Customer Reviews

House of the Winds (Penguin Readers Guide Inside)

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I first saw that House of the Winds was chosen as one of the best books on Asia published in 1998 and then later I read that it was also a finalist for the Independent Publisher Book Award in the multi-cultural fiction category. When I finally read the novel, I was simply stunned by the beauty of the language and the sharp and piercing observations. Not only is the novel beautifully written but it is also so uncommonly moving. House of the Winds transcends its Korean setting and I regard this book a work of great world literature.

This book is noteworthy because it is one of the few books "about" Korea that is not written in a "fortune-cookie fiction" mode; the passages are lyrical, fluid, and evocative. She writes more like James Joyce describing a Dublin childhood rather than a "this-is-how-we-do-it-in-Korean" cultural guidebook. No broken-English, Charlie Chan aphorisms here.

Yun describes life in Korea in the '50's and '60's in a series of vignettes; there isn't a single, linear plot that unfolds, but a series of "snapshots" taken from the author's memory (or so I presume). There is a definite sense of loss and mourning as well as nostalgia for the past now that the writer is in America; a sense that she wishes to recover the past by looking back across that chasm one takes once one crosses over to another land. In a sense, you never go back. "Preserve your memories," she says. The real kicker in the story is at the end, when the narrator, in America, recounts her mother's life in very sad, beautiful hues and tones.

For anyone who would like to take a retrospective look back at a time and place in Korea that is slowly fading from the memories of the still-living, this is a good place to start.

I am a Korean-American woman and an avid fan of fiction books written about Asian history. After tirelessly waiting for Amy Tan to write a new book, I ventured on and picked up this one on a whim on my honeymoon in Maui. I really loved the picturesque writing. It makes me wonder what the scenery that my parents must have grew up in may have looked like. This novel is not only a wonderful story, but a great history lesson.

What a beautiful and elegantly written book! Mia Yun writes so well but the great achievement of this book is beyond its poetic language. The characters are so real and so human and so richly developed, that the novel transported me deep into their world. The images are so vivid and so visual, I felt as though I was right there accompanying the characters living their lives.

I would recommend this stunning book to anyone looking for a true literary experience!

House of the Winds is a wonderful novel of Korea set mainly in the 1960's but its poetic truth transcends any one country or time period. It is beautifully written without an ounce of self-pity or attempt to impress us with Asian exotica. Mia Yun makes every word count and her descriptions make us deeply feel the happiness and sorrow of the characters. This is not the fortune-cookie fiction that sometimes passes as modern Asian or Asian-American literature. This is brilliant writing often with stunning and unexpected metaphors. The understated yet moving way the writer evokes the character Bright Bijou allows us to feel the sexual awakening as well as the crushing despair of a young farm girl even though she is so different from us. I very much look forward to Mia Yun's next novel. Dean Barrett, Author, Hangman's Point

In This book, Mia Yun writes in a whole new style that i have never read, or experienced, before. It seems to flow like water; simple, yet effective, as the girl, now a woman, guides the reader into her life. She speaks in a silent but resonating voice, where she speaks of her forgotten culture, mystic and unique, and of her life, where hardships like low money, constant moves, and even her father's death are explained. She speaks of her emotions, her broken dreams, her thoughts, her hopes, and her memories, where all is unhidden like an open diary of snapshots. I truly recommend this book to anyone who wants a simple and effective book that could teach many virtues and make the reader feel like the woman of the story.

One day during my lunch hour, I was listening to the Leonard Lopate show on WNYC. One of the guests that day was Mia Yun whom I had never heard about before. I was very intrigued by what she had to say about the book and the way she read so evocatively from her novel. I bought the book and read it and I cried! It was so different from anything I had read before. Sad and beautiful and painful and yet so joyful! I love it.

I was very touched by the story of growing up in the after effects of the Korean War. The author describes the plot in such poetic words that I had tears in my eyes throughout the book. There is also charming, funny and educational content. I believe it should also be read by students to gain a sense of that part of history and culture. All in all it was a very beautiful story of the Korean culture.

I can't say enough good things about this brilliant novel. It is so different from anything I have read recently. One thing about "House of the Winds" is that it has the timesless quality we see in books that become classics. It is utterly refreshing! The book shows you how an excellent writer could tell a story so originally despite the universal theme, that is, family. Mia Yun's language is so very vivid and lyrical, so very eloquent and truthful, it moved me to tears many times. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in not only a good story-telling but also in great writing. Yun earned my admiration.

I found this lovely novel very refreshing - different from many others out there. Yun's writing is very vivid. I could picture the landscapes and feel the textures and smell the smells. Moreover, I found Yun a very gifted story teller. She has the rare ability to capture the human drama in an understated and quiet manner. If you are looking for something different, I highly recommend that you read this novel.