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The Expatriates
February 2018: Asia
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The Expatriates by Janice YK Lee - 3 stars?
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Hmmm...I kind of like books that tear me apart.
I love/hate these kind of books what is there a better gauge of an amazing story and writing than making you feel so strongly. Making you siffer, rejoice, love, hate, scream, laugh to the extremes?
Hmm... Spoke to a few people today about this book at the pool. It really was very good writing. I wonder if people would have responded to that event as strongly as I did. I read an awful lot of Holocaust and World War II literature. I seem to tolerate that pretty well, though I found lilac girls tough in parts.
Amy, do you think I should put this on my TBR?
Joi, I may have just been a little high strung. A lot of people have loved this book. It’s extremely well written. I thought of you with Korea for sure.
It doesn't matter if the writing is good, or the story is engaging. Some things are too hard to bear for some people. This was one of those books that made me shiver with the presence of my worst waking nightmare. At the center of the novel, set in Hong Kong and Seoul, Korea, are three women, each American expatriates, two of varying Korean descent. There is a tragedy involving a child, and that loss deafens for me any other possibilities of experiencing this book. Margaret's pain, and the pain of five others in the book is unspeakable. This is the way I felt after seeing the movie Lion. The women are eventually and interestingly intertwined, and there are absolutely beautiful and even uplifting moments. But for me, its one of those experiences that had me up the entire night, just to finish the damn thing and get it out of my consciousness completely, all the while, kissing my little 7.5 year old boy over and over while he slept between us. This is one of those books that have you begging to hold your children close and never letting go. I prayed to God in the wee hours of the morning, so eternally thankful. If you want to put yourself through that experience, I'm sure the book was good. I couldn't tell. Not for mothers (and fathers) I think.
The book is on the carousel now in Puerto Vallarta Mexico, in a gorgeous Vidanta resort. Or it will be by the time I get down to the pool. Now starting Destiny by Design: Leah's Story, by Mirta Trupp. This is a personal giveaway from the author, and I'm excited to read it. That too will end up in the Carousel, lessening my return load by two books, and hopefully creating more exposure and buzz for Mirta's book. After that, I will be reading Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China (to finish it before February 28th), and the Hate U Give, to finish it by March 2nd. I also have with me White Houses. Those three or four should tide me over for the rest of the trip, I think.