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reydeam's review against another edition
4.0
“How ludicrous were all attempts at defining the self.”
I am not a lover of short stories. They tend to end abruptly, and leave me wondering “what just happened?” I am typically left unsatisfied. Drifting House showed me the beauty in a good collection of short stories that allow the reader to quickly plunge into a story, sink into the characters’ lives, and then complete the story all in one relatively short sitting.
In every single story there is a sense of loneliness, loss, and trying to find one’s way. This connects the vastly different stories. The differences between the stories is what strikes me as impressive; the author was able to take characters and develop their different stories to give a taste of cultural nuances along with showing the various ways of struggle, and the different truths that people live. Each story weaves complexities to illustrate how lives vary yet are the same; each life is unique, as is their story, yet all struggle and, at times, experience tenderness, forgiveness, and grace.
Drifting House gave me a sense of accomplishment, finality, and satisfaction with each story read.
I am not a lover of short stories. They tend to end abruptly, and leave me wondering “what just happened?” I am typically left unsatisfied. Drifting House showed me the beauty in a good collection of short stories that allow the reader to quickly plunge into a story, sink into the characters’ lives, and then complete the story all in one relatively short sitting.
In every single story there is a sense of loneliness, loss, and trying to find one’s way. This connects the vastly different stories. The differences between the stories is what strikes me as impressive; the author was able to take characters and develop their different stories to give a taste of cultural nuances along with showing the various ways of struggle, and the different truths that people live. Each story weaves complexities to illustrate how lives vary yet are the same; each life is unique, as is their story, yet all struggle and, at times, experience tenderness, forgiveness, and grace.
Drifting House gave me a sense of accomplishment, finality, and satisfaction with each story read.
jungihong's review against another edition
In the West the Koreans are seen as highly homogenous people. In this collection of short stories they're broken down into unique stories of devastation. No one is a single story, and each tale stabs the heart in its own way.
lgmaxwell722's review against another edition
1.0
I found the writing lyrical in some of these short stories, but the book itself was less so. Each stand alone story connects to a theme facing Koreans and Korean Americans in various historical contexts. What made Drifting House a hard read was the depressing nature woven into each narrative. I yearned for one of the characters to find a glimmer of hope but was disappointed. If you like depressing reads, this is one for you.
julieh46's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jconte's review against another edition
3.0
There were many different characters introduced at different points in time...some were post-war, some modern Korean Americans, and although all of their identity stories were quite different, they are all presented with incredible difficulties and heartache. Several of these stories were very well written, but at the end when something "big" transpires it almost seems as the ending does not belong to the same narrative thread.
Character development is something Lee is very good at creating both archetypes (patriarchal male, subservient wife, dutiful children), and she has also created some rebels (the wife in the drifting house; the shaman family in At the End of the World). I truly cared about many of these characters, particularly the children.
My personal favorite was the Salaryman for the gut-wrenching nature of money lost is having in our current society, although I was thrown by Lee's narrative decision to have the story told in the second person. It made this story stick out like a sore thumb.
I wanted to love this book and hoped that it would be a true exploration of Korean-American culture. While I did find some of that here I also found sensationalistic endings that brought the stories far beyond what their limits should have been. I think alienation could have been handled just as hauntingly without including incest or murder. For this reason I could not remain glued to this book and I found it very difficult to finish. That said, I have rated this complete work a three but there were some five star stories in here most notably, A Temporary Marriage and At the Edge of the World.
I am looking forward to hearing more from Krys Lee.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free through the GoodReads First Reads giveaway.
Character development is something Lee is very good at creating both archetypes (patriarchal male, subservient wife, dutiful children), and she has also created some rebels (the wife in the drifting house; the shaman family in At the End of the World). I truly cared about many of these characters, particularly the children.
My personal favorite was the Salaryman for the gut-wrenching nature of money lost is having in our current society, although I was thrown by Lee's narrative decision to have the story told in the second person. It made this story stick out like a sore thumb.
I wanted to love this book and hoped that it would be a true exploration of Korean-American culture. While I did find some of that here I also found sensationalistic endings that brought the stories far beyond what their limits should have been. I think alienation could have been handled just as hauntingly without including incest or murder. For this reason I could not remain glued to this book and I found it very difficult to finish. That said, I have rated this complete work a three but there were some five star stories in here most notably, A Temporary Marriage and At the Edge of the World.
I am looking forward to hearing more from Krys Lee.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free through the GoodReads First Reads giveaway.
adammm's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this collection of stories. It featured what I know about Korea quite nicely as well as contributing further to my knowledge of it. The first half (up to, but not including, the story the collection was named after) was far stronger than the second half. I'm looking forward to reading more works by this author.
jelundberg's review against another edition
5.0
An astonishing collection, beautifully written, even as it describes incredible pain and sadness. Several of these stories broke my heart.
tiffym's review against another edition
3.0
I’m personally very interested in Korean history and biographical memoirs, and after visiting a panel with Krys Lee speaking at a Writing Festival in Singpore, there was no way I could miss out on her work. While this book is her debut, I will admit the writing style did not impress me as much as some other works, but the stories that comprise these pages are very touching. I’ve read several books about difficult personal journeys, in Korea and other parts of the world, and yet at times, I still let out a gasp from reading these fictional biographies or take a moment to appreciate how easy my life has been compared to these tales. While it is a fictional book, there are very real elements experienced by real people.
morganvermillion's review against another edition
4.0
This was certainly not a happy book, but it was beautifully written.
I often struggle rating short story collections, because some are great and some are not, but this collection was fantastic, pretty much across the board. I read one story every morning until I finished the book, and even though it wasn't a bright way to start my day, it was a good way to reflect on the lives of others and put myself in the mindset to care about people and their situations.
I often struggle rating short story collections, because some are great and some are not, but this collection was fantastic, pretty much across the board. I read one story every morning until I finished the book, and even though it wasn't a bright way to start my day, it was a good way to reflect on the lives of others and put myself in the mindset to care about people and their situations.