Book Description
A gripping first-person account of one young AmericanÂ's life-changing years in a South Korean prison
At age twenty-three Cullen Thomas was, like most middle-class kids his age, looking for something meaningful and exciting to do before settling into the 9-to-5 routine. Possessed of a youthful, romantic view of the world, he set off for adventure in Asia and a job teaching English in Seoul, South Korea. But he got more than he ever bargained for when an ill-advised stunt led to a drugsmuggling arrest and a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Brother One Cell is CullenÂ's memoir of that time—the harrowing and unusual story of a good kid forced to grow up in very unusual circumstances.
One of only a handful of foreign inmates, Cullen shared a cell block with human-traffickers, jewel smugglers, murderers, and thieves. Fortunately for him, the strict Confucian social mores that dominated the prison made it almost a safe place, different from the brutal, lawless setting most would imagine. In the relative calm of this environment Cullen would learn invaluable life lessons and come out of the experience a wise and grounded adult. With its gritty descriptions of life behind the concrete walls, colorful depictions of his fellow inmates, and acute insights about Korean society, Brother One Cell is part gritty prison story, part cautionary tale, and part insightful travelogue into the places most people never see.
Customer Reviews:
so good I didn't sleep for two days.........2007-08-23
This book is riveting. It chronicles a worst nightmare come true with a tone that is wise, witty and utterly accessible. I can't recommend it highly enough. I was entranced by the various transformations of optimism that this author traipses through on his seemingly horrific yet 'can't look away' journey.
Phenomenal.......2007-08-13
This book is incredible! I agree with the other reviewer who pointed out that one particular negative review on this book seemed grossly uninformed. To sum up just how that review errs, this book is not at all "uneventful"; the entire point of the memoir is just how humbled Thomas *did* feel by his experience; and while he does comment on ethnic diversity in the prison, he by no means sees his fellow convicts as "losers." Please don't do yourself a disservice by assuming that this book is nothing more than some whiny, poorly adjusted, rich boy's lament.
As for my own reactions to Brother One Cell, I feel that everyone can take something from it. While receiving a prison sentence is obviously no small deal, the appeal of this book is broader than many might assume. Some readers who never had to deal with a jail term may still find that it strikes a chord, have they ever found themselves faced with a prolonged set of difficult circumstances far away from home. The soul-searching that Thomas does, the way he articulates his pain over being kept apart from his loved ones, his insistence on "going it alone" despite his feelings of isolation, and his discussions of the fear of losing himself (on a fundamental and psychological level) are all of universal interest. He talks at length about the internal change that leads him to value the most mundane of acts -- things that he does not have in jail -- such as reading whatever he wants, looking at members of the opposite sex, walking around outside, and so much more.
I feel that there are probably a number of people out there who could relate to the types of emotional and psychological changes explored and documented in this book. He even mentions (in varying amounts of detail) experiences such as phantom pains, flashbacks, and his unique relationship with Korea and feelings about the time he spent there. The author starts off by showing us the aimless vagabond he once was, allows us to accompany him very intimately through his periods of rage and depression following his arrest, and concludes with a sense that Korea is now very much a part of who he is.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the following
-prison memoirs
-unique glimpses into seldom-seen aspects of Korean culture
-anyone familiar with Korean culture who is interested in outsiders' impressions of it
-stories of self-discovery
-culture shock
-autobiographical accounts of the profound personal changes borne out of unrelenting hardships faced in relative isolation (as well as the changes in an individual's perspective on said hardships as time wears on)
The latter reason to read this book appeals not only to those who have been forever changed by circumstances that their loved ones will never truly know, but it could also be of immense help to anyone trying to understand their loved one's experience and the depth of the impact it has left.
Brother One Cell is fascinating--this book is raw, yet compassionate and, above all else, honest. Just as other reviewers have noted, I too can see this book taking a place on required reading lists; it is only a matter of time before it becomes a classic.
Could not put it down.......2007-07-25
Heard Thomas on a pod-cast of the Diane Rehm show. Thought it was interesting and got a copy. This is one of the best books I have ever read. I was so captivated with his writting that I had a hard time putting it down to get other things done. The writting is easy on the eyes, flows well and just slips off the page. In this coming of age story we not only have the story but a true transformation. Highly recommend it.
Gets to the Marrow of Korea.......2007-05-06
It took me a while to get my hands on this book after reading about Thomas in an issue of Esquire Magazine, I think it was. I had to get it shipped to me here in Korea through a book importer. I couldn't wait for it to arrive because I was so impressed with the magazine article that I had high expectations for the book.
My expectations were fully met. I've been interested in Korea for about seven years now, coming here twice as a student, and now living and working here while studying Korean. I've read several books about Korean culture, economy, etc, etc. None of the previous books I have read were able to paint such a vivid and profound picture of the culture I have come to love, in spite of its flaws.
Somehow, by experiencing a side of the country that we rarely hear about, he is able to understand the essence of Korean society and illustrate it in ways that rang true with my own experiences while simultaneously shedding new light on aspects that I still struggle with. In particular, it was interesting reading this book while settling into a job as the only non-Korean full-time employee of a Korean company. Not that prison compares to company life in the least.
This book is good on several levels. Other reviewers have already discussed the merits of the book as a memoir, etc, so I wanted to praise the book specifically as a book that relates to Korea, though perhaps not as many readers will be interested in this aspect of the book. I hope a Korean translation is released, because I think it would be an interesting perspective for Koreans to read about as well.
An incredible experience that inspired an incredible book!!!.......2007-04-30
This book is a lighthouse of hope in a fog banked world of despair. If Cullen Thomas can take his incredible, torturous, horrific but ultimately beautiful experience, find the good in it and share it with the world, then there are no problems in my (presently mundane by comparison) life that I shouldn't be able to overcome. This book made me take stock of my life while at the same time realizing just how lucky I have it...thanks Cullen!
Average customer rating:
- This is War!
- BEING THERE THRU THE CAMERA LENS
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This Is War!: A Photo Narrative of the Korean War
David Douglas Duncan
Manufacturer: Little Brown & Co (T)
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Photo Nomad
ASIN: 0316195650 |
Customer Reviews:
This is War!.......2000-06-28
My father, who was an artillery Captain in the Philippines during WWII, frequently pulled this book off the shelf to show me what war was like. He said that it was as close as you could get without actually being there. He died before he could see "Saving Private Ryan," but I think he would still say so even after seeing the movie.
BEING THERE THRU THE CAMERA LENS.......2000-06-26
This is THE most unforgettable view of the first days of the then called "Police Action" in Korea. Author Duncan lived with the men and portrayed all the comraderie, terror and fear that they did. His work makes an indelable image in our mind & is easy to grasp the magnatude of it. My now deceased husband was one of those young Marines and one of the walking wounded who lived in pain his whole life. He treasured this book and knew the subjects. He found it a way to bury his emotions and go on with a "normal" lifestyle. This book had to help Truman change and understand it was not a simple mop-up action....but This WAS War! Although out of print, my family is trying to get copies to pass on to their children to help us better understand their father. It is especially appropriate at this time when attention is being given the Korean Conflict's 50th anniversary. I wish they would reprint it and distribute a copy to all high school and college libraries.
Book Description
Find your own way in Korea's buzzing capital, with Lonely Planet's guide to Seoul. Discover the culture; savour the cuisine; and take your pick of palaces and museums, markets and malls, cafes, bars and clubs. Packed with insider tips, straight-up reviews, comprehensive cultural and historical information, Korean script throughout, grid-referenced maps.
ELIMINATING THE GUESSWORK - opinionated hotel reviews make the decisions easy.
SHOP YOUR SOCKS OFF reviews and tips take you to the city's best traditional markets, glitzy malls, boutiques and galleries.
DISCOVER the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) - we take you on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the formidable and fascinating North-South border.
FEAST LIKE A KING - eating reviews serve up the city's finest Korean fare, from spicy tofu and barbeque to Korean fusion and Hanjeongsik banquets.
Customer Reviews:
Stay Away........2007-10-16
After reading the negatives reviews for this book, I went to B&N to judge for myself. Conclusion, stay away. That is all that I have to say....I can't really add upon the negative comments herein, yet that they are indeed valid.
That's all.
buy this as the last resort.......2007-09-16
Lonely Planet's guides are getting worse to worst, especially for Asia. I wish they would stop employing solely former English teachers as writers, since alot of them dont know the local language very well or at all. Hello LP, ever thought of asking a Korean American/Australian/Canadian to write for your Korea guide? There are people in the world who are truly bilingual, binational. . . . and would be able to 'guide' better than a foreigner guiding other foreigners.
I bought the Seoul book because unfortunately there weren't many options out there for English speakers, but actually the Tourist offices in Seoul has better information and it's free.
The maps in the book are confusing; when you are on the streets looking for places there are street names but on the map there are not. It would help to if LP would include the places' names in Korean 'Han Gue' since LP's phonetic are not 100% anyway, and if you want to ask a Korean for help then it's better to have it written in Korean. The language section could use a couple more phrases like like 'not to spicy please.' The Seoul book is out of date, lots of places went out of bussiness. I also bought LP's Korea book and it has more up-to date info. Since all the writers in both guides are males, information for women travellers is pitiful. The layout is confusing and not easy to find, I had buy post-it tabs for different sections otherwise it would take more time find it again. THis is not a concised guide, there are two many overlaps, like there are two sections on food, but in the food glossary doesn't have some of the names of food mentioned elsewhere that takes up a whole paragraph.So buy this guide if English is the only language you can read.
Completely weak.......2007-06-03
This is one of the only travel books on Seoul that is easy to get. I have taken it with me on three trips to Seoul so far, and have found it almost useless. I got a better idea of places to visit from the map I got from the hotel and searching the internet than I did from this guide.
Needs Reworking.......2007-03-10
Lonely Planet Seoul is poorly organized and riddled with inaccuracies; unfortunately it is the only comprehensive, recent Seoul guide (in English) on the market. I used the book to get an overview of Seoul, but shockingly, found the tourist information office maps and guides more useful and accurate. The website Seoul Style offers much more interesting eating, entertainment, and shopping suggestions, but very occasionally I'll refer to the Lonely Planet for further ideas.
The book ought to be organized by neighborhood rather than subject; it's aggravating to visit an area of Seoul and flip between different chapters, looking for the two inches of print on a given activity in a particular area. Other Lonely Planet and Fodor's guides usually integrate all suggestions by neighborhood and accurately portray those suggestions onto maps. One can get an overview of the different areas when the descriptions are integrated, especially if the author writes an introductory paragraph about a neighborhood's feel; to Robinson, it seems that places are just places, with no 'there' there. In reality, each area of Seoul does have a unique feel and meaning.
In the LP Seoul guide, the maps' numbered descriptions are often mis-categorized (e.g., under 'Shopping' the author suggests the bookstore Seoul Selection, but when you look for the location on the map, it is listed under 'Entertainment'; when poring through dozens of suggestions in tiny font, it is frustrating to check all the categories to compensate for his carelessness). The layout and selection of maps in general is mediocre, and leave little sense of the scale or organization of Seoul; for instance, Robinson devotes two pages of maps to Jamsil to depict just a few activities, and leaves the bottom half of those two pages devoid of suggestion, but gives the large, very happening area of Gangnam / Apjugong just one page. Adjacent Cheongdam, which a favorite hangout for younger Koreans and in 'feel' and location is much closer to Apjugong, he places on the Jamsil map, but doesn't provide any activities.
The transliteration between Hangul and English is frequently bizarre, which makes it difficult to decipher the names of neighborhoods and places. It is better to use the Tourist Maps (in other cities I've never relied on tourist maps, but Seoul is different), for the transliteration and neighborhood names are more commonly understood by Koreans. His language guide is also transliterated ineffectually; a traveler trying to follow his phonetics would never be understood by a Korean. For vowels pronounced 'e' he writes 'i'; the number 1 is correctly pronounced like eel; he writes 'il', which is perfect if he means the French pronunciation of 'il'; same for 2: pronounced e, he writes i - again, great for French, but he's transliterating to English, so it's wrong.
LP Seoul needs to be rewritten by a very organized, clear thinker who possesses a current understanding of Seoul and Hangul-English translation, yet who recalls the needs of a first-time visitor to this dynamic city.
Lonely Planet.......2006-08-19
Short passages about all sights and sites one might want to visit. Would be a good book to have there with you as you sightsee.
Amazon.com
Bruce Cumings traces the growth of Korea from a string of competing walled city-states to its present dual nationhood. He examines the ways in which Korean culture has been influenced by Japan and China, and the ways in which it has subtly influenced its more powerful neighbors. Cumings also considers the recent changes in the South, where authoritarianism is giving way to democracy, and in the North, which Cumings depicts as a "socialist corporatist" state more like a neo-Confucian kingdom than a Stalinist regime. Korea's Place in the Sun does much to help Western readers understand the complexities of Korea's past and present.
Book Description
"Passionate, cantankerous, and fascinating….Rather like Korea itself."—Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times Book Review
Korea has endured a "fractured, shattered twentieth century," and this updated edition brings Bruce Cumings's leading history of the modern era into the present. The small country, overshadowed in the imperial era, crammed against great powers during the Cold War, and divided and decimated by the Korean War, has recently seen the first real hints of reunification. But positive movements forward are tempered by frustrating steps backward. In the late 1990s South Korea survived its most severe economic crisis since the Korean War, forcing a successful restructuring of its political economy. Suffering through floods, droughts, and a famine that cost the lives of millions of people, North Korea has been labeled part of an "axis of evil" by the current Bush administration and has renewed its nuclear threats. On both sides Korea seems poised to continue its fractured existence on into the new century, with potential ramifications for the rest of the world. 25 illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Korean History and Personal Opinion.......2007-06-16
Being married to a Korean lady, and having been to Korea six times since 1980, I read this book with interest. I also worked in Korea on an AID mission to assist two university science departments at Seoul National University develop into international graduate program status. Thus because of my trips, and having lived there, I read the book with more than routine interest. Because of these visits, I have read other books on Korean History also and travelled throughout SOuth Korea many times and seeing the historical monuments.
I found that this book sumamrized historical events fairly well, and found no inconsistencies with other books I had read. What was disturbing and disappointing to me was that Cumings mixes historical facts with his personal interpretations and opinions. If this was a true excercise in scholarly history, these should have been separated, labelled and properly disclosed.
My second disappointment was the Anti-American tone of the book. Yes, It is true that Kroea suffered during the Korean War, and part of that suffering was from military and US state department blunders. However, in my experience, the Koreans I have come to know are grateful to the USA for having saved them from the fate of living in a reclusive, communistic, totalitarian state and have not forgotten it. That includes a large number of younger people I have met there.
In short, this book is part history and part OP ED writing. As a work of scholarship it flunks the test of objectivity and separation and disclosure of historical fact from personal opinion/interpretation. Hence, I rate it a "2"
History or Propaganda?.......2006-12-08
A previous reviewer suggested watching the foot notes. Although earlier reviews adequately explain the short-comings of this editorial commentary, I shall provide an example of a foot note that indeed needs watching. On Page 301 the author lauds Korea's advanced capabilities of State-led, Capitalist-free engineering and scientific programs---including rocket technology. He then attempts to belittle American know-how by referring to our rocket program as: "...a combined German-Chinese effort". His source for this appraisal was Iris Chang's "Thread of the Silkworm", a brilliant biography of Chen Xueshen (this is the contemporary pinyin transliteration of his name, not the out-dated Wade-Guiles method the author uses), a mathematician and Chinese national who worked his way up to a high position at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Caltech. Although Chen certainly made significant contributions to the work at the lab, he did not contribute the 50% (the "Chinese" half?) that Bruce Cummings would have us believe. Read "Thread of the Silkworm" to get an intriguing account of just exactly what Mr. Chen did contribute. Don't bother too much with "Korea's Place in the Sun".
Flawed.......2006-11-26
Bruce Cumings writes well, and that's what makes this book an interesting read. It discusses in detail the events of the late 19th century, which are absolutely critical to understanding why Korea is what it is today.
The book, however, is marred by some simply unbelievable passages regarding North Korea. For example, at the end, contrasting the generous welfare state provisions of the former West Germany with the less than generous benefits offered by the South Korean state, Cumings writes that "North Korean citizens can look forward to little or none of this in union with the South, but instead to the longest hours of labor in the industrial world on terms that South Korean firms would set."
Yes, Mr. Cumings, but they can also look forward to living in a free political environment and speaking their minds without running the risk of being shipped off to the Gulag. Mr. Cumings wrote the above sentence in 1997, but even at that time it was already well known what a disaster of a nation North Korea had become.
Almost all people who pay attention to the subject now agree that there is only one legitimate government on the Korean Peninsula, and that government is in Seoul. I'm sure North Koreans will gladly put in long hours at the factory in a reunified nation where liberty and democracy prevail.
My pillow loves this book........2006-04-10
It loves it because every time I go to read it my pillow gets used when I fall asleep. This book has a couple of parts that are interesting, but mostly it is boring political views. If you don't have a passion for East Asia, do not read this book; it is like pulling teeth.
Don't read this book for its treatment of politics of Korean War to now. There's plenty of other books for that!.......2006-01-31
What makes this book GREAT is Cummings' ability to artfully and intelligently convey the cultural and historical flavor of Korea! He does this amazingly with such honesty, insight and intelligence. This is what makes this book one of the BEST books about Korea! If you're interested in kearning about Korean culture, people history, READ THIS BOOK!
The portions of the book when Cummings tells the story of Chosun Kings, Korea's troubled relations with Japan, or the last chapter describing personal experiences with his wife's family to illustrate Korean characteristics, etc., are gold! He weaves all of it to convey a heartful description of Korea and its people that's insightfully authentic and genuine. It's quite amazing how he does this.
The politics of the book and its treatment of events leading up to Korean War until now is admittedly leftist, albeit well-written. If you want to learn about politics and Korean War, etc., go read another book.
If you want to get a genuine feel of Korean culture, history and insight into the character of Korean people, read this book!
Book Description
This book offers a penetrating view of the morals and values that shape the Korean business personality; cultural "keys" that turn Koreans on and off, and how best to communicate with them.
Korean Business Etiquette will show what really makes Korean workers tick-and how to do business the Korean way. With its authoritative scholarship, practical insights, and guidelines for foreign workers, this book is truly a "must read" for anyone doing business in Korea now or in the future.
Customer Reviews:
Great primer and reference for business in Korea.......2007-01-10
This is a "must read" for Westerners unfamiliar with Korean business culture. It is well written in short, easily absorbed chapters. Mr. De Mente does a great job introducing Korean culture, and explaining how that culture is manifest in the workplace. There is an emphasis on recommendations for Westerners living and working long term in Korea. It also works well for Sales and Procurement professionals.
Easy Reading; Straight to the Point.......2006-11-03
Very good book. I work in a Korean Co. Very usefull points. Great opportunity to know in theory what I faced in practical reality. Lots of things are clearer now...! A very good book for starters in Korean culture interface. Covers from general aspects to details of daily situations. Easy to read. Subjects and capters ordered very well. A must-have-book for those who intend to work in Korea or in Korean Companies abroad. I strongly recommend. AV.
Book Description
South Korea is a marriage of ancient and modern: a shopper's paradise where secluded palaces hide amidst skyscrapers, and Buddhist figurines stand tall along hiking trails. How do you create your own mix of new and old? Moon Handbooks South Korea offers thorough coverage not only of major destinations like modern Seoul and the DMZ border area, but also of the country's 3,000 years of history nestled in its quiet temples, secluded palaces, majestic peaks, and emerald-green islands. Thoroughly revised and updated, this guide is packed with fresh information on sights, recreation, accommodation and dining options that cover a broad range of budgets and personal interests. Complete with detailed maps, fascinating sidebars, a newly expanded phrasebook, and a thorough introduction to the country's political and cultural history, Moon Handbooks South Korea is an intelligent choice for independent travelers wishing to experience everything this fascinating destination has to offer.
Customer Reviews:
Moon Handbooks South Korea.......2007-07-26
I bought this book before a one-week trip to the university of Pohang, Korea. I was hoping to find an introduction to the country and its culture, and also some information about sightseeing in Seoul and near Pohang.
I found the background information about South Korea a bit lacking. The book begins with a historic overview of Korea and South Korea, which is probably the traditional way of beginning a travel guide, but which is not the most interesting part. There are small pieces of information about South Korean culture here, but this doesn't always agree with what I observe on the roads (e.g. about clothing -- the book sounded as if Korea was very conservative, but people dress almost in Western style), and is also incomplete (e.g. no information about whether and when and what kind of tips to give).
There is no large map of Korea describing which cities are described in what part of the book, so I had to look through all chapters to find Pohang on the maps which begin each chapter.
I didn't find the book very useful. Browsing the web, looking e.g. at the CIA facts and Wikipedia entry about Korea, was almost as informative as this book.
Great lists of things to do, but prioritizing would helpful.......2007-07-24
The South Korea Moon Handbook was a great read before we got to Korea, and a help once we decided what we had time to see. Since our stay in Korea was short (8 days), a list of "must-see" places would have been helpful.
Some wonderful places we did see are the National Museum, the Royal Palace, the Folk Village, the Buddhist temple by COEX, the National Center for the Traditional Performing Arts (a must for musicians), the "63" building , the DMZ tour through the USO (cheaper than any other option), the National War Museum, the a bamboo forest, and the island of Jeju.
anyonghasehyo..........2007-07-24
This book got me through a ton traveling. If I could go back in time, I'd still buy this and the insight guide both pre-used. This one needs more color maps. You sould forget about most of the hotels in Korean travel books. You should just stay at a yeogwan. You'll know it by the symbol of a bath with three wavey lines. P.S. While traveling always remember to unlock your credit card for every country you travel to!!!
Good information but needs to be more up-to-date!.......2007-05-08
Book is broken out nicely into sections and provides relevant information about the area attractions. The book, however, was not as up to date as it really should have been. This was my first time to South Korea and this book was a great introduction to the country and all of its parts.
too much literature.......2007-01-24
Not good for quick referencing when on the road. Not the sort of lengthy literature that one has time to read when they are looking for a good hostel and nearest transport points en-route to some far out place. The history and cultural information was good to read on long trips but I prefer to do my cultural learnings first-hand.
It did not detail some of the more essential points on disaparate and isolated locations. I found some of the views on modern cities like Seoul to be somewhat dated and missed the point slightly. Overall, it gave the impression of korea as some country stuck in medieval times with only monasteries and mountains for people to marvel at.
Book Description
A new edition of the definitive overview of contemporary Korean history, updated with new material to account for recent, dramatic events.
Don Oberdorfer has written a gripping narrative history of Korea's travails and triumphs over the past three decades. The Two Koreas places the tensions between North and South within a historical context, with a special emphasis on the involvement of outside powers.
Customer Reviews:
What a book!.......2007-10-15
I cannot recall reading a book which covers a country's contemporary history in such an interesting and insightful way.
Informative but a bit awkward.......2007-08-26
I picked up "The Two Koreas" before leaving for my first visit to Seoul and Busan hoping to get a full picture of political and economic developments on the peninsula since the end of the Korean War. I usually pre-screen my book purchases thoroughly, but in this case chose Oberdorfer's piece simply because it appeared to be the best option available on short notice.
This isn't a bad book; but it is a bit awkward. First, the only logic to the timeframe covered (roughly 1972 to 2000) is that it cooresponds to Oberdorfer's personal experience in Korean affairs as a journalist with the Washington Post. The post-war years of the authoritarian regimes of Syngman Rhee and Kim Il Song are not discussed at all, nor are the early years of Park Chung Hee's regime in the 1960s as he laid the groundwork for the South Korean economic miracle of the late twentieth century.
Second, the weight of the narrative is heavily focused on the North Korean nuclear program and the efforts of the Clinton administration to negotiate a settlement with Pyongyang in the 1990s. Large and important swaths of Korean history in the 1970s are dealt with in a largely cursory manner, but the 1994 nuclear crisis is reconstructed in an almost hour-by-hour chronology of events. Indeed, nearly half of the book is dedicated to just a handful of events in the 1990s.
Finally, the style of "The Two Koreas" is a clumsy blend of narrative history and personal memoir cum political analysis. Oberdorfer should have pursued one of two approaches to his topic. He could have written a comprehensive contemporary narrative of post-war Korea in the spirit and style of similar endeavors by veteran foreign journalists, the most notable example being Stanley Karnow's wonderful piece on the Philippines, "In our Image." Or he could have fully embraced the use of the first person and written a memoir on his experiences in Korea and how that experience has shaped his perception of Korean history and the future of North/South relations, much as Tom Friedman did with his award-winning memoir/history "From Beirut to Jerusalem." Instead, "The Two Koreas" reads like a personal, casual conversation with Don Oberdorfer over drinks at a club on Capitol Hill. He delves deeply into the topics he knows best, punched up with anecdotes from personal encounters with the key players at the time, while providing just basics on the other parts of the story he is less familiar with.
The above notwithstanding, "The Two Koreas" does provide a good introduction to some of the key players and Korean events of the past three decades, from the ax-handle murders at the DMZ in 1976 and assassination of Park Chung Hee in 1979 to the government crack-down on government protests in Gwangju in 1980 and the arrest of former presidents Roh Tae-Woo and Chun Doo Hwan in 1996 on corruption charges.
Concerning the on-going North Korean nuclear crisis, which is really the focus of this book, Oberdorfer clearly sees the program as Pyongyang's only effective card to play in relations with the United States and the international community. As the communist bloc imploded, North Korea witnessed the blossoming relationship between Seoul and the Soviet Union and China with no reciprocal rapprochment between Pyongyang and Washington. Oberdorfer suggests that Pyongyang basically stumbled upon the nuclear program as the one sure-fire way to the undivided attention of leaders in the United States and develop the dialogue and aid packages the beleagered communist state so desperately needs.
One final point should be noted. The cover states that the book has been "revised and expanded," but any potential reader should know that "The Two Koreas" does not cover critical events in the 2000-2005 timeframe, including Pyongyang's admission that the government never lived up to the original terms of the Agreed Framework in the first place.
ESL Teacher.......2007-08-03
Thanks for the fast service. Haven't read the book yet, but looks quite interesting and informational!
Excellent intro to modern Korean history.......2007-01-10
This book is a novel-like easy read, but it's as informative as a textbook. It's a must for anyone who wants to understand just what the hell happened to make the two Koreas so different from one another today, and the roots of the nuclear standoff that we're having with North Korea today. The author is a pretty authoritative source, as he's actually met and interviewed many of the key players in the book. Highly recommended.
Readable, But Questionable.......2006-07-18
This book was pretty readable, however I did have a couple of issues. The biggest problem I had was that it jumped around chronologically. It would appear to be relating events sequentially, then jump back and add an event years prior that would seem to have been too important to skip the first time. This was both confusing and irritating. It also left out alot of significant events. For example, it only mentioned the Pueblo incudent in one sentence in the entire book. It did not explore the event at all. It also did not touch on defections of US servicemembers to the North. And it barely referenced the North's kidnappings of Japanese in the 70's. Also, some event details were erroneous when compared to other books I've read on the same subject. This book seemed heavily subjective/opinion-based in alot of areas. Not my favorite book on the subject.
Product Description
Korean Cinema: The New Hong Kong is a guidebook for exploring the new and exciting destination for exciting and innovative cinema: South Korea. It is the first book of its kind, covering this emerging cinematic powerhouse, which has been likened to Hong Kong, in an easy-to-read and leisure-focused fashion, bringing all the sought-after information on Korean cinema into one convenient package.
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Korean Cinema: The New Hong Kong is a guidebook for exploring the new and exciting destination for exciting and innovative cinema: South Korea. It is the first book of its kind, covering this emerging cinematic powerhouse, which has been likened to Hong Kong, in an easy-to-read and leisure-focused fashion, bringing all the sought-after information on Korean cinema into one convenient package.
Customer Reviews:
Modern Korean cinema at an easy glance.......2007-07-25
The odd grammatical and printing error aside, this is a well-produced and easy to use guide to some of the best film-making of the last ten years or so.
It's worth noting quickly that despite the glossy cover, the book is entirely black-and-white inside with pictures that are of an acceptable rather than brilliant quality. Personally, I find this to be a very minor quibble.
I was already very enthused by recent Korean cinema before reading this book and have enjoyed it very much, but it would also make an ideal introduction for someone only just thinking of dipping their toes into the invigorating waters of the Korean New Wave.
I can't fully appreciate the frequent comparisons made with Hong Kong film-making of the 1980s having seen very little of it, but it hardly matters; this book puts across in no uncertain terms just how exciting the film scene in Korea has been for the last decade, and it would be a hard-hearted person who isn't stimulated to seek out a DVD or a viewing of some of the films reviewed here.
This is not to say, however, that the book is unbalanced. The author's enthusiasm for Korean cinema is obvious, but does not stop him criticising those films - some, even, that have done very well at the box office - that he considers do not come up to scratch.
The book is sensibly laid out to make it easy to either read straight through or dip into for specific information. It begins with a brief - and NOT heavy-going - history of the Korean film industry coming right up to the beginning of the 21st century. There then follows a chapter of in-depth reviews of 10 of the best Korean films that 'Everyone Should See'. After that the chapters are divided up by film genre (Action, Horror, etc.), and there are 87 (yes, I counted!) high-quality reviews in all. The last few chapters introduce some of the rising stars of the industry, give some assistance to those wishing to find and see these films, and look to the future of Korean film-making.
The only major disappointment for me was that due to the book's having been published in 2002, wonderful films such as A Bittersweet Life, Memories of Murder and Save the Green Planet! are not included, having been released from 2003 onwards. It would be silly to complain about this type of issue since it is inevitable, but here's hoping for a new edition of Korean Cinema: The New Hong Kong sometime soon because the cinematic gems just keep on coming!
Mistitled, but a just-passable introductory piece for newcomers.......2005-12-22
KOREAN CINEMA: THE NEW HONG KONG is clearly the product of a genuine convert to the form. Whether Anthony C.Y. Leong has remained so is anyone's guess as of late, but it indeed comes as a small surprise that this book was written by a regular contributor to Thomas Weisser's execrable ASIAN CULT CINEMA magazine, a publication that has done more to pigeonhole Asian cinema into one gigantic bowl of sex and sadism than any Pink-film-loving pervert could do in a lifetime.
From evidence provided here, though, Leong's passion for movies (which is also evidenced via various online review portals, the style here being little better than that) is better served by self-published efforts such as this than it is sandwiched between the salacious and error-ridden pages of Weisser's rag. Weisser's ASIAN CULT CINEMA book, a late-90's reference guide to Hong Kong cinema that has disseminated more MISinformation to the world than any fifty amateur fanzines could circa 1990, is still being peddled to an unsuspecting base of newcomers (I've yet to ascertain whether Leong was a contributor, but it's likely), so it's refreshing to know that viewers curious about Korean cinema at least have a reference guide that, while not blessed with particularly great prose, is at least honest and forthight in its appreciation of its subject matter, without resorting to the cheap putdowns and mysogynist leanings of the Weisser material with which its author, perhaps unwittingly, has previously been associated.
Leong is, however, WAY WAY OFF BASE in labelling Korean cinema "The New Hong Kong." The assumption that one country's cinematic fare is so lacking in cultural identity that it stands only to supplant the fare of another country - following that all Asian cinema somehow "blends" together in the eyes of outsiders - is simplistic and ill-informed to say the least. Leong, who is Chinese, makes repeated commentary about the downfall of Hong Kong cinema while holding Korean cinema up as the natural successor to the throne. Hong Kong cinema, however, is still very much alive and kicking, and while Korean cinema has certainly enjoyed a renaissance of sorts (both domestically and internationally) since the release of the high-tech action thriller SHIRI in 1999, nearly seven years on, many Korean films are still plagued by tired concepts, poorly-plotted screenplays, crass histrionics, and various culturally-specific idosyncracies that may yet be their undoing in the international market once the demand for genre pictures has dried up (as I write this, the Korean DVD market is in a serious state of financial decline). (2007 EDIT: much of this has come to pass: Korean films are garnering fewer distribs at film festivals, and they're lucky if they get one or two breakout smashes a year; DVD sales are nearlly dead in the country. They're still making films worth watching, but the industry is in serious pain right now.
However, Leong's book generally covers films from 1998 to 2002, which any Korean film fan will tell you is the period they first "discovered" Korean cinema, too. And as such, the book clearly is/was a labour of love. More scholarly books have been written on Korean cinema both before and since Leong's self-published tome, but none have ventured to simply provide straight-up reviews of the many varied films that came from this period, so depite his web-forum-worthy writing style, Leong still managed a small victory for the fanboys.. Mind you, scholarly works on Korean cinema (and Korea itself!) are virtually required reading--I strongly prefer them to a book like this--if one is to truly understand the cultural subtext running through much of modern Korean cinema. Thus, Leong's book stands as the best place to START your journey, but once you've seen the films, and if you truly want to know more, then it might be good to augment this book with a more serious cultural, cinematic or even socio-political study.
The format of Leong's reviews is a bit too structurally consistent (intro-synopsis-opinion-rinse-repeat), which means they're best digested a few at a time, preferably just before of just after watching the film in question, which will at least grant the book an extended shelf life as the reader builds a Korean DVD collection. Also, the reviews are grouped into "categories," which is restrictive, particularly as many of the films aren't so easily pigeonholed. It's a small gripe, admittedly, but straightforward alphebetical listings would be much more user-friendly.
Since the book's publication at the very beginning of 2003, however, Korean cinema has produced an incredible number of feature films -ranging from derivative-but-pretty junk like MY BOYFRIEND IS TYPE B and RED EYE to international arthouse darlings like OLDBOY and TAE GUK GI - that would be well served by an update to Leong's manuscript, something which has yet to take place but would firmly cement his position as one of the few non-internet-based reviewers to tackle the subject matter in this way. One hopes that the visible reduction in his output might mean he's working on a revised version of his book, but as he's not one to return emails from interested supporters (especially those who are, at the same time, like myself, openly hostile towards his previous "employer," Miami-based bootlegger and "author" Thomas Weisser), we may simply have to wait and see what comes next, if anything...
A good primer to recent Korean Cinema.......2005-11-19
I have been interested in Korean cinema ever since I worked in Korea as an ESL teacher. My first Korean DVD purchases were Shiri and JSA, which I brought more for novelty and and as a momento of Korea than anything else, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised at the production values of both these movies. As a result, I have become a firm fan of Korean movies, and have added a number of titles to my DVD collection. This book will help me select some more good titles to add to the collection.
"Korean Cinema" fulfills a useful niche as it is basically a primer for Korean movies from 1998 to 2002 for newcomers to Korean cinema. The author reviews and rates a number of the movies made in this time span, from "Attack the Gas Station" through to "2009: Lost Memories", plus a couple of titles a couple of years older. The author also rates and discusses 10 Korean movies from that time period which he rates as must sees. It would be a good start for building a DVD collection. There is also a section devoted to the major personalities of the Korean movie industry, actors and directors. It is illustrated but only in black and white, any many of the pictures are of poor quality.
Ignore the low rating reviews of this book - the reviewers obviously brought this book expecting a serious textbook of Korean cinema, which if you actually read the advertising blurb for the book, it is most certainly not. There are books out there discussing the full history of Korean cinema, but make no mistake, this book is not one of them. It is strictly for the newcomers to the genre, and who has little knowledge of the Korean movie industry. It does have a chapter on the history of the industry in Korea, but it is only superficial, and it isn't the reason I brought the book anyway.
Especially ignore the twit who is critical of the author basing his movie reviews on english subtitles. Korean is a particularly difficult language to learn and to become sufficiently competent in the language to be able to follow a Korean movie without english subtitles is beyond the abilities of all but the most dedicated of people. The author of "Korean Cinema" does make it quite clear he is only a recent convert, and thus a beginner, in Korean movies.
This book would lend itself to an update every 3 or 4 years or so. There has been some considerably significant Korean movie releases since this book was first published, not least of which is "Tae-Guk-Gi". I also recommend checking out the website www.koreanfilm.org which has movie reviews, talent profiles and other useful informative articles. The author of the site, Darcy Paquet, is listed in the bibliography of "Korean Cinema" a number of times.
There should be more books like this.......2004-01-16
I received this for Christmas from my boyfriend and read it from cover to cover by New Years: its that good. Its like reading a magazine dedicated completely to Korean movies. Now when I go to the local Korean video store, I know which movies are worth renting and which ones to stay away from. Whoever wrote this, thank you for helping me appreciate some of the best movies in the world.
I hope there's a sequel!.......2003-08-28
What a great book! Everything you need to know about Korean movies all in one package. With lots of background on why Korean movies kick ass right now, what movies are worth watching, and which ones should be avoided, you definetely get your money's worth here. I hope he writes another one soon!
Average customer rating:
- The great powers position -key to two Korea,s Reunification
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Korea's Future and the Great Powers
Manufacturer: National Bureau of Asian Research
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ASIN: 0295981296 |
Book Description
The eventual reunification of the Korean Peninsula will send political and economic reverberations throughout Northeast Asia and will catalyze the struggle over a new regional order among the four great powers of the Pacific--Russia, China, Japan, and the United States. Korea's Future and the Great Powers addresses the vital issues of how to achieve a stable political order in a unified Korea, how to finance Korean economic reconstruction, and how to link Korea into a cooperative framework of international diplomatic relations.
Customer Reviews:
The great powers position -key to two Korea,s Reunification.......2003-08-20
In last page of Cover the book Editors write : "The eventual reunification of the Korean Peninsula will send political and economic reverberations throughout Northeast Asia and will catalyze the struggle over new regional order amnong the four reat powers of Pacific-Russia, China, Japan, and the United States." Book is edited by leading american reaserchers korean issue. Book is very current now at time start Bejings 6-sides talks. The contibutors of book was outstanding scholars and former politicians , like prof. Robert Scalapino from University California, Marcus Nolland, Robert Galluci,Chuck Downes, Michael Armacost. Book is divided to three parts: first - Historical and political context, second economic context and third strategic implications. Analysis of international enviroment Korean Peninsula is deep and serious. I agre with genaral conclusions book: America must prepared to solve very serious challenges from North Korea and must cooperate with China, Japan , Pacific-Russia
and specially Republic Of Korea. I recomend this book readers want understand korean issue.
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