Descrizione
Price: 9,72 €
(as of Aug 29, 2024 11:50:41 UTC – Details)
I don’t know how old I was when I watched my mother’s murder, nor do I know how old I am today.’
The illegitimate daughter of a peasant and an American GI, Elizabeth Kim spent her early years as a social outcast in her village in the Korean countryside. Ostracized by their family and neighbours, she and her mother were regularly pelted with stones on their way home from the rice fields. Yet there was a tranquil happiness in the intense bond between mother and daughter. Until the day that Elizabeth’s grandfather and uncle came to punish her mother from the dishonour she had brought on the family, and executed her in front of her daughter.
Elizabeth was dumped in an orphanage in Seoul. After some time, she was lucky enough to be adopted by an American couple. But when she arrived in America she found herself once again surrounded by fanaticism and prejudice.
Elizabeth’s mother had always told her that life was made up of ten thousand joys as well as ten thousand sorrows, and, supported by her loving daughter, and by a return to her Buddhist faith, she finally found a way to savour those joys, as well as the courage to exorcise the demons of her past.
Editore : Bantam; 1st Bantam Books Edition (1 luglio 2002)
Lingua : Inglese
Copertina flessibile : 240 pagine
ISBN-10 : 0553812645
ISBN-13 : 978-0553812640
Peso articolo : 162 g
Dimensioni : 12.8 x 1.5 x 19.8 cm
redpoppa –
I too am a Korean adoptee, and I can attest that all the author has said about the effects of inter-country adoption are TRUE. I suffered a similar fate. First off please remove yourself from the equation do not make this about yourself, or me. Personal experience is completely subjective, the truth is the truth and facts are facts! Each and every one of us was taken by the four C’s, Caucasians, Capitalism, Colonialism, and Christianity. Just like the blood diamonds from Sierra Leone taken to be displayed on the hand of some white person. Put into a game, maze, or white Matrix. Where the deck is stacked, the game is rigged, and The House Always Wins 🙁 I don’t care how big a house you have, or how much you have in your 401k all that shows is how programmable and greedy you can be. Until you accept the facts you are doomed to repeat the past and continue the lies. You only get one chance to grow and learn and change. I know it’s difficult, it was difficult for me. I’m SO proud, and filled by your courage EK! I’m glad you’re finally free, and you have enlightenment.
Amazon Customer –
This is a fantastic true story which keeps you gripped throughout from beginning to end. Elizabeth Kim is one amazing lady.
Brenda Catchpole –
Heart felt book, a simple and easy read. Unbelievable what some people have to live through and still stay strong, gives me hope x
Mo –
Ten Thousand Sorrows was an overall great book. I wish the author had given some dates throughout the book so we could get more of an idea of when the events were taking place. But then again, dates may not have been important – just the fact that the events happened.I know some folks don’t like this book and gave it a low rating. I didn’t like a lot of what I read in Ms. Kim’s book but things like she wrote about does happen. Honor killing is a very touchy subject but it does exist. Racism in Korea after the war was there. And the children of Korean women and American Soldiers did not do well. Even in the 1970’s there was still a lot of stigma for a Korean woman to marry outside of her race.I know things have improved somewhat in Korea when it comes to mixed race children, but it wasn’t too long ago that mixed race children in Korea had very hard lives.Ms. Kim wrote a beautifully sad story that gives voice to her pain and also honors the memory of her mother. Maye some of Ms. Kim’s writing makes a reader question events in her life (learning English in week for example), but putting aside those details, this is her story and it happened.
Monet –
This book gave me all the feels.It was devastating, tragic, beautiful, infuriating, educational, emotional, relatable, empowering, and so much more.I don’t feel like I can write a review that would do it justice. But here it goes…The story begins with an honor killing, sexual mutilation, abandonment, and an “orphanage”.Then moves on to a tragic adoption, radical fundamental Christian’s, and borderline child abuse.Then just when you think she’ll be free of the tragedies, she finds herself falling into an abusive, at times almost deadly, marriage.She finally breaks away with her daughter, only to find herself living in poverty and being sexually assaulted.Just when you find your self emotionally drained and the author is at the point of suicide… something begins to change. There’s a break in the trauma, she starts to find love and healing for herself.The end was worth all of the tears it took to get there. This story is nothing short of a tragedy turned into a blessing. Moving is the best description I have after finishing this book.Easily 5 stars ððððð