Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The Surrendered by Chang-Rae Lee

A best seller which is not always the best recommendation. The Surrendered by author Chang-Rae Lee is about the Korean War and an American GI who served there and children living there and people who tired to deal with some of the aftermath of the war.

The major theme has to be that war is devastating to all. In itself that is not a novel idea for a book. But the strength of the novel as literature is the characters. Different births, different lives getting to the time of the story and different experiences. But all surrendered something of themselves to stay alive, tom cope, to try and understand. Lots of questions about life and it's pulse but few resolutions.

Lee also wrote Native Speaker, A Gesture Life and Aloft. This novel establishes his reputation as a serious writer.

If you are looking for a book with strong man and female characters, this is one to read. Th,e war provides the setting but could be any war and anyplace. Lots to discuss. Would be a good book club book as well.

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