Evening Hero by Marie Myung-Ok Lee

Evening Hero

by Marie Myung-Ok Lee

A “moving and captivating” (Cathy Park Hong, New York Times bestselling author of Minor Feelings) novel following a Korean immigrant pursuing the American dream who must confront the secrets of the past or risk watching the world he’s worked so hard to build come crumbling down.

Dr. Yungman Kwak is in the twilight of his life. Every day for the last fifty years, he has brushed his teeth, slipped on his shoes, and headed to Horse Breath’s General Hospital, where, as an obstetrician, he treats the women and babies of the small rural Minnesota town he chose to call home.

This was the life he longed for. The so-called American dream. He immigrated from Korea after the Korean War, forced to leave his family, ancestors, village, and all that he knew behind. But his life is built on a lie. And one day, a letter arrives that threatens to expose it.

Yungman’s life is thrown into chaos—the hospital abruptly closes, his wife refuses to spend time with him, and his son is busy investing in a struggling health start-up. Yungman faces a choice—he must choose to hide his secret from his family and friends or confess and potentially lose all he’s built. He begins to question the very assumptions on which his life is built—the so-called American dream, with the abject failure of its healthcare system, patients and neighbors who perpetuate racism, a town flawed with infrastructure, and a history that doesn’t see him in it.

Toggling between the past and the present, Korea and America, Evening Hero is a “soulful, melodic, rhapsodic novel” (The New York Times) about a man looking back at his life and asking big questions about what is lost and what is gained when immigrants leave home for new shores.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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The Evening Hero is the latest contemporary fiction novel that caught my eye. Written by Marie Myung-Ok Lee, this book boasts a stunning cover and an even more intriguing description, and you know that's all it takes with me!

Dr. Yungman Kwak has worked hard to get to where he is. He is proud of his work at Horse Breath's General Hospital, where he helps women and babies in this rural town. It's a quiet life, but a happy one.

That is until a letter threatens to dredge up the past he has run from. Now he must choose, reveal the truth and face the consequences, or try to hide the truth but risk a different set of consequences.

The Evening Hero is a breathtaking novel, to put it simply. It is so evocative and emotional that it is impossible to feel anything other than utterly invested in Dr. Yungman Kwak's story, that much I can assure you!

The simple truth is that the truth is anything but simple. Likewise, this story is rich and complex, full of character depth (and development), subplots, relevant points, and history. It's a lot to take in all at once, so many readers (myself included) may do well to take a break here and there. I can't speak for everyone, but this helped me better absorb the story.

Honestly, I'm struggling to find the words to describe this book or how it made me feel. Now and then, I'll come across a book that defies my explanation, and I think The Evening Hero is one of them. All I can say is that this book I worth reading, so please check it out.

Thanks to Simon Schuster and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 1 July, 2022: Finished reading
  • 1 July, 2022: Reviewed