This Burns My Heart: A Novel

This Burns My Heart by Samuel Park - In this "extraordinary" (Chicago Tribune) and compelling love story set in postwar Korea in the s, an unhappily.
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As an additional burden, further thwarting her efforts toward self-fulfillment, she is saddled with the in-laws from hell. South Korea provides not only the backdrop of Soo-Ja's story, but also the context for Park's novel, which spans the decades after the Korean War to the beginning of the country's economic boom.

In a sense, Soo-Ja's story parallels South Korea's development from a poor, struggling state to a gleaming Asian tiger. Because "This Burns My Heart" provides such a rich sense of Korean culture and history, it is especially astonishing that Park never lived in South Korea. Born and raised by his parents in Brazil, Park was sent to live with his grandparents in California for high school until his parents arrived a year later. Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and, of course, English, Park laughs at his limited Korean language skills.

To achieve the convincing veracity of the cultural details of this historical novel, Park committed himself to deep research. In an effort to create the feel of South Korea over a range of time, for instance, he examined clothing such as "hanbok," a Korean gown that may seem like a Japanese kimono but to a discerning eye clearly is different.

He also watched low-budget, homemade movies of street scenes in Seoul. Park remembers hanging out in the library, miles away from his mother and sisters, and reading Jane Austen, and the novels seemed similar to the stories he heard at home. As an assistant professor of English at Columbia College Chicago , Park teaches everything from Shakespeare to 20th century literature.

Although they did not make her life easy, she did the best she could to satisfy those traditions and make her own life as she saw fit. She was a beautiful example of adapting and making the best of all situations. The writing was outstanding. Everything flows so well, and you get a real sense of who all the characters are. I was so moved by this book. This is the kind of book that makes you feel so many things, but in the end I was incredibly uplifted.

I am recommending this book as highly as I possibly can. It has been my favorite book so far this year, and I am sure it will be on many "best of" lists to come. Galley provided by publisher for review. I am recommending this book, it has been my favorite book so far this year, and I am sure it will be on many "best of" lists to come There is nothing better than getting swept away and lost in a book. Park also does a wonderful job of bringing to life s Korea—I felt as though I had been transported to another time and place.

This is an inspiring, heartbreaking story of love and perseverance that will stay with me for a long time. Now, I can add another character to the list: Employing such themes as tradition, love, and sacrifice, Park captivated and transported me to a different time and place. I never wanted to return from the vivid world of his creation. South Korea in the early s is a country slowly recovering from the ravages of war.

Tradition is of utmost importance. Soo-Ja, a young woman, yearns to become a diplomat, even though her father forbids it. Marriage to a man she can bend to her will is the answer, Soo-Ja thinks. If she marries Min, then she can fulfill her dream. The two become engaged after a brief courtship. Before their marriage, she meets a young, handsome medical student named Yul.

She must sense that she and Yul could experience a deeper love, a love that would overpower her ambition, and this scares Soo-Ja. Even if she wanted to run away with Yul, she cannot do it; she has already given her word. Out of obligation, then, Soo-Ja marries Min. She soon learns that she does not really know the man she married. Min was never captivated by her beauty or wit, he did not enjoy spending time with her, and he indulged her talk of going to Seoul.

He tricked her, seeking her out only at the urging of his own father. Familial ties and tradition win out over Soo-Ja's dreams. Her marriage is something she will have to endure. Later, Soo-Ja stays with Min because of their daughter, Hana. Over and over again, though, Yul turns up in her life. He is always a looming shadow even when he is not present in her life. The best parts of the novel are the soulful, yearning-filled scenes between Soo-Ja and Yul.

Will she ever leave Min for Yul? That is a question you must find out yourself.

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Park has a gift for language, and his use of beautiful prose will leave you breathless. His rich and memorable characters lingered on in my mind long after I finished the novel. In fact, I loved this novel so much that I sought out Park for an interview. The following is used with his permission.

What was it like growing up Korean in Brazil? Hi Jaime, just wanted to start by saying what a delight it is to be featured in your blog. I hope I can do justice to the wonderful questions you came up with. When did you first know you wanted to be an author? When I was eight years old—as soon as I could read, I wanted to write. I see you are a Jane Austen fan. How has Austen influenced your writing? I also have a lot of admiration for Lizzie Bennet of Pride and Prejudice. It was inspired by her experience as a woman living in a Confucian-dominated society as that society moved from very traditional to more modern.

But the novel is a work of fiction, with made up characters and situations. Do you have a favorite character in the book? If so, who and why? She was unbelievably fun to write, because she says all these outrageous things. Villains are fun to write because often times, they drive the story, and can be very charming.

Did you, like Hana, dream of coming to the United States? I think the United States attracts dreamers, and Hana is definitely a dreamer. Is any character based on you? If so, which character? Did you find it difficult to write for that particular character? Emotion-wise, the characters take after me—I went through an emotional journey with them, and tried to make their emotions as truthful as possible by thinking of times that I was in a similar situation, or feeling the same way about someone. I have to tell you that my favorite scene in the book is the drawing scene with Yul and Soo-Ja.

It was so beautiful that I read and re-read it. Do you have a favorite part? If so, please do tell us about it! But early on, I realized that these two people would never vocalize their feelings—they had to use their gestures to express their love. Neither Soo-Ja nor Yul are allowed to say what they feel, because it goes against their customs.

Do you have a favorite line from the book? If so, will you share it with us? The first line is my favorite line: And yet, so many of us do, or have to. Some themes that stood out for me while reading the book were family obligations versus true love and communal needs versus those of the individual. What do you want readers to take from This Burns My Heart? Can you tell us more about that concept? Yet, at the end of the novel, I had ceased to think of him as such. In my eyes, he was just as much a victim as Soo-Ja. He redeems himself in the end.

Is Hana the only thing that keeps Soo-Ja with Min? What else keeps Soo-Ja in her loveless marriage? Personally, I think her sense of honor and duty are what keep her in the marriage. In her mind, if you pick X, you have to live with the consequences of picking X. Father-daughter relationships seem stronger here than mother-daughter, mother-son, or even father-son. For example, Soo-Ja and Mr. Choi have an unbreakable bond. Min is also very close to Hana. We like the people who are similar to us even more so than the ones who truly love us.

If Soo-Ja had gone to Seoul to become a diplomat, as was her dream, what would have happened to her then? She probably loves her father too much to live apart from him out of her own volition. We first see a country recovering from a devastating war to a nation on the cusp of becoming a superpower.

What kind of future do you see for both North and South Korea? As for South Korea, I see it becoming more and more socially progressive, especially in terms of opportunities for young women. I also see it as continuing to have strong ties with America, a country that has been a deep part of its history, having fought a war together. How long did it take you to write this novel? If I thought in the back of my head that a scene could be better, I would make it better. But to answer your question, it took me about nine months to write it, and then I spent another three years or so revising it.

Are there any plans for a book tour? If so, which lucky cities will you be visiting? I would love to eventually make my way to the Pacific Northwest and the South. Thank you again for this interview—I love all the questions you asked. Park proves himself to be a master at storytelling. This Burns My Heart will surely steal your heart, just as it did mine. Soo-Ja comes from a wealthy and traditional family in post-war South Korea and has her heart set on becoming a diplomat. She applies and is accepted by the school, but her father tells her that no self respecting family would ever consent to allow a daughter to move to Seoul and disgrace her family, thus crushing her dreams.

She is now 22 and finishing school and is soon named an old maid when a suitor, Min, follows her and quickly proposes. She also meets another man, Yul, a medical student, to Soo-Ja comes from a wealthy and traditional family in post-war South Korea and has her heart set on becoming a diplomat. She also meets another man, Yul, a medical student, to whom she is instantly attracted but feels he cannot move her to Seoul and follow her diplomatic dreams. She marries Min on the pretext that he is from a wealthy family and can take to Seoul where she can control him and follow her dreams.


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Things unravel on Soo-Ja's wedding night when Min confesses that he lied to her in order to get her to marry him. There is no money, he is a loser and she is destined to live a traditional life while her heart breaks. Soo-Ja shows incredible strength which only seems to grow as she is abused by her in laws, where they trick her family out of money, force her to do back breaking work and almost break her spirit. She suddenly wakes up when she runs into Yul and his wife at her hotel business and a small spark is rekindled between the two of them.

I was cheering for Soo-Ja through much of the story and I felt so emotionally connected to her that I was sad when the story ended.

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Of course, I disliked Min, but overall, the tradition that controlled these characters made me understand his actions a bit better and made him a bit more sympathetic. The relationship between Yul and Soo-Ja also made you root for them to reconnect. Yul's wife Eun-Mee quickly becomes a match for Min in the low integrity department when she stays one step ahead of Soo-Ja and ruins Soo-Ja chances for financial prosperity by borrowing money from a friend that Soo-Ja had planned on asking. You need to read the story to find out how it ends.

This story of reconnection and true love is a wonderful debut and I would love to read more from this author. It reminded me of when I first read Lisa See's work and how she combined history with incredibly believable characters and a storyline that was truly plausible. Korean literature is on the rise! The emotional dilemma at the heart of the novel what if you really loved one guy but married another? Apparently while the Chinese were starving to death during the Korean literature is on the rise! Apparently while the Chinese were starving to death during the Great Leap Forward, the Koreans were fiercely embracing capitalism and having to learn to deal with the loss of their traditional ways.

Although the author is a man, this is a woman's story and again, it makes an interesting contrast to the story told by Lisa See. It's on the treasured "books-that-are-as-delightful-as-chocolate" list -- the kind that you savor every bite of and are sad, but entirely fulfilled when it's done. Characters, passages, and the imperfect translations between Korean and English -- the words with meanings and values that are too rich and culturally-situated to be explained by language alone -- will linger in your mind as pleasant after-thoughts.

And just like my favorite chocolate, I devoured it in one sitting. A lovely book of love, sacrifice, and customs of early marriage in Korea.


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Still, it was a story I am sure I have read before, and Park was unable to bring a new spark to the ancient tale. View all 10 comments. In post-war South Korea, Soo-Ja is an indomitable heroine who is trapped by the choices she has made. Park gives us a glimpse into Korean culture and history, and his flowing writing is lovely. I found myself stopping to notice such phrases as " Very well written but not an uplifting read. Most of us can relate to living a life wondering "what would have it been like if This Burns My Heart Author: I have always loved stories that deal with emotion, family, and real situations, and especially those that talk about culture and traditions of a particular place and its people.

So it was that, a few weeks later, the publishers S Book Details: The protagonist, Soo-Ja, is a young girl, no more than a student, and even at this young age, we get a glimpse of her strong character and fierce streak of independence. Living in post-war Korea, her dreams are more open in scope, and there is nothing that can make her settle for something that is lesser than the best.

Aiming to make this world a better place, Soo-Ja wants to be a diplomat, to travel the world, see new places and meet new people, while using her skills and charms to influence the heavy-weight decision-makers. But her ambitions are bigger than what her traditional family may be able to handle. With a father who is rich and respected in the social circles, Soo-Ja, being the daughter of the house, is supposed to tread in paths that will continue to behold that respect. If she must absolutely work before getting married, she can at best be allowed to be a teacher or a secretary, but a diplomat?

Fiction Review: "This Burns My Heart" by Samuel Park | Newcity Lit

With her zeal to do something meaningful, Soo-Ja gets drawn into the youth demonstrations. With the new acquaintance of a young man named Min, who quickly turns into a lover, Soo-Ja takes part in the demonstrations, where she comes in contact with Yul, the charismatic youth leader. Soo-Ja feels an instant pull, an attraction she cannot explain. She knows she loves Min, wants to marry him, but there is something about Yul she finds hard to ignore, getting drawn to him despite all the warnings in her head.

When finally Yul proposes marriage, Soo-Ja turns him down in favour of Min, the man she loves. But will this decision change her life forever? Was there something Soo-Ja could have had with Yul that she can never hope to achieve by marrying Min? Is this the point that will push her to her doom? The beauty of This Burns My Heart is not just in its narration and description, the beauty, the charm, lies in the protagonist, Soo-Ja. This is no perfect heroine we have here, many will find her flawed - she loved another man while she was planning her marriage with someone else - she is fiercely independent, sometimes to the point of being brazen, she likes to take control, and she only wants the best for herself.

Some may find her dominating. Then again, Soo-Ja is kind, compassionate and fair. With the strength of will that not many heroines have been credited with, Soo-Ja faces the world on her own when all else falls apart. Not one to bow down in the face of adversities, Soo-Ja has the courage and dedication in her to hold up a failing sail, to row the boat till land arrives.

While the author builds a powerful heroine who is at once flawed and charming, he gives equal attention to his two other protagonists — Min and Yul. I especially loved the novel because of its glimpse into a world that is different from mine, of customs and daily practices that are somewhat similar, yet find a different context in a new setting. Samuel Park brings to life the real-life Korea in a way I have yet to come across. With celebrations, rituals, traditions, even local language, being blended beautifully into passages and sentences, readers will get a glimpse of the post-war Korea in the years gone by, while not really having to struggle with too much smattering of the local flavor.

A story that begins in the 60s in Korea will take us through time to the modern-day Korea, to the changes that its people have gone through, and what it has done to their social and personal lives. While family and emotions are a strong theme in the novel, the author makes sure nothing goes over-the-top. With constant twists and turns throughout the story, the novel soon turns into an un-putdown-able read, and you constantly want to know what happens next. A story that will linger with you for some time. The central character is a beautiful and intelligent Korean girl, Soo-Ja. The reader comes to know Soo-Ja through the twists and turns of a life created by the convergence of several factors beyond her control.

Often, we have to make major life choices when we are too young to understand the consequences.

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From the vibrant street markets of Daegu to a dingy inn in modern Seoul, one can smell the noodles cooking and hear the horns blaring. Both flawed and very human, she is a heroine whose desires, mistakes and emotional growth could be those of any woman, anywhere in the world. With sensitively drawn characters and an engrossing love this story did exactly what it promised: Since finishing it, I have spent many hours reflecting on the choices I've made in my life.

Soo-Ja's story helped show me that even the bad choices I made could be turned into inner victories: Without its lessons, how could she have become the woman she was?

This Burns My Heart

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Soo-Ja dreams of traveling to the capital of Korea to study as a diplomat, but her parents object, wanting her to follow a traditional path of marriage and family that will bring her comfort and stability. Soo-Ja devises a plan: Min seems madly in love with her Soo-Ja dreams of traveling to the capital of Korea to study as a diplomat, but her parents object, wanting her to follow a traditional path of marriage and family that will bring her comfort and stability.

Min seems madly in love with her and promises to follow her to Seoul. Min will take her away from the confines of traditional Korean life. Or so she thinks. Three years later, Soo-Ja knows differently. She will do anything to build a better life for her child, even if it means bowing to the very doctrines she tried to escape. And Yul is always in her mind and sometimes in her life, reappearing as if by providence when she needs him most. Soo-Ja knows she can never leave Min if she hopes to keep her daughter.

Korean law will give custody to the father and leave her with nothing. Bound to Min, Soo-Ja must give up everything else—her ambitions, desires, and even her dignity—to hold on to her daughter. A troubled love story, This Burns My Heart explores the aftermath of choosing the wrong person, what it means to live with that decision, and how we go on with life, even as our hearts burn.

So, the plot of This Burns My Heart is by no means revolutionary. This version takes us to Korea and is set a bit on the late side, post-Korean War and into the s. The tropes of the genre are still there: This book is far more internal and, at its core, a romance novel.

To read more of my reviews, visit my blog at yearofmagicalreading. Have you heard this story before? A woman, torn between her feelings for two different men, ends up making the wrong decision and lives a life of pain, suffering, and longing. Does that sound familiar? The novel is made up of four parts, each one named for a plant organism spec Have you heard this story before?

The novel is made up of four parts, each one named for a plant organism special to Korean culture; Part 1: Plum Blossom, and Part 4: Each of these plants represents something specific, which is beautifully explained by Park within the context of the story, but can be said simply to symbolize resilience, strength, and persistence in the face of harsh circumstances. These characteristics align with how Korean society became after the war, during the s.

South Korea was in the process of modernization which we now know happened rapidly between the s through the present day. Samuel Park tells a story of how this process affected three generations of Koreans — the generations that came before the war, generations that lived through it, and generations that had to find a way to survive in its aftermath. After the war was over, Soo-Ja, a woman who lived through it alongside her parents and brothers, expressed a great interest in becoming a diplomat: One day an arrogant-looking man follows Soo-Ja and her friend through the busy streets of South Korea.

It is when Soo-Ja finds out that he is not just a possible suitor - but also a protester that plans on going to Seoul to join the movement - that she comes up with an idea to help her fulfill her dream of becoming a diplomat. Her decision to marry this man, who she likes well enough and seems to believe that she could end up loving, actually ends up becoming a disastrous choice with repercussions lasting over a decade of her life.

True love appears at exactly the wrong time for Soo-Ja. Still, she is given one chance to make a final decision. Later, she asks herself: At her home in Daegu before her marriage, servants spoke behind her back as if she were a spoiled princess needing attention. Men would rudely howl for her outside her home just to see her attractive face.

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Her over-protective father would not allow her to fulfill her highest goals, while her complacent mother held on to suffocating traditions. Later, Soo-Ja is subjected to an abusive family of in-laws, after her money, her work, and ability to bear children. Worse, she is shunned for her beauty and forced into poverty. A bit of a Cinderella story — but the many depths that Soo-Ja falls into, I think, are the worst but the very best part of it. There are conditions which a person may become entrapped without any one person at fault — how does someone rise above this?

Soo-Ja, the rich, smart, and beautiful girl from Daegu, becomes almost unrecognizable as the story moves ahead. She finally gets to Seoul all right, but she is offered no respect as a cheap hotel owner who people mistake for a maid — even as she runs the entire hotel while her husband remains jobless. There is her relationship with her daughter Hana, her relationship with the husband she sincerely tries to love, Min, her relationship with her father, saddened by his daughters' plight, and her relationship with her one true love, Yul, who never happens to completely disappear from her life, for whatever reason.

There is the class struggle too, always a looming shadow in the background, full of depth and insight into the reasons behind actions and reactions. It is difficult to summarize and review this book. Samuel Park is a natural storyteller that produces clear images and straightforward characterization that makes this heavy tale an easy read.