Still Life With Rice by Helie Lee (book review)

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Helie, like many young people either born in Korea or who came to America early in life, struggled with her mother and grandmother. They wanted her to be more traditionally Korean. She wanted to be a modern independent Americanized woman. Her mother and her grandmother had been born in and lived in Korea. Her mother had been so busy instilling the American dream into Helie that she didn't understand or appreciate her Korean background. At age 25, she decided to go back to Korea. She had no idea what to expect but she felt she had t find out who she was and where she belonged.
Helie spent the next year in Korea. It was there that she learned about her grandmother's early life. She had no idea how adventurous she had been. Here her grandmother was greatly honored among her relatives. Upon returning to American, she interviewed her mother and grandmother. Her book, Still Life With Rice, was the result.
Her grandmother was born in Korea during a time when Korea was a colony of Japan. During her childhood, this did not greatly affect her. Her family consisted of her parents, older brother and two younger sisters. Her childhood was pleasant though encumbered by learning and doing the responsibilities expected of her as a girl. Her mother was a Buddhist and had a shrine to worship at in their home. Her father was Confucian, though this is mainly a philosophy, many considered it their religion. Her father did.
Everything about their lives was influenced by Confucianism: the direction the house faced, roles of men and women, everyday life and celebrations. Marriages were arranged. At 22 yrs., she was married and began life in her husband's home.
The Japanese occupation situation grew worse, so her husband decided to move his family to China. There they had another child and made a fortune in various businesses. Their family began to fracture because the husband became unfaithful.
Upon return, they lived peacefully for a while. WWII had ended, ending Japanese Imperialism. All celebrated. This didn't last. Korea had been divided between the U.S. And Russia with the intent of helping the parts t rebuild. Russia trained a Korean Communist Captain, Kim Il Sung who became a dictator.
Many events happened but the main things were that to save the men, both her husband and oldest son (they now had three sons and two girls) left the home. The journey to the south was breathtaking; nothing but amazing grace. Halmoni made it with four children and reunited with her husband. They couldn't find the oldest son. They found out he'd almost made it but was captured and taken north beyond the 38th Parallel.
Husband died of a disease. Halmoni was brokenhearted over the death of her husband and not knowing the fate of her oldest son. She busied herself with making a living for her family. In time, she moved to America where her older daughter and two younger sons lived.
Finally, through a series of circumstances, Halmoni received correspondence from her granddaughter in North Korea. The granddaughter informed her that her son, Yong Woon (Ae Ran's father) was alive. The granddaughter, Ae Ran, told her all about the family. This was the end of a long agonizing era for Halmoni that lasted over forty years. It was the beginning of a new era, the rescue of the North Korean family.
Upon their return to Korea from China, a dear woman persistently brought Halmoni to church. In time, she committed her life to Christ. One by one her family was also transformed. This was their mainstay during the many ordeals that they suffered. It was the strength that helped her to stay focused through the upcoming ordeal of reuniting her family.

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