I don't know how old I was when I watched my mother's murder, nor do I know how old I am today.' So opens this beautiful, sad and uplifting memoir. The illegitimate daughter of a Korean peasant and an American GI, Elizabeth spent her early years as a social outcast, because of the Korean taboo against the mixing of races. Ostracized by her mother's family and village, she and her mother were regularly pelted with stones on their way home from the rice fields. Yet because of her mother's love and calm acceptance of her fate, inspired by her deep Buddhist faith, there was a tranquil happiness in the intense and close bond between mother and daughter- until the day Elizabeth's grandfather and uncle came to punish her mother for the dishonour she had brought the family, and hanged her in front of her daughter's eyes. Elizabeth was dumped in an orphanage in Seoul where the orphans were neglected, deprived of all affection, and abused.

I am bringing this book to the BCBrum monthly meet-up.

If you are in Birmingham, a group of local Bookcrossers meet up monthly, find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/243069614126/

If this is your first experience with BookCrossing, thanks so much for picking up this book and coming to the BookCrossing website to find out what it's all about. Welcome to the addictive world of BookCrossing!

I look forward to hearing what you thought of this book, and of your plans for it.