18 Comments
Jun 12, 2023Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

I used to listen to Fresh Air w/Terry Gross every afternoon for almost 30 years, so I am quite familiar with Ms. Corrigan's book critiques. She had an interesting voice and delivery but I always felt like she thought anyone who disagreed with her analysis was a moron. She also tended to ramble a bit, as if she was enjoying the sound of her own voice and "wit". It was irritating, to say the least. That "kimchi-scented kleenex" remark is vile, racist and ignorant. I hope she has evolved since that book review. Now I want to read the book! One of the most enjoyable things about reading (for me) is learning about worlds outside my own.

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She has every right to dislike a book and share that with her listeners and readers. She chose the easy way out, taking cheap pot shots (some of which made no sense at all). She wanted a book about women's empowerment and found the main character to be weak and annoying. The protagonist actually shows quite a bit of strength and resilience. Corrigan just didn't want to believe it.

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Mar 7Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

I've always suspected Corrigan is a know-nothing but gave her the benefit of doubt since she's on NPR. Your review of her review confirms my suspicions. She's pretty bogus. A lightweight.

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I am not a fan of her writing...

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Jun 13, 2023Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

Uhhh... Gross. Very much arrogance and entitlement to not even understand that some books may literally not have *you* in mind when written. And apparently, not a clue that your horizons can be expanded by a read from someone else's perspective...

I learned about the Sewol incident in 2016 when I visited Korea with friends. My friend's friend who lived there for 8 years prior walked us around and showed us with the photos and yellow ribbons were for. We all thought it was so so tragic.

You, diving deeper into it (I went over to read your piece) makes so much sense with how it was talked about here in the US. Unfortunately it doesn't surprise me. Bleh.

This review of this book though is... Yikes. "On brand" with the US! .... Wheee....

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Wow, Cierra, thank you for taking the time to read both articles.

I guess what surprised me about this book review is that I expect more from NPR.

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Jun 13, 2023Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

Right! Seeing the "apology" reminded me that it was from NPR, which is a place I too expect more from. That WAS surprising. And of course, I knew the name looked familiar and wanted to read another Korean's take on it (since I only heard it from a friend's friend that lived in Korea).

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Jun 12, 2023Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

I have this book in my to-read list. Now I want to read it more than ever.

Also, I will always be surprised at the amount of people who don't think they're being racist with what they or others are saying, like Danny Miller.

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The fact that readers were telling them why the review was "off" (to be charitable) and they just kept doubling down. So gross.

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Jun 12, 2023·edited Jun 12, 2023Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

I’m an American woman married to a Seoul native born in 1955. I have fallen in love with Korean television programs on Netflix and am learning the Korean language. Your article makes me WANT to buy and read Please Look After Mother. The deep respect for one’s heritage and family runs so deep in Korean culture and I wish more Americans felt the same way. I always adored and took care of my own parents until they each passed away. In my family, ‘nursing home’ is practically an unused term. We keep our seniors at home until their last breath of it is at all possible. THANK YOU for your article and a gigantic 👎🏻 for that reviewer!!

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Thank you for sharing about your family and for taking the time to read this, Susie. Have a wonderful week ahead!

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As a Korean-American mom of a toddler with a hardworking mom like the one in this book, I deeply connected with Please Look After Mom, and was deeply disgusted by Corrigan’s review. I don’t think she is qualified to review books or judge writing with how closemindedly she dismissed this beautiful book about my culture, just because it is different than hers. Shame on npr

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Your sentiments are spot on. It was a xenophobic review. Just because the experience was different from what she was used to, doesn't make it "weird." If anything, her review was weirdly off.

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Sep 19, 2023·edited Sep 19, 2023Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

She dismissed and rejected our culture in several ways. Then saying kimchi tissues just capped how little respect she carries for cultures outside of her own. We are more than kimchi. Her book recommendation was also distastefully and ignorantly done. The powerful, elegant prose of 신경숙 stands above the bullying mockery of the racist review. I will never read or support anything by the reviewer unless she shows a better understanding of her wrongdoing and issues an apology, which I don’t think she did in the span of over a decade.

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I've heard from several people that this particular wasn't unique for her... Yikes.

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You're reading too much into it. She just doesn't like Koreans and has contempt for Korean culture. That's pretty standard in America.

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I am curious as to why you decided to write about this now, since the review as published quite awhile ago. You mention a comment you received recently. Was that it? Or did I miss something?

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I write about a lot of things that happened in the past, especially if it still feels relevant today. (FWIW, I've written about this issue and had discussions about it closer to real-time as well.)

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