Edgier than Min Sook whatever's Free Food for Millionaires, Suki Kim's 2003 Interpreter makes no excuses for her post-college doldrums. Her characters engage in more illicit sex without compunction. This is a Barnard girl! New York creates more gotham-y people than Harvard, with a cooler and more streetwise sensibility. Kim's prose has the advantage of a more jaded and 'cooler' tone, resulting in some neat prose even on the first page. The thing flows and has twists.

High 3/5, near 4. Like many NY ethnic writers, Kim is fascinated by the minutiae of the Immigrant Experience. However, whereas Oscar Wao broadens this out to post-modern word games and a true universal appeal (and hence bestseller status), Kim delivers straight fiction leavened only with some daring in stance and word choice. It's annoying that the 'ethnic writer' doesn't "get it" that majority writers aren't 'celebrating' dominant culture. David Mitchell isn't celebrating England or Englishishism (per intent). He's telling us a story, and somewhere along the line, purely unintentionally, the greater complexity/superiority of anglo-saxon culture is demonstrated, without any attempt or desire to do so. He is, furthermore, experimenting with form, with voice, with story-telling technique. The beat-up ethnic (particularly the Korean) is "responding back" to West culture with a sort of "I can be tough too" creation, but they're just delivering straight narrative, not seeing that they're missing the opportunity to elicit a new literature, a new consciousness, or a new literary breakthrough. There's no post-modernism here. There's no Dissociation Identity Disorder mind-screw. There's no Vonnegut iconoclasm or Atwood slipstream creativity. It's just 3pm on a rainy Sunday in Montauk over and over again. Korean fiction is also heavily marked by the "small store/ dry cleaner / fruit stand" perspective. Chang Rae Lee remains the only KA author to have successfully integrated this into a bigger than life novel. And unlike, say, 'Invisible Man,' there is no larger grasp of America. Just another latte. Just another Montauk.

Suki Kim is still a leap skip and a jump ahead of Free Food for Millionaires, but this is a passable work, and unnecessary for any but a specialist audience. Near 4. It doesn't have a stunner close. There's some notable skill even on the first page, with 'neat' prose and 'edgy' prose, and smart things done here and there. But Native Speaker is still the benchmark here, and to some degree this book is a repetition. Kim is not an incompetent story-teller, but she doesn't quite deserve the 4, and doesn't get deep into the skin of the reader.

A Fascinating Read

A character I grew attached to, a beautiful writing style

These are just a few of the things that make this a great first novel. The story immediately draws you in and keeps you engaged from beginning to end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their lives. The writing style is both beautiful and engaging, with vivid descriptions and a smooth flow that makes the book a pleasure to read.

Overall, this is an incredible first novel that showcases the author's talent and potential. I can't wait to see what they come up with next. Une lecture fascinante, un personnage dont je me suis sentie proche, un magnifique style, et voilà un premier roman incroyable.

I have truly benefited a great deal from reading this remarkable book. It has opened my eyes to the rich and diverse world of Korean culture.

Not only did I gain a deeper understanding of various aspects of Korean traditions, but I also discovered what su long tang is, which is oxtail soup.

However, I must admit that I have been on a bit of a hunt to find a restaurant in my area that serves this delicious-sounding dish. So far, my efforts have been in vain.

Nonetheless, the knowledge I have acquired about it has made me even more eager to taste it and experience its unique flavor. I am hopeful that one day, I will come across a place that offers this traditional Korean delicacy.

Until then, I will continue to explore and learn more about Korean culture through reading and other means.

The interpreter, Suzy Park, is a complex and captivating character. She is not just an invisible conveyer of information but a deeply suffering individual. As an orphan, she struggles to form meaningful relationships with men, longing for love with Damian, yet knowing it is doomed. Her detachment from both Korean and American cultures adds to her sense of emptiness. When she discovers the truth about her parents' death during an interpreting job, she embarks on a journey to uncover the past, leading her to trace her long-lost sister's steps. Suzy's individualism is evident in her relationship with men, as she craves a warm body but believes she is incapable of a real relationship. The line "who craves a warm body despite love, who lies in the dark pretending to live" sums up her emotional state. The Interpreter is a unique and suspenseful read that offers a deep exploration of a highly identifiable protagonist.

I truly relished this book.

It was a captivating and fast-paced mystery story that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The author did an excellent job of creating a sense of intrigue and suspense, making it difficult to put the book down.

However, I must admit that it might not hold the same level of enjoyment for those who are not as well-acquainted with New York and all the specific places that are mentioned throughout the story.

For those who have a deep knowledge and love for the city, the book adds an extra layer of authenticity and charm.

But for others, some of the references and descriptions might go over their heads or not have the same impact.

Nonetheless, overall, it was a great read that I would highly recommend to mystery lovers and those with a connection to New York.

Suzy is truly gorgeous.

She dons the clothes purchased by another woman's husband, flaunting an unfinished scholar's face and the superiority of entitlement. She smokes, and she is the main character, yet she is despicable in irritating ways.

Not surprisingly, she finds herself alone.

And her aloneness becomes a prominent character in this book. After introducing Suzy, a series of events unfold: they commence slowly and unwind gradually, revealing Suzy and her profound loneliness, her overwhelming sense of loss, and the mystery that demands to be solved. The story leads us through the vibrant streets of New York, the halls of elite schools, the bustling Korean markets, the rich tapestry of Korean culture, the lives of immigrants, the quagmire of doubt, the sting of betrayal, and a loneliness so palpable that it lingers even after the book concludes.

Kim, quite simply, is an outstanding writer. Her concise prose reflects the sparse existences in a manner that makes the reader yearn for something...anything...that is blooming, beautiful, and lovely.

This is undoubtedly one of the finest books I have read in an extremely long time.

I don't read an excessive number of books by Korean/Korean - American writers. However, I'm beginning to think that I should do so. This is because I've had truly excellent experiences with most of the Korean authors that I have read. And "The Interpreter" is no exception.

I had never even heard of it until I saw it on the library shelf. But after picking it up and giving it a try (and also flying through it in just a few hours), I can state that it is one of the best books I have read so far this year and quite possibly one of the best mystery novels I have ever read.

It was precisely what I was seeking. The perfect blend of family drama, intrigue, bleak existences, and a touch of violence. The writing was dark yet in an effortless manner, which I truly appreciate, and the entire novel just flowed so smoothly.

"The Interpreter" is about a woman named Suzy Park who serves as a Korean interpreter for the New York legal system. Approximately ten years ago, her parents were killed in an apparent robbery of their fruit and vegetable store. Since then, Suzy and her sister Grace have been on their own, and the two women didn't communicate with each other due to the family issues resulting from Suzy being the mistress of two white men. At the start of the novel, Grace appears to be elusive and living a simple, quiet life. But after surreptitiously questioning a witness during a court hearing, Suzy discovers that there may be a darker side to her deceased parents and distant sister. She begins to navigate the complex social structure of the Korean American community in New York and soon realizes that her family had more enemies than she could ever have imagined. As the reader starts to unravel the mystery of the double homicide, Suzy is nearing the end of her quest to discover who shattered her family apart. The conclusion is unexpected, and the slightly ambiguous ending will enhance the suspense of the story.

It is unfortunate that Kim has not written more books because she is truly an underrated and unknown author with a great deal of talent. I believe that later this year she will be releasing a non - fiction account of North Korean students, which sounds fascinating, and I am eagerly anticipating it. But I also hope she writes more fiction because I don't want to wait another 11 years for another book.

To be honest, I have no idea what I would compare this novel to, not even a movie or anything else. I know I often say that many books are original (when sometimes they might not be, as I've only read a limited number of books), and I despise it when publishers attempt to sell their books as being incredibly similar to other, usually popular, books. But I know that I have basically no knowledge of Korean culture and literature. The extent of my knowledge is about a few years of Taekwondo, during which my Grandmaster would tell us some stories of living in Korea. It's kind of like how my Chinese teacher tells us stories about how they celebrate holidays in China and such, but I would never be able to understand what it's like to be from one of those countries and assimilate into a community of immigrants who form a new society that could be inviting or, in the case of Suzy, not so inviting. A reviewer of this novel states that Kim "fractures the image of the happy Asian immigrant." I'm not naïve enough to think that all immigrants are happy and suddenly have opportunities and freedom from their troubles once they come to America (probably the opposite in most cases), but I believe "The Interpreter" is one of the best examples you will find of what it's like for those people who face more hardships after immigrating.

This book offers a remarkable exploration into the profound meaning of existing in the in-between space of different countries. It delves into the experience of being adrift in the gap between one's parents' homeland and the country where one currently resides.

The pressures that come with immigrant life and their impact on the children of immigrants is a universal theme, not exclusive to the Korean context. However, Suki Kim enriches her narrative with such nuance that she presents a vivid and deeply moving portrayal of the Korean American Experience.

I found this book to be an absolute delight and was completely engrossed from start to finish. I could hardly bring myself to put it down, as it continuously pulled me into its captivating world.

It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex and multifaceted nature of the immigrant experience and the unique challenges and joys that come with it.

This book truly takes an inordinate amount of time to get going.

Right from the beginning, I simply couldn't seem to establish any sort of connection with the main character. There was just something lacking that prevented me from really engaging with their story and their journey.

Moreover, as I progressed through the book, I also never felt that there was a proper conclusion. It seemed to just end rather abruptly, leaving me with a sense of dissatisfaction and incompleteness.

I had hoped for a more fulfilling and satisfying reading experience, but unfortunately, this book failed to deliver on both fronts. It's a real shame because there were some interesting ideas and concepts presented, but they just weren't executed in a way that could hold my attention or leave a lasting impression.

Overall, I can't say that I would recommend this book to others.

The article has a nice beginning that piques the reader's interest with curious information about immigrants' life.

However, the ending leaves much to be desired as it is rather lackluster. It fails to provide a satisfying conclusion or offer any real insights or takeaways.

Moreover, the whole investigation seems too set up. It gives the impression that the researcher had a preconceived notion or agenda and was simply looking for evidence to support it. This lack of objectivity undermines the credibility of the findings and makes the article less engaging.

To improve the article, the author could consider reworking the ending to make it more impactful and thought-provoking. Additionally, a more thorough and unbiased investigation would add more value to the piece and make it more appealing to readers.

Right off the bat, I have to give 3 stars just for the writing alone!!!! It is truly remarkable. The story is not only super creepy but also sad and haunting, in a way that makes you completely lose yourself in it. You find yourself drawn into the dark and mysterious world that the author has created.

However, I do have to subtract 1 star. There were certain points in the story where it felt like it was dragging a bit. It could have been tightened up a little to keep the pace more consistent. Also, I personally prefer books that have at least one likeable character. In this case, I found it a bit difficult to connect with any of the characters on that level.

But all in all, in my opinion, this is still a masterpiece. Despite its few flaws, the overall impact of the story and the quality of the writing are simply outstanding. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

You should definitely read this book.

It is extremely well-written, captivating readers from the very beginning with its engaging and mysterious storyline.

The author has done an excellent job of creating a world full of secrets and surprises that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Moreover, it is the perfect book to read on the metro.

As you commute, you can easily get lost in the pages and forget about the hustle and bustle around you.

The short chapters make it convenient to pick up and put down, allowing you to make the most of your travel time.

Whether you're a fan of mystery novels or just looking for a good read, this book is sure to satisfy.

So, don't hesitate, grab a copy and start reading today!