Four stars might seem a bit on the generous side, but overall, I truly liked the story and never once felt the urge to give up on it. Although, to be honest, when I first started reading, I wasn't entirely sure if I'd be able to get fully engaged.

I have lived in the NYC area for a significant portion of my life, and I must say that the settings in this book were extremely well done. Even though I haven't actually been to Montauk, the author's description made me feel as if I was experiencing a visit there during the off-season. It's a definite plus that a large part of the action takes place outside of Manhattan.

Discussing the characters is a rather tricky task. Her parents have been long dead, and her sister never makes a direct appearance in the story. It's perhaps a bit of a spoiler, but it's unavoidable to mention. It's fair to say that what Suzy believes she knows about them is shown to be shockingly incomplete. Later information fills in the gaps that never made sense to her before. The relationships with married older men, in my opinion, were a bit tedious, although they weren't the central focus of the main plot. The secondary characters, on the other hand, were well-developed and not reduced to cardboard stereotypes.

For me, it was quite difficult to fully separate the setting from the plot in this book. However, the author does an excellent job of using the former to advance the plot from one location to another. Watching the mystery unfold is a bit like those crime shows with their whiteboards filled with notes and pasted clues that gradually become cluttered. Here, though, they all come together almost suddenly, like a lightbulb going off, near the end. In retrospect, the book is almost like two stories: an immigrant saga followed by a suspense thriller.

I want to offer a piece of advice to future readers. If you find the slow pace of the story frustrating, keep in mind that Suzy's sister, being older, was more aware of what was going on, which helps to explain her rebelliousness and hostility.

So, would I recommend this book? Yes, but only if it's approached as a novel first and foremost, rather than a full-length suspense thriller.

I highly recommend this book without hesitation. It is truly a remarkable piece of work that combines a dark and mysterious atmosphere with deep and profound insights. The story is simply excellent, captivating the reader from the very first page and keeping them engaged until the very end.

I have read this book three times over the years, and each time I discover something new and fascinating. The author's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy for the reader to lose themselves in the story.

Unfortunately, it seems that this is the author's only manuscript, which is a great pity. I truly wish that she had written more books, as I would love to experience more of her unique storytelling and profound insights.

This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery or thriller, as well as for those who appreciate deep and thought-provoking literature. I highly recommend it to you.

The synopsis of a Korean American woman who accidentally stumbles on the mystery of her parents' murder five years ago fails to accurately describe The Interpreter. Ironically, the novel explores how expectations can be rife with errors and there are things beyond our comprehension.

On the positive side, Suki Kim crafts wonderful scenes and phrases. A melancholy tone pervades, making us empathize with Suzy Park's pain and sadness. The final deposition scene is the emotional climax, with Suzy as the witness finally grasping the complex interplay. It beautifully combines emotion, symbolism, and character development.

However, the novel drags. The more engaging story of Suzy's troubled relationships with her parents and sister is often overshadowed by her romances with older, married men. In fact, it takes over half the novel for her to start examining the evidence of her parents' murder. Instead, the narrative meanders through her romantic complications. Meanwhile, the actual whodunit plot is sparse, padded, and held up by the uncommunicative nature of the participants.

The Interpreter, at its best, is a study of culture and loneliness through the eyes of a person orphaned both literally and figuratively by her family's actions. The plot serves as a framework for Kim to transition between scenes, and the best moments are her observations rather than a culmination of other elements. It's best read in moody, introspective moments, but those seeking tightly paced, proactive stories should look elsewhere.

Eww. I don't like it.

This simple expression of distaste can convey a wide range of emotions. It could be used to describe a food that doesn't appeal to our taste buds, a smell that is unpleasant, or an activity that we find uninteresting or boring.

Sometimes, we might use "eww" to express our disgust or aversion to something that we consider dirty, unhygienic, or just plain gross. For example, we might say "eww" when we see a bug crawling on the floor or a pile of garbage in the street.

However, "eww" can also be used in a more lighthearted or playful way. We might say "eww" when our friend tells us a bad joke or does something silly. In this context, "eww" is more of an expression of amusement or teasing than actual dislike.

Overall, "eww" is a versatile word that can be used to express a variety of emotions related to dislike, disgust, or aversion. Whether we use it seriously or playfully, it's a useful way to communicate our feelings about something.

I truly enjoyed the first three quarters of this piece.

It delved deep into the lives of Koreans residing in NYC, offering a wealth of insights and perspectives.

The protagonist was also quite likable, with her unique qualities and experiences drawing me in.

However, as the story progressed towards the end, it devolved into more or less a conventional mystery.

While this was not uninteresting, I found myself less engaged in this aspect compared to the fascinating exploration of the culture-within-a-culture.

The scene where she is supposed to be translating but is actually doing something else stands out as one of the best I've ever read.

It was both unexpected and filled with tension, adding an extra layer of depth to the narrative.

Overall, despite the shift in tone towards the end, this piece had many亮点 that made it a worthwhile read.

Confession: I have a particular penchant for books that feature unhappy characters or situations. What truly intrigues me is when the author refrains from either denying the sadness or attempting to fix it in a overly simplistic or prettified manner.

Take, for example, "The Interpreter." This remarkable work combines the captivating plot of a mystery with the all-too-real lethargy of depression. At first glance, this combination may not seem like an ideal or appealing one. However, upon closer inspection, it reveals itself to be a refreshing and authentic portrayal of the human experience.

The pacing of the story is masterfully executed, drawing the reader in and keeping them engaged from beginning to end. It doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life but rather presents them in a way that is both relatable and thought-provoking. "The Interpreter" is a prime example of how a book can explore complex emotions and themes while still maintaining a sense of entertainment and narrative drive.

This book delved into a plethora of captivating topics that truly piqued my interest.

It explored racial identity, the fetishization of Asian women, the immigrant experience, gangs, murder, language, mistresses, and the justice system. However, this extensive range of themes proved to be more of a hindrance than an asset to the novel.

Similar to many debut novels, it fell victim to the pitfall of attempting to accomplish too much within a single volume. Instead of cohering and complementing each other, the diverse storylines ended up diluting one another, and none of them reached a clean or satisfactory conclusion.

For me, the most fascinating aspect was witnessing Suzy in the courtroom. She strived to remain impartial but ultimately failed. Distrustful of the system herself, she found herself helping the defendants and calmly deceiving the judges. Regrettably, these scenes constituted only a few pages of the entire book.

Kim's dialogue also had a slightly stilted and unnatural feel to it. Nevertheless, other descriptive sections, such as when Suzy recalled her favorite tea that she hadn't tasted in years, which then led her to a profound rumination on love, were truly lovely.

Yet, both Suzy and Grace came across as overly tragic characters. They didn't seem fully developed, and I never fully grasped the reasons behind their actions. A significant number of questions remained unanswered.

I didn't despise this novel. In fact, it even gained momentum halfway through when the "murder mystery" element became more prominent. However, it wasn't a particularly deeply resonant read either.

This book only received 4 stars due to its ending. Otherwise, I would have given it 3.

It begins with the protagonist deeply wallowing in her misery, and this state persists throughout the story. In the meantime, we learn a great deal about her backstory. However, the narrative seems to be going nowhere for a significant portion.

Then, when you are almost on the verge of giving up, around two-thirds of the way through, the pace suddenly picks up. The last dozens of pages are filled with intense action and excitement.

But then, just as suddenly, it ends, as if you have run head-on into a brick wall. I completed reading it 3 hours ago, and my mind is still filled with thoughts about the implications of what occurred and what the protagonist might do next. I believe this story will stay with me for a few more days.

I found the slow start and the rather abrupt ending to be somewhat disappointing. However, the middle section, where the pace quickens, was quite engaging. Overall, it was an interesting read, but it could have been better with a more satisfying conclusion.

I absolutely adored this novel. Right from the first chapter or two, I was completely enthralled. I can't quite put my finger on what it was that did it for me. Initially, I didn't even like the main character of this mystery, Suzy Park. She's a 29-year-old interpreter who came to the US as a child and seems unable to find her place in life because she can't make sense of her roots. Perversely, she's not exactly "nice." She's talented and attractive, but not as much as her estranged sister Grace. Someone has been sending her white irises every year on the anniversary of her parents' death. And recently, there have been other strange happenings - the police wanting to talk to her, hang-up calls, and her sister showing up.

The way she meets the man in her life is quite interesting. "The Korean side brought their own translator, but Michael's firm hired Suzy as a back-up. It was one of Suzy's first interpreting jobs, and she masked her nervousness with cool detachment. During the lunch break, Michael turned to her and asked, 'Miss Park, are you allowed to smile on duty?' " I know it's not a passage filled with literary brilliance, but what it offers is a slice of reality. It shows a woman who is willing to accept what comes her way.

I really like Eve's choice of quotation from another review: "Being bilingual, being multicultural should have brought two worlds into one heart, and yet for Suzy, it meant a persistent hollowness. It seems that she needed to love one culture to be able to love the other. Piling up cultural references led to no further identification.” And that's the key. This is very much a character-driven mystery. The revelations about the events don't overshadow the revelations about the characters. What I understood about the people in the story is what really caught my attention, although I do love a good mystery. It's just that very few mysteries are written this well. I think it's easy to forget that there is a mystery at all. I didn't even think of it that way until I was past the middle of the book.

I was briefly taken out of the story by the first-person narrator's detailed explanations, like those about Korean immigrants and the role of interpreters. But while my mind stepped away from the story to think about what I had learned, I didn't really mind. The quick detours into exposition were actually quite interesting! There's no doubt that I believed the narrator. I trusted her because her story made sense to me, and I cared deeply about how it would all turn out.

The novel also made me feel as if I was right there in New York City, with an intimacy and detail regarding various areas that I've never experienced before. Suzy takes trains, and she tells us where, when, and how long the journeys take. She reminds us that most New Yorkers don't have cars because they don't need them. I knew this, or at least I'd been told it many times. But as she navigates the city's broad landscape, I finally understood that claim for the first time.

So, in conclusion, this novel has it all - interesting people, diverse places, family drama, Korean culture, and a bit of a mystery. It's truly a wonderful read.

Kim delves deep into the intricate line that separates being American from being an immigrant.

This line can sometimes seem as wide as a mile, while at other times, it is incredibly fine and almost imperceptible.

Her protagonist is a character who is almost challenging to cheer for. However, that is precisely what makes her human. She is a complex, lonely, and bitter woman, constantly seeking answers to questions that she didn't even know existed within herself.

The story does require some patience as it takes a while to gain momentum. In fact, it is nearly halfway through the novel before one realizes that there is a genuine mystery at hand and that Suzy is determined to solve it at all costs.

By the end, though, it becomes clear that this is not merely a story about immigration. It is a story that transcends heritage and delves into the essence of family.

It explores the bonds, the conflicts, and the love that exist within a family unit, regardless of one's background or nationality.

It shows that at the heart of every story, there is often a deeper connection to the people we call family.

I truly relished this book. It is not your run-of-the-mill Asian immigrant story.

Instead, it presents some fascinatingly suspenseful plot lines that are intricately interwoven.

Moreover, it offers better-than-usual insights into the immigrant "generation 1.5".

The author has managed to create a captivating narrative that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

The story delves deep into the experiences and challenges faced by Asian immigrants, especially those in the "generation 1.5", who are caught between two cultures.

The suspenseful plot lines add an extra layer of excitement, making it a page-turner.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in Asian immigrant experiences or simply looking for a good, engaging story.

I have a great affection for this author's nonfiction work titled "Without You There is No Us", which vividly describes her teaching experience among the elite young men in North Korea. And this is her very first novel.

However, I'm not entirely certain that I can offer a just rating for this book. The reason is that I read it in fragmented and brief time intervals over a span of several weeks, with some intense TV watching in between. As a result, I felt that I was losing the连贯性 of the story. The writing itself is often of a high caliber. She portrays a young Korean woman interpreter who is a lost soul, attempting to make sense of the curious and alienating circumstances of her life. She copes with immigrant status, relationships with married men, the murder of her parents, and a missing sister in a way that is palpable on the page. But the mystery in the story ebbs and flows in a manner that I found rather confusing. Perhaps I wasn't adept enough at reading between the lines, but I was never able to fully immerse myself in this story and fall in love with it. Additionally, I desired more resolution at the end.

Nevertheless, I would definitely read anything further that this author pens because she has a remarkable command of words.