Customer Reviews

Everything Asian: A Novel

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While witty and entertaining, this debut novel also offers readers a heartfelt understanding of an array of characters making up a small strip- mall community in suburban New Jersey. The main emphasis of the novel is on the Kims, a Korean family of immigrants who manage 'East Meets West,' an oriental themed store. The majority of excerpts in the novel are told from the viewpoint of the innocent, young, and patient David Kim who bears his sister's moodiness and his father's empty promises with quite straightforward and honest curiosity. Kim's genuine narratives are quite refreshing. He doesn't sugarcoat his experiences; he tells them as they are. The Kims, like any other family, are dysfunctional at times, and reading through a multitude of experiences (some serious and others hilarious), you come to love the Kim family, flaws and all. A great read!

I thoroughly enjoyed Sung Woo's book. The world of young David in Everything Asian is a real delight to read. David's views on his new life in New Jersey are spot on for anyone who was not born in the U.S. and the other characters come to life in each chapter that is devoted to their own stories. I found the book to be lighthearted in many ways but at the same time, it dealt with some important passages in life. David's sense of humor and pathos is so palpable and real. I highly recommend spending the time to read Sung Woo's book. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Bravo to Sung J. Woo on this entertaining novel!
Being an avid fan of murder, mystery, and suspense, this is not the type book that I would typically choose to read. Occasionally I venture into a very different genre and, in this case, I am very happy I did.
Everything Asian is an easy read. This young author exhibits great talent in weaving the complexities of the Kim's family dynamics in what appears on the surface to be a relatively mundane existence.
I particularly enjoyed the way the relationship between brother and sister was depicted. The array of emotions and the unique bond shared between siblings proves to be a common thread of all cultures.
Along with the differences among mankind comes a unique commonality - this is the message I took from this book.
Another strong suit of this author is the way he interjects humor into his work. It's delightful.
As the story progressed, I found myself developing an attachment to the characters, rooting for their success. One cannot help but grow fond of David. And despite his human frailties, the father eventually elicited my empathy in the end.
Although this novel is about the trials and tribulations of an Asian family immigrating to America as seen through the eyes of a young boy, the story transcends cultural boundaries.
I am truly looking forward to the release of the next book by Sung J. Woo.

This is such a heartfelt novel. Really brings me back to my childhood. The main character, David, has just left his life in Korea to board a plan with his mother and sister to live with a father he has not seen in 5 years in America. I remember when I was 2 years old and coming to America with my mother to live with my father, who had been sponsored by his professor to work on his Ph.D here. My father was like a stranger to me and I really identified with this kid.

Not only is this book beautifully written, but it was written in a very personal storytelling way in which every character, however big or small, had his/her own voice, which of course tied into David's family. I'm sorry I did not buy this book earlier because I thought "oh this is told from a 12 yr old kid's narrative, what could be so great?" So glad I finally downloaded it to my Kindle!!!

I think that anyone who reads this book will have a new-found appreciation for the life of an immigrant. Love, hate, and dysfunction exists in every family. I guess.

I loved this story!! Young David Kim immigrates to the United States from Korea in the 1980's with his mother and sister. Their father has already been in America for the past five years trying to build a business and getting some money behind him before his family re-joined him. He owns a store in New Jersey called "East Meets West" in the Peddlerstown Mall and sells various items such as: kimonos, candles, vases, dragons and other miscellaneous items.

The chapters alternate between stories told by each family member and other people who own stores at the mall. Every character in the story is interesting, and has a convincing story of their own to tell. Mr. Hong and his family become friends with the Kim's and near the end of the book the Kim's suffer a tragedy together with the Hong family.

The story is gentle, funny, beautifully written and is about the coming of age story of David who is in between two very different cultures but meets them with both grace and humour.

Read this book in a few days and really enjoyed it. Actually had the chance to meet the author at a book fair and that was how I learned about the book. Worth reading!

I expected this to be the typical immigrants strugggling with a new way of life in the US to finally embrace the their new life. However, this book had some very surprising twists and turns that made me this a hard book to put down. The minor characters in this book (other shop owners and employees at the mall where the protagonist's parents own a business)with their own quirks and struggles added to the enjoyment value of this book.. I look forward to more books by this author. Great first novel.

I finished Everything Asian today and now I'm a little blue. (I really enjoyed this story! What am I going to read tonight?) Immersing myself in this character-driven novel day after day, I felt like a house guest of this young immigrant family making their way in New Jersey. Theirs is a universal story, and their language barriers and cultural differences are like a spice added to a wholesome meal, eaten alone in the back of a darkened restaurant. The characters are complex and very human (I was especially touched by the father.) And when you must part from them, it's sad. But isn't every family's story of growing older and apart ultimately sad? The Buddhists call it impermanence. It's sweet and sour and Sung J. Woo has served it up wonderfully.

I thoroughly enjoyed 'Everything Asian'. Such great insight on the Korean-American experience! I thought the portrayal of each character in first-person was captured beautifully. As I read, I could see these 3-D characters come to life within my own journey as a Korean-American, and just anyone who has to deal with the inevitable changes in their lives, whether the age, race or sex.

An enjoyable collection of stories, mostly about one family,that gives the reader a look into the lives of a newly emigrated Korean family.