Introducing Nayoung's Journey, A Novel

Dear my LinkedIn Friends around the world:

With warmest greetings, most humbly I present to you Nayoung’s Journey, a novel for which I am seeking representation by a literary agent. It is a compact little novel, multicultural and literary fiction, about a young Korean woman coming of age with her broken American dream portrayed in the way never written before. It is also a timeless story of courage, resilience, and hope.

Presented here is my brief introduction to the novel, followed by the review by Christine Salvatore, an American Poet, Reviewer, Editor, writer, and an Educator at Stockton University and Rosemont College.

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(The story of a young Korean woman’s courageous journey to reclaim her lost American dream.)

Introduction

Partly based on true events, “Nayoung’s Journey” is a provocative tale of a young Korean woman embarking on her courageous journey with love and trauma to reclaim the American dream she lost as the victim of a shocking crime.

Set against the backdrop of late 1960s Seoul, Hamburg, and New York City, and old-world Korea, the story shines a glaring light on the magical yet tragic world of American dream, told in ways never written before.

From the protagonist’s tangled emotional landscape, at times colorful and mysterious, Nayoung speaks for brave women of all cultures, who endure prejudice and injustice they face while persevering to find their places in the world with daunting courage, resilience, and hope.

Therese Young Kim, who lived in old-world Korea before living in new-age America with equal passion, reveals in “Nayoung’s Journey” the irony and paradox of the American Dream with biting honesty in her unique voice.

Author's Bio

Born in S. Korea, Therese Young Kim studied English and literature at Kyung Hee University in Seoul and worked at the Lufthansa ticketing office for international travelers before moving to America. She worked as a professional interpreter for over 25 years in New York City before pursuing the craft of writing. Her work has been published in Korean literary journals, as well as in English, such as Infinity, Rosebud, Poetry Pacific, Tuck Magazine, The Journal of Baha’i Studies, October Hill Magazine, and Soundings East. She has also published a book of poetry and stories, “??? ??? (A Thousand Magnolias)” in Korean.? “Nayoung’s Journey” is her first completed novel in English, and she is now translating stories previously published in Korean into English.

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The Review by Christine Salvatore:

Nayoung’s Journey opens with stunning imagery that sets the tone for the protagonist’s journey, encapsulating timeless themes of breaking away from restrictive traditions set for women’s lives in Korea resonating with many women’s experiences around the world.

?As Nayoung ventures into the new world alone, the narrative shifts to her troubled state in a hospital in the second chapter, introducing the flawed American Dream marred by persistent sexism and racism. This transition not only shocks but also enriches the story’s relevance in contemporary discourse, while her memories of her village soothe both the reader and the character.

?The subsequent chapters skillfully portray varied public reactions to Nayoung’s assault in New York City, particularly from an assistant district attorney, highlighting societal power imbalances and prejudices. These reactions fuel Nayoung's internal struggle against injustice and shame, which persists throughout the novel. Meanwhile, the flashbacks to her life in Korea and the Korean War provide a deep insight into her character formation, emphasizing her resilience shaped by historical and personal adversities.

?Nayoung’s experiences in Germany offer a counterpoint to her current distress, presenting a period of independence and freedom, and adding depth to her character by showing that her life was not solely defined by sadness. This backdrop sets the stage for understanding her reluctance to return to Korea after her assault, despite deep familial ties revealed later in the story.

?In the new American environment, despite not achieving justice, Nayoung’s journey toward her self-reclamation is portrayed with complexity and nuance, culminating in an ending where she emerges with dignity and resolve. The support from characters like Miss Mansfield and Detective Shroeder underscores the theme of allyship in an otherwise harsh reality, further developing a story filled with challenges, but also hope and redemption, in Nayoung’s journey.

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Thank you so much, Christine, for the review and thank you, my precious LinkedIn friends, for being here, even briefly, and, if you can share with me any advice, recommendation, or encouragement, it will be most appreciated. I wish you and your loved ones a safe and glorious season around the world!

Yours most gratefully, Therese

*The image of a Kisaeng girl shown above is from the old-culture Korea, in which women with artistic talent, such as dancing, singing, instrument players, some as poets, would work as performers (Kisaeng girls) at ceremonial parties.

Posted and Copyright by ? Therese Young Kim, May 31, 2024

Website: yoursentimentalstranger.com

Therese Young Kim YouTube Channel

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