Category: Other Asian 5 out of 5s

Kim Ryeo-Ryeong’s—The Trunk

Kim Ryeo-Ryeong’s—The Trunk

Noh carts her trunk from one job to the next. Her latest is a repeat assignment with the same “husband” she spent a year with. Her parents know she works for W & L, but like her best friend, they have no idea exactly what she does. Her best friend sets her up on a blind date with Tae-seong, but Noh takes an instant dislike to him, and he begins to stalk her. How will she navigate her present assignment and deal with Tae-seong?

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Mieko Kawakami’s—Heaven *****

Mieko Kawakami’s—Heaven *****

While Kojima observes another student in her middle school class being bullied, he observes the other girls bullying Kojima. Soon he finds a note in his desk asking to meet. Who is sending this unsigned note? Is it the boys in his class making fun of him again? He’s not sure what to do, but either way, if it’s the boys who bully him, they’ll punish him no matter what decision he makes.

This is a compelling read told through the voice of the boy the students call Eyes.

Yoko Ogawa’s Mina’s Matchbox *****

Yoko Ogawa’s Mina’s Matchbox *****

In 1972, Tomoko’s widowed mother decides to take a sewing course in Tokyo and leaves her daughter with her family in Ashiya. When her uncle picks Tomoko up from the train station, she is stunned by his good looks and Mecedes. When they reach their house, she is an awe of the miniature hippopotamus that lives in the front garden, then their beautiful home.

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Crystal Hana Kim’s—The stone home *****

Crystal Hana Kim’s—The stone home *****

In an alleyway, Eunju and her mother are captured and driven in a van to the stone home because they’re considered vagrants. On their arrival, they learn that others like them have been locked away for an indefinite period. Eunju and Umma are segregated with the other females to clean and cook while the boys toil in the workshop to complete orders. Warden and Teacher oversee the Keepers who make sure they obey. There are daily Christian sermons about how evil they are. Violence and sexual abuse is common and anyone who disobeys might disappear.

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