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The Evening Hero
The Evening Hero | Marie Myung-Ok Lee
8 posts | 4 read | 8 to read
A sweeping, lyrical novel following a Korean immigrant pursuing the American dream who must confront the secrets of the past or risk watching the world hes worked so hard to build come crumbling down. Dr. Yungman Kwak is in the twilight of his life. Every day for the last fifty years, he has brushed his teeth, slipped on his shoes, and headed to Horse Breaths General Hospital, where, as an obstetrician, he treats the women and babies of the small rural Minnesota town he chose to call home. This was the life he longed for. The so-called American dream. He immigrated from Korea after the Korean War, forced to leave his family, ancestors, village, and all that he knew behind. But his life is built on a lie. And one day, a letter arrives that threatens to expose it. Yungmans life is thrown into chaosthe hospital abruptly closes, his wife refuses to spend time with him, and his son is busy investing in a struggling health start-up. Yungman faces a choicehe must choose to hide his secret from his family and friends or confess and potentially lose all hes built. He begins to question the very assumptions on which his life is builtthe so-called American dream, with the abject failure of its healthcare system, patient and neighbors who perpetuate racism, a town flawed with infrastructure, and a history that doesnt see him in it. Toggling between the past and the present, Korea and America, Evening Hero is a sweeping, moving, darkly comic novel about a man looking back at his life and asking big questions about what is lost and what is gained when immigrants leave home for new shores.
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Purpleness
The Evening Hero | Marie Myung-Ok Lee
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Purpleness
The Evening Hero | Marie Myung-Ok Lee
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Purpleness
The Evening Hero | Marie Myung-Ok Lee
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I can relate;)

nanuska_153 😂😂😂 1y
MidnightBookGirl I most definitely have an Imp of The Wrong Thing to Say! 1y
Aimeesue I have met that Imp. Oh, so many times! 1y
40 likes3 comments
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TracyReadsBooks
The Evening Hero | Marie Myung-Ok Lee
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Pickpick

So much to unpack in this interesting story which explores immigration (what is gained/lost when someone chooses to leave their home) & what drives it, the American dream, the weight of history & tradition, healthcare, bigotry, family & more. Never too heavy, occasionally cringeworthy, & sometimes funny, I liked this story about one man‘s journey after he left home to chase a seemingly impossible dream & what it cost him.

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merelybookish
The Evening Hero | Marie Myung-Ok Lee
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Bailedbailed

There's a good book & an important story buried in this slog of a novel. I stuck with it for a long time, but when I realized I was just letting the audio run out without listening, I figured I might as well bail.
It's about Dr. Yungman Kwak's experience as a Korean immigrant and OB/GYN in a small MN town. It's also about how the Korean War destroyed Korea (and US complicity). And it's about the US health care system. And it's about...👇

merelybookish It's about too many things and trying to do too much. Dr. Kwak's story would have been enough without a long (albeit important) history lesson, or a parody of where for-profit medicine is going. (Kwak's son takes a job as a MDeity and works in medretail in the mall.) I'm sad I gave up because I wanted to like it. But ready to move on. 2y
JamieArc That‘s too bad. This does sound like and interesting and important story. 2y
merelybookish @JamieArc Yes, I feel bad. Like I'm trashing something precious. But it needed an editor. 2y
56 likes3 comments
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CaitlinByTheBook
The Evening Hero | Marie Myung-Ok Lee
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Pickpick

I was drawn to this book by the Korean characters and history. I fell in love with the main character right away. We get insight into his thoughts and feelings, and he‘s so endearing. There were a few pop culture references scattered throughout which were well done. Some of the historical elements were devastating, but the book was redeeming overall. Recommend! 4/5 ⭐️ Received an egalley from NetGalley. Thanks to the publisher Simon & Schuster!

11 likes2 stack adds
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TracyReadsBooks
The Evening Hero | Marie Myung-Ok Lee
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Today‘s book haul—curtesy of a book exchange over coffee with friends this morning. Great way to start the day.

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Palimpsest
The Evening Hero | Marie Myung-Ok Lee
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I went into the library for my two holds, (the top two books) and walked out with four. I think I‘m the first person to get The Evening Hero as I was listed as 1 of 18 for people in my library system that want to read it, so I‘ll start with that one and hopefully finish it quickly. I‘m going on vacation next week and don‘t know if I should take one with me or leave it home? I‘m flying and torn about taking property that isn‘t mine. Opinions?

BiblioLitten Which one did you take? 2y
Palimpsest @BiblioLitten I took the Keats book, but I didn‘t get as much reading done as I would have liked! I did finish The Evening Hero before I left. 2y
30 likes2 comments