When My Sister Was Cleopatra Moon (Paperback)

by Frances Park (Author) "MOMENTS AGO, on this evening of the day Cleo's husband was buried and after the last guest was gone, a summer thunderstorm struck without warning..." (more)
Key Phrases: healing clinic, smock top, sky path, White Sky, Cactus Bear, June Moon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From The Washington Post
"...written with gusto...and will likely find a pleasant place in summer beach bags." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"Frances Park shows what a woman writer can achieve with such rich material at hand." -- The Singapore Strait Times

"Park's poignant novel... comes to us as a cautionary tale about the perils of the American dream." -- The Korea Times

"This is a delicate, humane, funny novel... that stands within the best tradition of imaginative writing." -- The Taipei Times

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Miramax Books; Reprint edition (June 13, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786886455
• ISBN-13: 978-0786886456
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #681,320 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars tapestries of worlds, March 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: When My Sister Was Cleopatra Moon (Hardcover)

Frances Park has created an absolutely mesmerizing character in the form of Cleopatra Moon. A young woman with the power to captivate all males who cross her path, expressed in terms which are both poetic and sensually unique to Ms. Park's writing style. As the novel progresses we are provided with clues which indicate that turbulent and unexpectedly vulnerable inner worlds exist within Cleopatra and her initially adoring younger sister. The story twists and shatters stereotypical expectations with the richness of the characters. Yet in the background we see gradually emerge a loving portrait of an often absent father who becomes a multi-layered symbol for redemption and the re-integration of portions of the soul which the two sisters have misplaced over the years.

The two sisters are very much the product of the American 1970's, yet Ms. Park is also able to masterfully convey the Korean-American experience through the character of the mother and her relationship to the two daughters.

Cleopatra is so charismatic that the reader would initially be willing to fall under her spell for the entire length of the novel. Read Chapter Two as a separate work of art in this regard. Yet Frances Park has done far more than create a host of intriguing characters. She has created situations in which initial suspicions yield to deeper meanings over sometimes traumatic and sometimes wryly humorous flows of time. The reader will reflect upon the nature of his or her own relationships and the continuing impact of unresolved emotions of the past. This is a book to be read several times over.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible story, June 5, 2001

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Though sisters, Korean-Americans Cleo and Marcy have not talked for years. That changes when the forty-two years old Cleo calls to tell her younger sister that her husband Stu just died. Apparently, the wealthy Stu lost control of the car when lightning suddenly struck right in front of him. Marcy drops everything to race to Cleo's side to help her with the funeral even knowing the true dark side of her sibling and that she probably never loved Stu.

Marcy thinks back to when they were young and she idolized her gorgeous and fiery unconventional (at least in the Korean culture) sister. That is until Cleo left for college, came back on summer break, and left again for school, leaving Marcy to contend with their Korean born mother who never adjusted to her new country. Marcy resented Cleo then and resents her now as she watches a pro shed crocodile tears to gain sympathy from Stu's side.

WHEN MY SISTER WAS CLEOPATRA MOON is an incredible novel that works on three levels: the rivalry between sisters, the Korean-American 1970s experience, and the difficulty of an immigrant to adapt to this country. The story line is insightful yet quite entertaining as readers will appreciate the key players. If this novel is any indication of her talent, Frances Park is going to become a star as she provides her readers with a convincing character study.

Harriet Klausner

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Korean Summer Sisters At Last!!!, August 9, 2000

By	J. Koscher (Indiana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: When My Sister Was Cleopatra Moon (Hardcover)

I loved this book. Being of Korean decent I am always drawn to Korean books. This is one of the most enjoyable books I've read yet. The symbolism and depth of character continues to haunt me after finishing the book last month. Cleo is the older sister who lives life boldly... Marcy whom the story is told by is the exact opposite of Cleo. I most enjoyed the interactions between Marcy and Cleo's two children. The story is funny and quick moving... I could not put it down. I believe the depiction of two women struggling between being Korean and American at the same time (first generational korean that is) was beautifully conveyed to the reader. It's hard to go wrong with this winner!