Customer Reviews

Saying Goodbye

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am really touched by this masterpiece of Marie, Lee. As far as I know, she is remarkably the only fiction writer in the States to struggle against racial conflicts involved in Koreans with a pen. The theme of her novels is basically finding one's identity. This is revealed in her first novel, 'Finding My Voice,' which also stirred me up body and soul. Her story telling is light and flimsy, I've gotta admit, but beneath it lies a firm belief in identity in ethnic background. In my case, I, as a student abroad, have gone through a great deal of troubles while living in Panama, as much as Ellen has. So I understand very well how she feels. I shared empathy with her. In place of my original Korean name, I was given a new American name for convenience sake, which gave me deep confusion about my self. The author describes well how Ellen encounters and accepts her mother country's culture, one event after another. The last part is quite impressing. Better read with your eyes! Another thing remarkable is the confrontation between Ellen and her roommate and once close friend, Leecia, developed by L.A. riot in 1992. Both are included in minority groups, in anguish about their ethnic identity. It's really a sad part to see them resent each other, though they have many things in common. I wonder what makes a person hate other people from a different background without specific reason. Anyway, this novel is really a good one to read. Recommendable, I shall say.

Ellen is Korean. She has dark hair and eyes. She likes to write and get goods grades because she studies a lot.

Ellen moves into her dorm where she meets her roommate Leecia, whom she befriends quickly. She sings up to take tae-kwon-doe. Ellen gets herself a boyfriend who also goes to tae-kwon-doe. After the winter holidays she finds out that a rap guy is going to come to Harvard (her school) and some Koreans don't like it because of his lyrics. On the day of the rap guys arrival the Koreans put up protest and things turn ugly.

I really liked this book although a few part where a bit boring. I liked because it usually kept my attention and was well written. I felt like the writer gave good descriptions and it seemed to me like she had actually lived it. I would give this book eight out of ten stars. Which is a pretty good rating overall from me.

I think Marie G. Lee has lots of skill in writing, that is a fact if you read at least 1 of her books. I never liked writing up until now, and it is because of her, thanks Marie!

This is such an original and accurate portrayal of college life, esp. the PC and ethnic identity issues that people have to work out (and often do badly). I don't know why this is technically a children's book. I'm a college student and I thought it was one of the best things I'd read in a long time. Anyone who wants to know what college is like--or if you're already there--should read this. It is eerily true to life, I think.

Saying Goodbye is a very well-written book composed of many realistic issues including racism, turbulences in friendships, and the thrill of going to college. I really enjoyed the book because the main character, Ellen Sung, was Asian like myself, and there were many issues I could relate to. However, this book is definitely not only for Asians because it includes so much more. For instance, although there was more than one setting, the book mainly took place at a university, Harvard University. Many young adults that are about to go to college will find this book very heart-warming because it revolves around a college environment: the different types of activities present, freshman picnics, and many more activities. Not only does college play a main role in Saying Goodbye, but also the ups and downs of friendships. Ellen faces many decisions and some of them result in great trouble. One particular friendship goes down the drain because of a wrong decision involving racism, but, then, it rises back up when other friends help her out. Indeed, friendship is a common theme in this great book. This book is sweet, realistic, satisfying, and pleasurable! I personally think that many people will enjoy this book, especially those that are in middle and high school.

This book by Marie G. Lee is the best I have read on my own time. I'm a Korean-American myself and I can see what Ellen feels when she is in Harvard. This book shows what high school, and even college is like. There is racism everywhere. The blacks hate the white, the white hate the hindi's and the white hate the asians. Her boyfriend, Jae, has went though a lot with his parents. I would love to see Marie make a conclusion about Ellen and her college experiance in Harvard.

the book is very enjoyable, its about a korean girl, ellen, her freshman yr at harvard university. she is korean, yet knows very little about her heritage. the story is very interesting, yet it sounds too perfect. the book is suppose to express the problem of racisism. yet ellen had it so easy, im an asian american too, and story sounds too fictional, and unreal.but it was a good book to read written in asian style.

Saying Goodbye by marie g. lee is one of my favorite books. its about a Ellen Sung who is going off to Havard for College. she is a korean anerican but really know nothing about her heritage. when she gets to college she is suprised by how many asians there are but feels like she doesn't really belong because she can't read or speak korean. she is still interested though. shes not used to being called asian instead of oriental. she grew up in rural minnesota where people didn't really know about right terminology. she meets her room mate leecia who is african american and automaticaly befriends her. she signs up for taekwondo and meets a guy named jae. they hook up and her teachs her korean and he introduces her to the korean american students of harvard. leecia is part of a african american student group and when a rapper with racial slurrs about koreans is coming to harvard things get all messed up between leecia and ellen.

I rated this book with 3 stars becuse it was only ok. I thout it got very borring in the midle and hard to understand. The maen carecher is an ashen-american girl named Leasa. She goes to Harverd and wants to become a docter but the year ends and she has to find away to say goodbye.