Book Reviews

The Calligraphers Daughter

Reviewed by- linda (2010/05/23, 06:06 PM)

(3.5 starts) There is a lot to like and enjoy about this debut novel, especially for those who love historical fiction. The backdrop is Korea in the early 1900’s during the difficult period of Japanese occupation. The daughter of Korean immigrant parents, the authors draws on the personal experiences of her parents, adding a richness and sense of reality to the story. She captures the strife and unrest of the Korean people's resistance to the invasion and also their fierce patriotism as they fight to preserve their identity and culture. It’s a wonderful coming of age story that follows the journey of Najin, the daughter of a very traditional upper class Korean man, a calligrapher by trade and a strict patriarch at heart. She is a beautiful mix of strength and flexibility as she struggles to understand her father’s disappointment in her and why at birth he refuses to name her. She wants and seeks his approval but forges her own path in life. She pursues her passions intensely but quietly, drawing her sense of worth from her mother. Their strong bond is heartwarming and real. The one serious drawback to this book is the pace. It is long winded and very slow; meant for the patient reader or the historical fiction aficionado.Back.