Book Review: The Surrendered by Chang-Rae Lee

The Surrendered presents two people whose lives are unavoidably entangled after the Korean War. June Han, orphaned during the war, and Hector Brennan, an army man, come together after years of separation in a quest for some sense of closure or relief after the War’s attendant tragedy. Intertwined with the story of their present are the stories of their past and their haunting encounter with a woman named Sylvie Tanner, the minister’s wife from the Korean orphanage where they met.

The Surrendered is an intense read: it is mentally, emotionally, and sometimes even physically challenging. Lee does not shy away from the details that others cringe from. He tells stories of war and post-war life in a stark and carnal way that forces readers to see and feel what the characters see and feel.

Lee’s book is definitely for a more mature audience. Its words are sharp, biting, and to the point. He tells stories of love and war in equally tender detail. Though The Surrendered can sometimes be harsh, slow, and challenging, it opens a window into a period of time that most do not know enough about.

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For more information about this book, please visit the Penguin Canada website.
If you’re interested in purchasing a copy of this novel, please e-mail [email protected] .
A copy of this review may also be found on LiveInLimbo.com.

An advanced Reading Copy of this book was received from:
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