A sweeping debut novel, inspired by the life of the author’s mother, about a young woman who dares to fight for a brighter future in oc... read full description
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Nov 13, 2011
Amy
rated it: 
Anyone who has been reading my reviews knows I love historical fiction. Some of my favorite historical novels are based on some actual event, educate me about places and times that I know very little about, and are both well written and well researched. The Calligrapher’s Daughter by Eugenia Kim fits all the above mentioned criteria. Based in part on the experiences of Kim’s own mother, The Calligrapher’s Daughter opens in the early twentieth century Korea, at the end of the Joseon Dynasty. N
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Jan 20, 2012
ruzmarì
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Eugenia Kim's novel transports us into Japan-occupied Korea, in the first half of a twentieth century that is sometimes only familiar because of the dates she uses as chapter headings. Kim does an excellent job portraying this lost culture as a bygone way of life, even a bygone place : the dynasty that has ruled the country for centuries is dissolving, then ultimately collapses altogether when Korea's last king is assassinated. The main character, Najin Han – who gets her name from her mother's
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Jan 14, 2012
Book Concierge
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3.5***
This historical novel tells the story of a young woman, her yangban (aristocratic) family and the people of Korea, from 1915 to 1945 (during the time of the Japanese occupation and annexation of Korea). Han Najin has known a life of privilege, but has always felt constrained by the bonds of tradition and the expectations of society towards a young woman of her class. She is bright and resourceful, and matures to be an obedient and dutiful daughter – to a point. She will not marr More...
This historical novel tells the story of a young woman, her yangban (aristocratic) family and the people of Korea, from 1915 to 1945 (during the time of the Japanese occupation and annexation of Korea). Han Najin has known a life of privilege, but has always felt constrained by the bonds of tradition and the expectations of society towards a young woman of her class. She is bright and resourceful, and matures to be an obedient and dutiful daughter – to a point. She will not marr More...
Apr 16, 2011
Patricia
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Some reviewers have written that this book starts too slowly, but I was captivated from the opening sentence, "I learned I had no name on the same day I learned fear."
At the heart of the story, told from several points of view, is Najin, the calligrapher's daughter. Though headstrong and ambitious, she is bound in ways Westerners cannot understand to family and tradition.
Based loosely on the lives of her parents, the author has fashioned a story that seamlessly More...
At the heart of the story, told from several points of view, is Najin, the calligrapher's daughter. Though headstrong and ambitious, she is bound in ways Westerners cannot understand to family and tradition.
Based loosely on the lives of her parents, the author has fashioned a story that seamlessly More...
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Dec 08, 2010
Felice
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The intimate story of the novel is the life of the unnamed daughter of a successful calligrapher. Coming as she did with the Japanese so to speak the daughter is viewed by her father Han as a shame brought on the family and Han refuses to name the girl. As the Japanese take over more and more of the government, police and culture in Korea, Han becomes bitter and resentful. He is an artist and activist, a scholar who struggles to recapture Korea's glory and independence.
Najin's life, More...
Najin's life, More...
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Sep 07, 2010
Amy
rated it:
All I knew about pre Korean-War history was, well, nothing. So I found myself doing research on the side as I'm apt to do when reading about an unfamiliar place or time. But the lack of knowledge didn't hurt when reading this book, the story of early 20th century Korea comes out through the unnamed daughter, Najin, and her family & friends.
It's beautiful. Hauntingly and achingly beautiful. Najin seems so real - conflicted about everything - tradition vs progress, love vs freedom, so More...
It's beautiful. Hauntingly and achingly beautiful. Najin seems so real - conflicted about everything - tradition vs progress, love vs freedom, so More...
Jul 22, 2010
Kate
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When visiting the library with my 1.5 year old daughter this book caught my eye in the 'Quick Pick' section. I've previously read and enjoyed several Asia based books so assumed I would like this one as well.
Most of the book is written in the style of an autobiography, but there are sections from the view points of other characters as well. It was enjoyable to read, but slow to get in to as not much happened for the first third; in my mind this is fine for an autobiography, but from More...
Most of the book is written in the style of an autobiography, but there are sections from the view points of other characters as well. It was enjoyable to read, but slow to get in to as not much happened for the first third; in my mind this is fine for an autobiography, but from More...
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Jan 26, 2010
Belinda
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What I learned is that I have had it way too easy in my Western lifestyle, chock full of running water, indoor plumbing, no fear of occupation by a brutal nation, and not supressed by a patriarchial society that prizes obedience, servitude, and humility in its women. Whew.
Having said (typed) all that, I'm fascinated by women who live in these cultures and find ways to survive and even thrive. "Thousand Splendid Suns", "Memoirs of a Geisha", and "Wild Swans" More...
Having said (typed) all that, I'm fascinated by women who live in these cultures and find ways to survive and even thrive. "Thousand Splendid Suns", "Memoirs of a Geisha", and "Wild Swans" More...
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Oct 13, 2009
Christine
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Soft, gentle prose shapes an unnamed girl’s story as she endures a diminished pedigree, loss of hopes and home together with a failed marriage during the Japanese occupation of Korea in Eugenia Kim's The Calligrapher's Daughter.
A traditional, upperclass Korean man, the girl’s father shows his disappointment at the birth of a daughter, by declining to name her when her birth coincides with the fall of Korea to the Japanese. Najin, as the girl comes to be nicknamed at age eight, strugg More...
A traditional, upperclass Korean man, the girl’s father shows his disappointment at the birth of a daughter, by declining to name her when her birth coincides with the fall of Korea to the Japanese. Najin, as the girl comes to be nicknamed at age eight, strugg More...
Aug 12, 2009
Tara
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This is truly a heartwarming and lovely tale, one of those novels that touches you in such a way, you hate for it to end. It is story of a Korean girl and her mother, a story of a proud nation battling the aggressiveness of another, a story of a man coming to understand and accept that old ways and lifestyle must change, and a story of love that survives many hardships. All these stories in one magnificent novel. The Korean girl, Najin, is growing up in a very Confucian household. Her mother, ho
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Aug 02, 2009
Margaret
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I was fortunate to be able to snag an advanced reader copy of this book, which is an interesting, quasi-biographical novel. The setting of the story is Korea (before there was a North and a South), roughly during the period of the Japanese colonization from ~1910 to the end of the Second World War. Prior to reading the book, I knew of the inflictions of the Japanese on the Koreans during the war (e.g., the comfort women), but admit to complete ignorance of Japan's colonization (morphing to occ
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Dec 22, 2011
Sam
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Najin Han is born in Korea just as it becomes a colony of Japan in 1910 and grows up in a country that is mourning the loss of its freedom and age-old traditions. Her father clings on to traditional views and customs in the face of rapid change and discrimination, making it hard for Najin to gain an education and employment. As the rule of Japan becomes more oppressive and opportunities for Koreans narrow, Najin must do all she can to support her family and balance her traditional upbringing wi
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Aug 03, 2011
Rachel
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This wonderfully written novel vividly portrays family life in the midst of a difficult era in the history of Korea--from its Yi Dynasty monarchy to occupation by Imperial Japan and finally liberation after WWII. The aristocratic family of the Hans survive imprisonment, protests (the first Samil Day march), theft of property and home, but they hold on to each other and the ideals of family and freedom. Eugenia Kim's first novel captures the Korean spirit, the ingrained Confucian philosophy com
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Jan 17, 2010
El
rated it:
I'm going to preface this review by admitting that I do not know much about Korean history, and the little bit of personal experience I have comes from what I've learned from the characters Lane Kim and her mother on Gilmore Girls, and from what I understand of the two Korean surgeons where I work.
With that said, I adored this book. It covers 30 years in the life of Najin Han, the daughter of a calligrapher. Her father, the calligrapher, is traditional in all senses of the word and More...
With that said, I adored this book. It covers 30 years in the life of Najin Han, the daughter of a calligrapher. Her father, the calligrapher, is traditional in all senses of the word and More...
Aug 26, 2009
Kristin
rated it:
I'll tell you the truth about this one: I almost gave it up. The first 1/3 or so of the book is pretty slow moving and I had a hard time getting in to it. Then, all of the sudden, it takes off and turns in to one of the most beautifully moving books I've ever read.
I loved the insight into Korean culture and history. I learned a lot that gave me some new thoughts about the Korea of today. I especially loved the father in the story. He was a difficult, crusty-seeming man but he w More...
I loved the insight into Korean culture and history. I learned a lot that gave me some new thoughts about the Korea of today. I especially loved the father in the story. He was a difficult, crusty-seeming man but he w More...
Sep 21, 2011
Dawn
rated it:
Not bad, not fantastic, this entry into the quasi-memoir ranks of what I'm starting to think of as "Asian-Chick-Lit" is interesting in that it's set in Korea... the first I've come across.
Ms Kim follows what I find is a common trend, forsaking the details of how cultural and historical happenings effect the people of the time/place, and instead chooses to lean more heavily on the narrative. This is by no means a disappointment, but in a culture that has been influenced by ot More...
Ms Kim follows what I find is a common trend, forsaking the details of how cultural and historical happenings effect the people of the time/place, and instead chooses to lean more heavily on the narrative. This is by no means a disappointment, but in a culture that has been influenced by ot More...
Jun 26, 2010
Leah (packfan20)
rated it:
In the end, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It's long and drags a big but the history was interesting and I liked the main character. I love strong, independent females and I really felt like I was cheering on Najin for the whole book. However, I would have taken some stuff out of the middle out of the book so there would have been more at the end. I felt the book cut off too quickly. There were a lot of relgious references, which didn't bother me, but then there were also s
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May 21, 2010
Blodeuedd
rated it:
Another win. This was a great book, and I would recommend it to fans of Wild Swans by Jung Chang, Leaving Mother Lake by Yang Erche Namu & Christine Mathie, and even Memoirs of a geisha by Arthur Golden. I got the same feeling as I got from those books, and not just because those took place in China and Japan, and this one in Korea. No, it was because two of those were about real events, and in this one the author was inspired by her mother's story. There was reality and everyday life. And life
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Apr 01, 2011
Jill
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This may be the first book I ever read about life in Korea. The story covers the years of 1920 till after WWII. Here again is another book that shows the experiece of the great war from a different perspective. An interesting if a bit slow story of life in a different culture.
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Jan 29, 2010
Gemma
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Review also written for the Amazon Vine Programme.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book and I was hooked from the first few pages. This was just my type of book.
It's set in the early 1900's and we follow Najin from childhood to adulthood and the novel moves along with such a lovely pace. From the innocence of Najin's childhood, through to her struggles in her adulthood I could not put this book down. The whole back drop to this book is how the Japanese slowly tried to take ov More...
I was pleasantly surprised by this book and I was hooked from the first few pages. This was just my type of book.
It's set in the early 1900's and we follow Najin from childhood to adulthood and the novel moves along with such a lovely pace. From the innocence of Najin's childhood, through to her struggles in her adulthood I could not put this book down. The whole back drop to this book is how the Japanese slowly tried to take ov More...
Jan 28, 2012
Carla
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This is a story set in Korea just after the turn on the 20th century, until after World War II. It's the story of Nadjin, the first-born of a famous artist/calligrapher. Her father is steeped in the culture and traditions of his country and fiercely resents the annexation and rule of Korea by Japan. He is very traditional and discounts the value of a tomboyish highly intelligent girl. His disdain goes so deep that he fails to choose a name for her or have a naming ceremony on her 100th day a
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Jul 01, 2010
Cynthia
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This book is set in pre-World War II Korea during the country's occupation by Japan. I found the setting and time period interesting as I have never read a book set in Korea before. The main character is the daughter of an acclaimed calligrapher who goes without a name for many years because her father is disappointed that she was not the son he hoped for. Her father longs for her to cling to tradition, but she dreams of a career of her own.
I thought this book was a nice study in More...
I thought this book was a nice study in More...
May 15, 2011
Jennifer
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Contrary to what many other reviewers think, I felt the best part of this book was the first half. I was really enjoying the plot and pacing until about half way through, when the story started to get a little hokey. The other thing I wasn't crazy about, which seems to be more and more popular these days, is the multiple changes in point of view. When Faulkner did it in The Sound and the Fury, it was unique and purposeful, giving the reader multiple perspectives on situation and character whi
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Jan 23, 2011
Iris
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The Calligrapher's Daughter is the story of Najin as she grows from childhood to early adulthood during the turbulent times in Korea at the beginning of the 1900s. Najin is torn pulled between her appreciation for the traditions of old Korea and her desires for education and career. She also struggles with how suffering can be understood, especially as she considers the role suffering seems to play in her mother's Christian faith.
This is a beautifully told story that captured my atte More...
This is a beautifully told story that captured my atte More...
Aug 06, 2011
Tess
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The story takes place in the 1900’s during the time when Japan control have claimed towns and cities of Korea. The main characters try to preserve what is left of their Korean culture amidst Japan take over and modern influences by the Japanese and Westerners.
This is Najin Han’s story, known as the daughter of a calligrapher and woman from Nah-jin. Her father is a conservative who expects Najin to be obedient, discipline and graceful in actions and expression. She is required to pra More...
This is Najin Han’s story, known as the daughter of a calligrapher and woman from Nah-jin. Her father is a conservative who expects Najin to be obedient, discipline and graceful in actions and expression. She is required to pra More...
Nov 01, 2011
Robin K.
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Though the story is set in pre-WWI Korea, it is a universally understood story of one young woman's coming-of-age. From a prestigious family, Najin, observes and imitates the traditional female role her mother offers up without complaint, until her strict and formal father, Han the calligrapher, demands that she take a husband at age fourteen. She escapes to her aunt's house in Seoul, where she becomes acquainted with the Korean royals, only to see their kingdom obliterated at the hands of the
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Aug 24, 2011
Zara
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The narrative is delicate and sensitive as the mannerisms and language of traditional Korean propriety. And though the daughter of the calligrapher is born unnamed, her strength of character and unwavering discipline and grace evolves as naturally, artistically, and raw as the process of calligraphy itself. It goes without saying that the art of Korean calligraphy is one engraved with history, tradition, years of training, depth of feeling, artistic pride, and fluidity.
Yes, the novel More...
Yes, the novel More...
Oct 12, 2010
Kate
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Dec 11, 2011
Sarah
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Not knowing much about Korean history previously, I found this novel very illuminating on the subject. The Calligrapher's Daughter tells the tale of Najin Han, who grows up a privileged life in early twentieth-century Korea, a country experiencing great changes. As Najin grows up, the Japanese occupation grows more limiting for Koreans, and many of Najin's family and friends fall afoul of the Japanese. Despite her father's determination for his daughter to follow tradition, Najin manages to a
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Mar 10, 2011
Jenn
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Read for book club and was pleasantly surprised. Loved the main character,Najin. She was strong, brave and respectful of her family's traditions during a difficult time. I enjoyed having a glimpse at Korea's history and am interested in learning more.
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