Still Life with Rice by Helie Lee

Still Life With Rice is a book by Helie Lee, a Korean American teenager. The book takes place in Southeast Asia, during the Cold War, a time of great tension between the democratic allies and the communist USSR. The book is told from Lee’s grandmother’s, Hongyong’s perspective. The author is very meticulous-- she describes many events in great detail, so the reader can really understand the hindrances and impediments the family had to overcome. The story takes place during the a very hard time for the people of Korea, China, and Japan. History is not the only thing Lee incorporates into her book. She tells interesting stories from her grandmother’s childhood, stories of her aunts and other family members. The book is a great source from which the reader will be able to learn the Korean and Chinese customs and traditions, which are meticulously described. Even though the first chapter of the book is weak and boring, the rest of the book captures the reader. When reading the book, I thought about the hard times during the Cold War, and felt sorry for some of the innocent people who died. I also learned about the life in Southeast Asia, some of the people's beliefs and customs. Overall, Still Life With Rice is a great book; I recommend it to anyone who would like to learn some history, traditions, and the daily life routine in Southeast Asia. The only people I do not recommend the book to are the ones who feel uncomfortable reading sexual scenes (the book has quite a few of them). Check catalog     Korean language Reviewed by Henry G., Grade 11 Pacific Park Library