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cherrythepie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
avidreadr's review
2.0
A rare do-not-finish for me. I just didn't like it, and probably wouldn't pick it up again. Though the positive reviews make me wonder if I just didn't give it enough of a chance.
esdeecarlson's review
5.0
[This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review]
5 stars
The Evening Hero may well be the best book I’ve read so far this year. A rich and nuanced take on feelings of ‘otherness’ after displacement, The Evening Hero provides an insider-outsider’s view into both America and Korea (North, South, past, and present).
Yungman Kwak, the novel’s titular evening hero, is a man at the twilight of his life who, in many ways, is only now properly able to start trying to live, rather than merely survive. As a small-town American doctor, his observations on and perspective of the contemporary American healthcare system is insightful, pointed, and at times satiric. As a Korean immigrant, from a village once considered southern but now in DPRK territory, his memories of the Korean War (6.25) and displaced connection to his native soil are as enlightening and edifying to a reader unfamiliar with the “Forgotten War” as they are poignantly human.
It's difficult to discuss in a review format all of the ways in which this novel succeeds. As a piece of American immigration literature, it profoundly discusses feelings of displacement, estrangement, mixed national pride, otherization, assimilation, longing, fear, and hope. As a memoiristic novel about family, it neatly interweaves Kwak’s love for and desire to honor and do right by his ancestors and family with his complicated estrangement from his living family—his total break from Korean relatives, his awkward communication barrier with his Americanized son and grandson. As a piece of historical fiction, it’s a meticulously researched account of the realities of the Korean war that places human experience before political and military overview, without ever veering into melodrama or ‘trauma porn.’ As a commentary on modern American life, it’s a pointed look at social and racial dynamics and a harshly satiric funhouse mirror of our corporatized healthcare system.
The novel is an excellent work of literary fiction, a truly engaging narrative as enjoyable as it is important.
5 stars
The Evening Hero may well be the best book I’ve read so far this year. A rich and nuanced take on feelings of ‘otherness’ after displacement, The Evening Hero provides an insider-outsider’s view into both America and Korea (North, South, past, and present).
Yungman Kwak, the novel’s titular evening hero, is a man at the twilight of his life who, in many ways, is only now properly able to start trying to live, rather than merely survive. As a small-town American doctor, his observations on and perspective of the contemporary American healthcare system is insightful, pointed, and at times satiric. As a Korean immigrant, from a village once considered southern but now in DPRK territory, his memories of the Korean War (6.25) and displaced connection to his native soil are as enlightening and edifying to a reader unfamiliar with the “Forgotten War” as they are poignantly human.
It's difficult to discuss in a review format all of the ways in which this novel succeeds. As a piece of American immigration literature, it profoundly discusses feelings of displacement, estrangement, mixed national pride, otherization, assimilation, longing, fear, and hope. As a memoiristic novel about family, it neatly interweaves Kwak’s love for and desire to honor and do right by his ancestors and family with his complicated estrangement from his living family—his total break from Korean relatives, his awkward communication barrier with his Americanized son and grandson. As a piece of historical fiction, it’s a meticulously researched account of the realities of the Korean war that places human experience before political and military overview, without ever veering into melodrama or ‘trauma porn.’ As a commentary on modern American life, it’s a pointed look at social and racial dynamics and a harshly satiric funhouse mirror of our corporatized healthcare system.
The novel is an excellent work of literary fiction, a truly engaging narrative as enjoyable as it is important.
ctlucas16's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
shelby92's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ellbutler's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Child death, Medical trauma, Death, Violence, Pregnancy, Blood, Grief, Rape, and Colonisation
timjyoo's review
5.0
An amazing and moving story that carries you through the mind of a simple, yet thoughtful, Korean American Man who subconsciously creates parallels between present and past as he navigates his dwindling career, his morals, his long gone family, his family in America, and racism.
bethaturner87's review
3.0
I loved the idea of this book more than I loved the actual book. I wish the ending were a little more satisfying, and I didn't quite understand the necessity of everything that happens with the protagonist's medical career and his son's business. I loved the historical context of the Korean War, how it tore through the country and separated families, and then how that continued to affect and influence his life. But a lot of extraneous plot details didn't end up paying off.
sboedecker1024's review
4.0
After finishing section "Book 1" I have to admit I was extremely skeptical of this one. The present day situation of where Yungman wound up, his entitled son and disjointed family life had me wondering where this story was going. I am so happy I stuck with it though. The second half of the book really did it for me, weaving the history and scars of the Korean war into present-day Korean-American struggles. I love the snide critiques of American culture, politics and religion that are sprinkled throughout the book. This novel makes for a historical preview of war-time Korea, as well as a look into what it means to be a Korean-American, especially one trying to create a life for themselves outside the cultural enclaves of New York, Chicago or LA.
Many of the critiques and comments throughout the book are things I have heard from Asian-American friends or various independent news sources I follow. The strive to learn and perfect English, seeing language as an express lane to assimilation in America, the irony of the majority of Americans hating immigrants when it is a country of immigrants, and the difficulty of understanding both the overt and underlying racism of this country.
Many of the critiques and comments throughout the book are things I have heard from Asian-American friends or various independent news sources I follow. The strive to learn and perfect English, seeing language as an express lane to assimilation in America, the irony of the majority of Americans hating immigrants when it is a country of immigrants, and the difficulty of understanding both the overt and underlying racism of this country.
xofelia's review
3.0
This book had some interesting commentary around the Korean war, what it means to be home, immigration, and father-son dynamics. Unfortunately, most of it didn't work for me. I feel like the healthcare satire and specifics about Minnesota really brought down the vibe for me.
As someone who was raised in MN, I know there is an overwhelming variety to the different ways that racism can touch you on a daily basis, but surprisingly the setting in the book seemed very fake. I'm reminded of a book I recently read where the author set the story in New Orleans despite never having been there.
I really enjoyed Yungman's journey with his son, and it really helped me learn that 'boomers gonna boom' really holds true throughout the planet.
The story overall was good enough for me to finish but I think it could have stood to be shorter and it definitely suffered with its uneven tone, I wasn't expecting to read jokes about baby murder tbh.
But the cover is pretty baller, so I'd give it 5 stars if I could rate it based off that
As someone who was raised in MN, I know there is an overwhelming variety to the different ways that racism can touch you on a daily basis, but surprisingly the setting in the book seemed very fake. I'm reminded of a book I recently read where the author set the story in New Orleans despite never having been there.
I really enjoyed Yungman's journey with his son, and it really helped me learn that 'boomers gonna boom' really holds true throughout the planet.
The story overall was good enough for me to finish but I think it could have stood to be shorter and it definitely suffered with its uneven tone, I wasn't expecting to read jokes about baby murder tbh.
But the cover is pretty baller, so I'd give it 5 stars if I could rate it based off that