Still Life With Rice

Rating:
Summary: The story is better than the storytelling
Review: This novel is based on the true story of how a woman survived the first half of the twentieth century in Korea. Along the way, the reader learns about the history of that tumultuous period, and the difficulties which arose when Korea transitioned into a modern society. The author, however, does not have a good ear for writing believable dialogue. In addition, the abrupt plot transitions feel unrealistic. For instance, the protagonist's rapid conversion to Christianity did not ring true. Nonetheless, the undeniably remarkable story of this woman's life made the novel worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Life put into perspective
Review: This was a fabulous book that makes one really appreciate the simplicity of daily life in America. This is an especially poignant book for mothers who must face life changing decisions. The writing was smooth and the book read well. I would highly recommend this to those who enjoy memoirs. Lee writes about the life of her grandmother and family members who live through some very difficult times. This one will stay on my shelf and I look forward to reading more of Lee's books.

Rating:
Summary: Biography with potential
Review: When I first heard about the book from a friend, I couldn't wait to read it. As a Korean-American female, I had never read a work by another Korean woman and was excited by the praises I had heard. By the middle of the biography, I was too bored to finish it. Some of the stories Lee tells about her grandmother are interesting, but the transitions are weak. I totally agree with the criticism given by Kirkus Reviews. Eventually, I got through the book, but I thought overall, it was underdeveloped.

Rating:
Summary: a powerful story that was horribly written
Review: when i read still life with rice, i couldn't put it down. it was a compelling story. but it is boring as hell to read a second time. lee's book is like a movie that fails to become a classic because there is nothing to appreciate beyond the plot. character development is dull, the story's structure is bland, and lee herself is not very eloquent. i found her transliterations irritating at times, since they tended to exoticize or make koreans look weird. for example, when hongyong screams during labor, and her husband encourages her, she says, "i apologize for my weakness." that is plain silly! i could care less about the scathing criticism of historical inaccuacies--helie lee was not trying to write a korean history textbook! this is simply a great book to read once, but it has little value beyond that.