GOLDSEA | ASIAN BOOKVIEW | MEMOIRS

REVIEW: Corean American Odyssey

nyone who has ever puzzled over what it means to be Corean--or Corean American--will relish Home Was the Land of Morning Calm. Veteran newspaperwoman Connie Kang spent her first 10 years in Corea, finished her elementary education in Japan and--because of her father's work with the U.S. military--attended high school on a U.S. base in Okinawa before coming here for college. The narrative spans a century, interweaving Kang's rich personal and family history with that of her native land. Her tri-cultural background gives Kang a unique perspective--both passionate and dispassionate. We get to share her intimate assessment of the admirable and laughable sides of Corea, Japan and the U.S. The year's most moving and thought-provoking read so far.