by Caroline Kim
University of Pittsburgh Press, 2021
eISBN: 978-0-8229-8793-2 | Cloth: 978-0-8229-4648-9 | Paper: 978-0-8229-6674-6
Library of Congress Classification PS3611.I45294P75 2020

ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS | TOC | REQUEST ACCESSIBLE FILE
ABOUT THIS BOOK
Winner, 2020 Drue Heinz Literature Prize
Finalist, 2021 Northern California Book Award
Longlist, 2021 PEN/Robert Bingham Prize
Longlist, 2020 The Story Prize


Exploring what it means to be human through the Korean diaspora, Caroline Kim’s stories feature many voices. From a teenage girl in 1980’s America, to a boy growing up in the middle of the Korean War, to an immigrant father struggling to be closer to his adult daughter, or to a suburban housewife whose equilibrium depends upon a therapy robot, each character must face their less-than-ideal circumstances and find a way to overcome them without losing themselves. Language often acts as a barrier as characters try, fail, and momentarily succeed in connecting with each other. With humor, insight, and curiosity, Kim’s wide-ranging stories explore themes of culture, communication, travel, and family. Ultimately, what unites these characters across time and distance is their longing for human connection and a search for the place—or people—that will feel like home.