Paperback edition with 320 pages.

A million-plus-copy best seller in Korea--a magnificent English-language debut poised to become an international sensation--this is the stunning, deeply moving story of a family's search for their mother, who goes missing one afternoon amid the crowds of the Seoul Station subway. Told through the piercing voices and urgent perspectives of a daughter, son, husband, and mother, "Please Look After Mom" is at once an authentic picture of contemporary life in Korea and a universal story of family love. You will never think of your mother the same way again after you read this book.
*****

2012.02.08.
I have almost given up after the first quarter of. Why? Because of the "you" style. Always changing written style disturbed me very much, since I couldn't flow with the story.

In the Daughter's part, this ...you were, you listen, when you go etc... it made me perplexed and I couldn't let myself into the story well. Though after I started to read the Son's part, which was ...he does, he lives, he was.... style, occurred me that in "you style" I not only knew but 'felt' the distance between mother and her daughter, which partly was thanked to of that time society custom, since the daughter-mother relationships were this kind of in that time. Though, neither mother nor daughter didn't take steps to have a better relationship, they actually hardly knew each other.

The "he style" showed that the Son had a different relationship with his mother, being the first son gave him a special position in the family. His action, his thoughts showed how mush was his mother important to him.

Then came the Husband's part, with his "you style" again, but, surprisingly it was different from the daughter's one! Though it also expressed a distance, but a different one, here was a husband, who didn't want to let close to himself his wife, who didn't looked for connection with her. So this distance for the greater part was his fault. The message of his story was sad, and it was painful to read about his ignorance, the many years which were spent together without any emotional contact.

The mother's part... Ahh, it was a while I realized that this part is about the vanished mother. After I solved, who is the "I" in the story, me was flowing together with the story. I was really surprised when turned out, that the mother's dearest child was not the first Son.

Final part was an epilogue, about another daughter's viewpoint, an odd one. It was not a comforting closing at all. Questions were let open. Moreover I missed all children's viewpoint to situation, it was not fair to let out them.

Complex entirety it was an INTERESTING read, though an odd one considering its written style.

~~ I offer it for a BookRay ~~
Read and passed on: 1. Boekentrol (NED), 2. Tsjara (NED), 3. vassilka (GRE), 4. okyrhoe (GRE), 5. kobie03 (CAN), 6. KiwiinEngland (AUS), 7. romy86 (AUS), 8. bilbi (FRA), 9. Icila (FRA), 10. salvami (IRE), 11. penelopewanders (SUI), 12. muggleme (ITA)

was skipped: J4shaw (AUS), Lunatum (FIN), Martjxox (ITA)


** Thanks to all of You, you made interesting posts to share your thoughts with us!
The ray is over!! !! :) ** ---<<--{@

It is time to go on in order to discover more in this beautiful World... The book is travelling to its next reader! The Ray starts!

This little book has arrived safely today.
I will start reading soon, am about half way through a nother ring.

Thank you for sharing & sending it to me, hakkalina! I look forward to read it!

I really liked this book is based upon the contents. It was an eye-opener in the sence that views on the missing mom were given from the point of view of some of her children (not all) and from the husband's view.
I couldn't feel anything but annopyance for the husband and the darling son that she both spoiled so very much. I felt the urge to grab them at the shoulders and shout at them that their wife / mother is not their personal slave, a mule who's supposed to do all work alone and get nothing in return, not even a thank you or a smile.
The other family members weren't much better at that either.

I think the book did (for me) was it was meant to do: let the world know that we take our moms / family / any significant other and the things that they do for us too much for granted. That message came through, loud and clear. And I think it is true, at least for me in my younger years.

I was put of and annoyed by the style of writing though. I had a hard time getting through the first daughter's story, the second person storyteller got in my way big time.
The I / you that was mom was quite clear, but what I didn't get is the state she was in when that part was told.
I did not like the open end.
Maybe that is used for some reason, but I would like to know how mom's life ended. During her life there was not much attention for her, she was ignored and taken for granted, so at least there could be some end to her story, even though it is a sad one.

I've sent Tsjara a PM. As soon as I get her address, this ring book will be sent on. Thanks for sharing, hakkalina!

This little book is now on its way to Tsjara, the next reader in this ray. Safe travels!

Happy reading, Tsjara!

The book is with me now, thanks Boekentrol! Sounds interesting, I will start this in a couple days. Thanks for the bookray Hakkalina!

This was actually quite a sad story, but I liked it nonetheless. At first I also found the 'you' style strange to read, but didn't mind it once I got used to it and into the story. Though the later 'you' (style) parts were a bit confusing as I thought it would be the same daughter instead of other family members.
I liked how as the story continues, you learn more about Mom and the family's life, and it leaves you feeling sort of nostalgic (though I was quite annoyed with the father and sometimes the children - but I guess that was the point, don't take your mother/wife for granted). Not having read much about life in Korea, I found that quite interesting as well, the contrast between the old and the new way of life.. (and sometimes even sort of strangely familiar? :p)


Edit 12 March: PMed vassilka, and waiting for a reply.
Edit 18 March: Received address, will mail the book tomorrow.

The book is now on its way to vassilka.
Happy reading!

Got it this morning! Thank you Tsjara for sending it and thank you as well for the lovely post card and the tea:-)

A quite interesting book which shows the gap in family relationships in Korea. We have the hero-victim mother and the modern children who take their mother's love and sacrifice for granted. Also the husband who cares for himself and realizes how special his wife is only when he loses her. The fact that all the members of the family kept their feelings untold makes the story very sad. It makes you wonder however about your own feelings and attitude towards your mother...
I wasn't completely satisfied by the way the story ended. I had the feeling there was something missing. However I enjoyed reading it ;as far as I remember I hadn't read anything from a Korean author before.

I'm going to post it to the next reader by the end of this week

The post office was too crowded the previous days. I managed to send the book today to its next destination. That's okyrhoe in Athens. Happy reading!
"Thanks" to hakkalina for sharing this book with us! Thank you Tsjara for sending it to me:-)

The book has arrived in Athens.
Thanks hakkalina for including me in the bookring, and vassilka for posting the book to me.

~ ~ ~ Честит Великден ~ ~ ~ Καλό Πάσχα ~ ~ ~

Sorry for taking some overtime with this book!

I didn't have any problem with the narrative point of view, actually I was intrigued by the technique, and for me it came off quite well. However, I was disappointed by the epilogue; it seemed like an over the top melodramatic touch that was not necessary. The "closure" of one Mom speaking to her mom I thought was great, and the story should have ended there.

I'm familiar with a few Korean-American writers, but this is probably the first fully Korean work of fiction that I have read.

The rapid modernization of the country from one generation to the other is a major theme in the book. In the back of my thoughts as I read were the stories of living and working Korea in the 60's, as my parents related them to me decades later.
Those blue plastic sandals really got to me - Ouch!

On its way by post to kobie03.

Book arrived today with a lovely postcard from okyrhoe, Thanks. This is my first book by a Korean author.

mailed this 3 days ago to KiwiinEngland and just realizes I'd forgotton to journal it and releasr it.
Loved this book. It speaks to everyone universally,how often we take loved ones for granted and fail to recognize the contributations they make to our lives. This book will stay in my mind. Beautifully written. another gem of a book I'd never have read if not for bookcrossing. Thanks for sharing with me.

in the mail to KiwiinEngland.

Book was mailed 77 days ago and has not arrived at its destination. I've contacted Canada Post and they are checking it out. Hope it turns up soon.

100 days of being in the postal service is a record for me. But this wee book turned up in my postbox this morning, looking none the worse for wear. The address was very clearly set out, the envelope not damaged at all. There was a "flip over" sticker from Canada Post on the front for a reason I'm unclear about (perhaps to show the customs form).

Anyway, thanks very much for sending this from Canada. Boo to Canada post and the other postal systems for giving us a fright about this book being lost.

I really enjoyed this book, which made me very sad at times to think just how much people take for granted family members.

The way the modern history of Korea was woven into the story was interesting, and how the mother's style of raising her different children was talked about was interesting. I felt the most empathy for the mother and also the youngest daughter. The other characters seemed very self absorbed, but then I suppose at a basic level everyone is.

The ending was strange and unsatisfying.

ETA I PMed J4Shaw and had no response.

I am sending this to Romy86 to continue its travels.

Arrived safely in Australia today. Thank you, look forward to reading this!

Finished this one today. I agree with the previous journals that the "you" style is unnecessarily confusing. I could follow it easily enough in the first chapter, but by the third chapter I was starting to get a bit lost as to who was talking, and by the mum's section, am I wrong, or was there two people mixed into that chapter? I couldn't follow that easily at all.
Ending was a bit unsatisfying. I too would have liked to have known what actually happened to the Mom.
Another book to highlight why motherhood is totally unappealing! The bit that made me especially cross was celebrating Mom's birthday with Dad's, like she wasn't even worth her own day after all she had done for her kids and husband over the years!
An interesting little novel. Glad I had a chance to read it. Will PM the next reader today and get it moving again.

Will post this off to next reader in France on Wednesday. Enjoy!

Received today ! Just one book to read before starting this one ! Thanks for sharing ! \o/

I really enjoyed this book. You become attached to this woman who's disappeared in an instant and who seems to have been unknown to her own family. Very sad, I think.

Received yesterday. I'm looking forward to reading it. Thanks bilbi for sending and for the cute stickers.

Agreeing with the previous readers, this family took the Mom's care for granted.
But you have to experience the sacrifice to understand and also nobody wants to notice the first signs of senility.
I didn't catch why the second daughter was so special. She obviously was not This Man's daughter.
Unsatisfied with the epilogue. To easy to let us in the blue.

Thanks for sharing.

On its way to Salvami in Ireland.

Thank you! This book is with me now :) I will try to read it & pass on as quick as possible.

I am sincerely sorry for many bookcrossers that I stopped this bookring for a long time. My life got busy and I have been overwhelmed..but there is no real excuse for it. I am sorry.

This very well-travelled book has arrived in the rainy Swiss Alps. There are a few other rings and rays here, but holidays are starting very soon, so I hope to get to this one quickly. Thanks so much for sending and for making available.

Years ago I did a piece in college, written in the second person. It was basically an experiment, and although I enjoyed writing it, I seem to recall that my professor was rather non-plussed. Here is a novel, basically written in the second person, and I have to say I found it very off-putting. The story itself was indeed moving, and at times the fate of this mother, so misunderstood, so taken for granted, brought me close to tears. A very strange story, and not just because of the foreign-ess of the culture.
I've written for the next address.

Now on its way off the Alps and down to central (sort of) Italy. Enjoy!

Just got it in the mail! At the perfect time: 3 days off from work and a book just finished this morning! :)

* edit * I read it and liked it ok. Want to keep it travelling, so I will offer it as a bookring.


Bookring list:

1) mom2jwn - usa - ships in usa

This is a little bit weird :-) Greetings from Stuttgart

I found this BC ID in a small children's book called Mr. Snow, when I inherited Ganesha's children's books.

It got registered in Hungary? Definetely not 320 pages lol.