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Book Review: A tale of two sisters in ‘The Kinship of Secrets’
A book that tells the story of individuals and families who persevere in the face of unwavering tragedies
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'The Kinship of Secrets', by Eugenia Kim (JP/Devina Heriyanto)
T
he 38th parallel north splits Korea into two halves. Many stories have been told on the lives of families that are separated by the border between South Korea and North Korea, but The Kinship of Secrets is a story about another separation: A family that moves to the US in search of a better life, and the child left behind.
Slated to be published on Nov. 1, the book centers on two sisters, Miran and Inja, and their parents and extended families. Miran is brought by their parents to the US, while Inja is left in Korea, under the care of an uncle and other family members. The decision to leave behind one of their daughters is evidence of both faith and devotion, but it will haunt the family for years to come.
In short alternating chapters, Eugenia Kim illustrates the contrast between the two sisters. Miran struggles to adapt in the US, while Inja, at home, wonders why she is the one left behind and questions the meaning of family. Never having gotten to know her own mother directly, Inja learns about her from stories and secrets shared by her uncle and grandparents. The story follows the two sisters as they grow up, each shaped by their own surroundings, before Inja finally moves to the US.
The Korean War might have played a key role in keeping the family apart, and yet the book talks more about Korean history than the war. Again and again, stories of rebellion and political uprising are mentioned -- mostly in Inja’s chapters. This provides the big picture often overlooked by outsiders, namely that Korea is shaped by all of its history and not only defined by the war.
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The Kinship of Secrets is at its heart a family story, as it is inspired by the author’s own family. Kim was born in the US as a child of Korean immigrants. Thinking that they would return shortly, her parents left behind a daughter they only met again after ten years of separation. The story of Kim’s sister on being left behind and what it was like to come to the US is the foundation of the novel.
It is easy for an ambitious novel to fall into the trap of focusing too much on the historical context, but Eugenia Kim succeeds in crafting intimacy in her story and characters. After all, news about wars and immigration are endless, especially today. What’s rare is the story of individuals and families that persevere in the face of unwavering tragedies. The Kinship of Secrets evokes the feeling of humanity and what it means to be family. (mut)
