where she has to deal with new roles and new demands. I was amused by how shocked she was at the thought of a man carrying water buckets or picnic bundles, those being women's work.

I don't want to say too much about the plot and how their lives change again and again through the increasingly harsh rule of the Japanese and the outbreak of World War II - you should discover this for yourself by letting the story develop as you read.

Let me say that you will never think of Korea in the same way as you have in the past (if you ever did) and you will want to learn more, especially from this author. I was especially intrigued by her heartbreaking depiction of the royal family - there is book or two waiting there, I hope.

(3.5 starts) There is a lot to like and enjoy about this debut novel, especially for those who love historical fiction. The backdrop is Korea in the early 1900's during the difficult period of Japanese occupation. The daughter of Korean immigrant parents, the authors draws on the personal experiences of her parents, adding a richness and sense of reality to the story. She captures the strife and unrest of the Korean people's resistance to the invasion and also their fierce patriotism as they fight to preserve their identity and culture. It's a wonderful coming of age story that follows the journey of Najin, the daughter of a very traditional upper class Korean man, a calligrapher by trade and a strict patriarch at heart. She is a beautiful mix of strength and flexibility as she struggles to understand her father's disappointment in her and why at birth he refuses to name her. She wants and seeks his approval but forges her own path in life. She pursues her passions intensely but quietly, drawing her sense of worth from her mother. Their strong bond is heartwarming and real. The one serious drawback to this book is the pace. It is long winded and very slow; meant for the patient reader or the historical fiction aficionado

I enjoyed reading this novel because it was about a place and time I knew very little about. The history books I've read skipped Korea and WWII. The characters were interesting and I really enjoyed getting to know Korea's history and the changes that happened in WWII. Author Kim has written from the heart.

I loved this book, felt transported into its world and was sad to come to the end. It's a beautiful story (and I sure hope there's a sequel!). The characters are strong, engaging and clearly drawn. There's a very vivid sense of the physical world they inhabit and its cultural nuances, yet it's all so masterfully woven into the prose that there's never a dull or overly descriptive passage. Same goes for the historical setting: I came to the book knowing nothing about Korea during the early 20th century and learned a ton just from the way national and world events create the backdrop to the story. I was also taken by how tangible the emotion and tension felt during exchanges between characters when rules of etiquette in Korean society restricted what they could outwardly express. Bottom line: Awesome writer, excellent book!