Chinhominey's Secret: A Novel

by Nancy Kim

Overview

In this moving first novel, a Korean-American family faces not only intergenerational cultural conflicts between immigrant parents and their Americanized daughters, but also the results of a terrible prophecy, made by a fortune-teller 20 years earlier to Chinhominey, the long-estranged grandmother.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781882593491
Publisher:	Bridgeworks
Publication date:	10/15/2001
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.24(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.68(d)

About the Author

Nancy Kim, a corporate lawyer living in San Francisco, was born in Korea, raised in Los Angeles.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 3

Chinhominey sniffs contemptuously and takes another sip of coffee. "What about your children?"

"Fine, fine. You saw how they are," Myung Hee says, using a smile to dilute the defensiveness of her tone.

"I wouldn't have recognized them. They have no manners. They are like Americans."

"They are Americans," Myung Hee says firmly.

"They still have Korean faces. They will always have Korean faces."

"Those are American faces, too," Myung Hee says, struggling to keep her expression pleasant. Her left eye twitches with the effort.

Chinhominey sniffs again, "It is because of you that they have such bad attitudes. They only think about themselves. You wait. When you are old and alone, they won't take care of you. They'll give you to a hospital. American people don't take care of their parents. There's no place for old people in this country."

"I am very proud of my children. Unlike American girls, Christina has come home to live until she marries. Today, even girls in Korea do not behave so obediently. You see, she is not so selfish."

"And the second? The one who does not dress like a girl?"

Myung Hee shifts in her seat and takes a long sip before answering. She returns the cup to the saucer, hand shaking slightly so coffee splashes onto the table. Myung Hee makes no effort to wipe it up.

"The second is studying in college and gets only the highest marks. She will go to law school next year." Her voice is steady but her hands still tremble.

Chinhominey leans over and stabs a piece of strawberry with a fork. She pops it into her mouth and chews thoughtfully.

"She is the one who will bring you heartbreak."

"Nonsense!" Myung Hee's voice rises.

"The one who will die young."

"Superstition!" Myung Hee cries, clapping her hands over her ears.

"You never listen," Chinhominey says.|

Editorial Reviews

Straightforward and spare

The New York Times

Nancy Kim brings a light, lyrical touch to this engaging tale of self-fulfilling prophecies and intergenerational conflict among partly assimilated Asian-Americans.

Boston Herald

A true gem.

Tampa Tribune

Combines the immigrant experience and suspense.

San Jose Mercury News

Straightforward and spare

The New York Times

Nancy Kim's first novel opens promisingly enough: an old fortuneteller, consulted by a Korean woman, foretells heartache and doom for the woman's son and his family-to-be. Now, 20 years later, the Chois seem to have escaped this prophecy.
— The New York Times Book Review

Philip Gambone

Set in Los Angeles, corporate lawyer Kim's first novel focuses on a "typical" Korean American family. Yung Chul Choi, an accountant, and his wife, Myung Hee, have two daughters. Their oldest, beautiful Christina, is the "perfect" daughter, with a good career as a teacher and a successful American boyfriend. Grace, a senior in high school, is extremely intelligent but the opposite of her sister in many ways. Much to Grace's dismay, she is often overshadowed and criticized for not being more like her older sister. When their Korean-speaking grandmother Chinhominey comes to stay, everything unravels. Kim's writing is clear and reads like a screenplay. Her characters are likable but not necessarily fully developed, and the plot itself is somewhat predictable, with unanswered gaps that may leave the reader wondering. Overall, however, this is a good choice for a growing contemporary Korean American audience. Public libraries serving this population may want to consider it.--Shirley N. Quan, Orange Cty. P.L., Stanton, CA

Library Journal

Nancy Kim brings a light, lyrical touch to this engaging tale of self-fulfilling prophecies and intergenerational conflict among partly assimilated Asian-Americans.
— Boston Herald

Judith Wynn

Spare but affecting...touched with magical moments.

Publisher's Weekly

Tradition and superstition clash with contemporary American culture—with mixed results.

Kirkus Reviews