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Written by © Therese Young Kim

(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 courageous young Korean woman embarking on her fateful 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 to and for the brave women of all cultures, who endure prejudice and injustice they face while persevering to find their places in the free 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 paradox and irony 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 literary journals in Korean, 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, “천송이 목련화 (A Thousand Magnolias)” in Korean. “Nayoung’s Journey” is her first novel in completion in English.

Website: yoursentimentalstranger.com

Poetry Reading: Therese Young Kim YouTube Channel

Platform: http://www.linkedin.com/in/therese-young-kim

Review of “Nayoung’s Journey” 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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Christine Salvatore is an American Poet, Reviewer, Editor, Writer, and an Educator at Stockton University and Rosemont College.

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