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plantybooklover's review
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
What an interesting book! There were parts that I felt were magical and parts that fell pretty flat for me.
This story is a bit of historical fiction that I really have mixed emotions about. The essential story- a Korean American Doctor- Yungman Kwak, is forced into retirement and must face some ghosts of his past, as well as what to do in the present.
The protagonist, Yungman, the Evening Hero- as his name means in Korean initially comes across as sort of a bland - work obsessed doctor that is bewildered by the reactions of his family and friends. He notes ruefully that he isn't living up to his name, but notes that he also prefers it to his younger brothers name which translates to "vegetable hero" . Yung man has done what he believes was expected as a doctor, husband and father, but missed the mark when it came to understanding people- especially his family. He is saddened and mystified by his wife's deep involvement with a mega- church and his son's seeming love affair with capitalism. As Yungman navigates through his unexpected free time, trying out a crazy job in medical retail, spending time with his friend, and trying to connect with his wife and family, he revisits his past- and tells a harrowing and painful but engrossing story of his life. As each segment of his life is revealed, Yungman becomes more human, and more likable. By the end, I was thrilled to see the resolution of some of his deepest insecurities.
For me, some of the characters seemed somewhat cartoonish- but I've considered that this may have been intentional by the author, rather than just a lack of depth. In addition, the Doctors without Borders episode within the story- was a fairly bad representation of how MSF actually works- but it was a fairly good vehicle to move Yungman to an appropriate location.
Overall, a very interesting read, and one that I would recommend to folks that enjoy historical fiction, and want to learn more about Korea.
This story is a bit of historical fiction that I really have mixed emotions about. The essential story- a Korean American Doctor- Yungman Kwak, is forced into retirement and must face some ghosts of his past, as well as what to do in the present.
The protagonist, Yungman, the Evening Hero- as his name means in Korean initially comes across as sort of a bland - work obsessed doctor that is bewildered by the reactions of his family and friends. He notes ruefully that he isn't living up to his name, but notes that he also prefers it to his younger brothers name which translates to "vegetable hero" . Yung man has done what he believes was expected as a doctor, husband and father, but missed the mark when it came to understanding people- especially his family. He is saddened and mystified by his wife's deep involvement with a mega- church and his son's seeming love affair with capitalism. As Yungman navigates through his unexpected free time, trying out a crazy job in medical retail, spending time with his friend, and trying to connect with his wife and family, he revisits his past- and tells a harrowing and painful but engrossing story of his life. As each segment of his life is revealed, Yungman becomes more human, and more likable. By the end, I was thrilled to see the resolution of some of his deepest insecurities.
For me, some of the characters seemed somewhat cartoonish- but I've considered that this may have been intentional by the author, rather than just a lack of depth. In addition, the Doctors without Borders episode within the story- was a fairly bad representation of how MSF actually works- but it was a fairly good vehicle to move Yungman to an appropriate location.
Overall, a very interesting read, and one that I would recommend to folks that enjoy historical fiction, and want to learn more about Korea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Racism
Moderate: Vomit, Pregnancy, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: War and Medical content
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