Masterful. Completely engrossing. Impossible to put down. Those are the kinds of comments reviewers have given the highly-anticipated fourth novel by Korean American author Chang-rae Lee, whose The Surrendered hit bookstores this month. In his latest work, the opening scenes were apparently inspired by a real-life incident involving Lee’s father, who witnessed the violent death of his brother—his leg was severed by the wheels of a train—during the Korean War. “I’ve been haunted by that story since hearing it,” Lee wrote in an essay about the novel’s genesis. But he also says The Surrendered—which follows the narratives of a Korean orphan, an American GI and a missionary— is not so much a war novel as it is a story “concerned with the effects of mass conflict on the human psyche and spirit.”
A huge fan of Lee’s first novel, Native Speaker, I cannot wait to sink my eyes into his latest novel. And thanks to publisher Riverhead Books, five of you lucky readers have a chance to win a copy of The Surrendered! To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite Chang-rae Lee book. If you haven’t read one yet, tell us why you want to read his new one. The contest ends at 5 p.m. PST on Friday, March 19. Link to the giveaway on Twitter for an extra entry. (Leave another comment with your Twitter status.) Two entries max per person. Please make sure to leave a valid email address.
Earlier this month, KoreAm’s Eugene Yi spoke with Lee in New York as he was launching his book tour, and that interview will be published in our April issue—you won’t want to miss it! If you also want a chance to meet this award-winning novelist, here are his upcoming book tour dates:
March 17: Los Angeles@ Vroman’s Bookstore, 7 p.m.
March 18: San Diego @ Warwick’s, 7:30 p.m.
March 19: San Francisco @ Books, Inc. (Opera Plaza), 6 p.m.
March 20: Corte Madera, CA @ Book Passage, 2 p.m.
March 23: Minneapolis, MN @ Barnes and Noble-Edina, 7 p.m.
March 24: Ann Arbor, MI @ Borders, 7 p.m.
March 25: Atlanta, GA @ The Carter Center (Sponsored by A Cappella Books) 7 p.m.
April 1: Princeton, NJ @ Barnes & Noble-Princeton, 7 p.m.
April 8: Albany: New York Writers Institute, 8 p.m.
April 22: Kansas City: Kansas City Public Library, 6:30 p.m.
FOR ONLY $28!
Featured Event
It’s the new year, and Yim Jae Beum is coming to town! After a sold-out show in Los Angeles last October, he is coming back to hold two U.S. concerts for the 2012 Lunar New Year. Everyone already knows this man can sing! He’s got an impressive resume, debuting as a rock singer back in 1986, releasing Korean classics, such as “For You,” and most recently, joining and winning first place twice on the MBC show, “I am a Singer.”
Seattle and New Jersey, get ready! We are happy to announce that we will be giving away TWO (2) pairs of tickets! read more
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I just found this website through Google.I didn’t know about the author yet,But it seem is very interesting book to read.
looks like a great read.
I want to read this book because of the author’s wonderful prose and writing ability as well as my interest in Korean American authors that write about human experience, especially pertaining to the Korean War and the lives of orphans/refugees.
i just retweeted your tweet. my twitter name is hoagie1ob.
i loved his first book, native speaker. aching, haunting, and beautiful prose that bluntly portrayed what it means to be a korean american trying to fit in. i would truly like to enter, win and read this latest book. thank you!
Have heard this author is amazing, can’t wait to read this one!
Have always wanted to read something by this author!
I’d love to win this book… I’m always interested in the works of Asian-Americans, especially Korean-Americans!
Native Speaker got me completely hooked.
I want to win. So excited about this book!
I want to enter. I’m taking all my copies to Vroman’s to get them signed! Woohoo!
A Gesture Life was my favorite. I thought Aloft was not up to par with the other two, but I am looking forward to The Surrendered.
I’m writing a chapter in my dissertation on Gesture Life. Would love to read Surrendered. :)
I really loved Native Speaker and I’m very excited to read The Surrendered soon!
i haven’t read any of chang-rae lee’s books before, but i would love to see what he has to say. i am so proud of any asian-americans who rise up in american culture.
I’ve not read any books by this author, but this premise sounds really cool.
I would love to read another one of his books!
I would love to win a copy of this book!