This best-selling novel by South Korean author Kyung-Sook Shin takes a piercing look at how we treat those closest to us, and what it means to be a wife and mother. Told from four perspectives, the story examines the aftermath of the disappearance of “mom”. Some of the narrators speak in the unusual voice of second person, which serves to make the narrative more personal.
The narrators’ revelations are often poignant but can be uncomfortably honest, creating a family portrait that might serve to make the reader painfully aware of his/her own family’s foibles, but also of the strength of love and memory. Wrenching and beautiful, this book is an international hit due in part to its universality.
I highly recommend the audio version; the readers were well-chosen. Since the novel has four narrators, the audio version has four different narrators reading the story, which helps bring life to each perspective.