strangers in a new land: 4 korean fiction books about immigration and displacement

Exhibit by R.O. Kwon

Summary: A provocative and lyrical novel about a Korean American woman navigating the intersections of art, eroticism, identity, and loss as she reckons with the aftermath of a life-altering breakup.

Themes: Desire, identity, grief, sexuality, the Korean-American experience, and self-reinvention.

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Summary: When a Korean-American father goes missing, his family's search for answers uncovers long-held secrets and forces them to confront the nuances of communication, disability, and the immigrant experience.

Themes: Family, language, neurodiversity, identity, and the immigrant journey in America.

My Year Abroad by Chang-rae Lee

Summary: A disaffected college student is swept into a whirlwind global adventure led by a charismatic entrepreneur, leading him through surreal experiences that challenge his understanding of culture, capitalism, and self.

Themes: Globalization, identity, privilege, self-discovery, and East-West cultural dynamics.

When We Fell Apart by Soon Wiley

Summary: After the sudden death of his girlfriend in Seoul, a biracial Korean-American man searches for answers, uncovering layers of cultural pressure, secrecy, and the complexity of belonging in a divided world.

Themes: Identity, mental health, cultural expectations, grief, and cross-cultural relationships.