The Surrendered Audiobook

" Without giving anything away, the central male character is more thoroughly developed than the female. There is an an enormous gap in her history that compromises her development. It seems, a times, a incomplete conflation of two stories. "

" Sadly, I put this book down half-way through. There were too many characters with stories interspersed in a random, almost clumsy fashion. Each story was darker than the last, making this a difficult read. Sorry to those who loved it; it just wasn't for me. "

" This book was wonderful. I found every character engaging and sympathetic. There were several times that I could not put it down despite the fact that it was several hours past my bedtime. The most difficult thing about the book was the violence. There were many scenes that were incredibly disturbing. If you can stomach those scenes however, they payoff is an amazing story. What I liked most about the book is that there were no happy endings or morals. In a book about the destruction of war a happy ending would be cheap. Lee is able to confront painful subjects with directness and honesty. "

" A very disturbing book but fascinating read. "

" I'm still struggling to come to terms with my thoughts on this book. It's not something I would normally pick up and at first, I found it too gruesome and violent for my tastes. Lee's writing is absolutely breathtaking and, even during the most graphic parts there is a certain beauty in the way that he describes things that kept me hanging on for more. I didn't connect with or root for any of the characters- they were all selfish and awful people but, given their circumstances, I'm not sure they could have helped it. I enjoyed the multiple narrators and the way the story bounced from past to present. All in all, it made for a wonderful book discussion but I'm just not quite sure I'd recommend it to someone unless they were looking for a beautifully written, very depressing read. "

" After surviving horrific experiences during wartime (the Sino-Japanese war and the Korean War), the three main characters of this book are so damaged that they can only see their endurance as a punishment. They believe they are insignificant in contrast to the total amount of lives ruined or lost in each conflict. A book that plays a large role in the bonding of these characters, in which a terrible battle from an earlier century is detailed, illustrates this sentiment. They recognize the savageness of war and randomness of the victims in that story, but don't dare believe that their own experiences would ever merit such a memorial. But as a family member says earlier in the beginning of The Surrendered, "We don't read stories to live by, but to change". "

" Very sad, but very good. I would like to read his other novels. "

" this is a story about an orphan, a missionary, and a soldior whose lives are permanently and fundamentally altered by war. the characters are rich and intricate, but what i love most about this book is the writing itself which meanders beautifully and intelligently. "

" Fabulously well-written "

" The blurb said, read page 29. I did Ive got to say I'm pleased I did. So far so good. "

" Korean War, story of 3 characters whose lives intersect at orphanage, very very grim, loved parts of story but later on veered into staginess and melodrama "

" It is a well written book, taking place during and after Korean War. "

" Unhappy people doing unhappy things. And then they die. "

" Incredible tale. "

" Horribly depressing. But worth it. "

" Beautiful, very descriptive and emotional writing, I really loved it. "

" A great read. Though dense, it takes you on for a good - but heart-breaking ride. "

" As with other books by this author, The Surrendered is very well written. That is where similarities stop. The book is based in Korea during the War and is very graphic. The characters are interesting and very damaged. "

" Gripping, operatic, stunning depictions of violence. Haunting. "

" It was okay. A fast read and good prose but I didn't think there was much there -- nothing really beautiful or new or that made me think things in a new way. Characters were frustrating and not likable and ultimately not very interesting. Not close to as good as Native Speaker or Aloft. "

" I loved this book! It was extremely well-written and compelling. "

" A very disturbing book but fascinating read. "

" I love everything Chang Rae Lee writes, and this one was no exception. A sweeping, aching tale of war and orphans and misplaced love and illness. "

" The first part of the book is one of the best I've read of any war stories. The rest pales in comparison but is still manages to offer deep insight into the effects of war and displacement. "

" Beautifully told, but didn't seem to go anywhere in the end. "

" Loved this book, it was really good, quite enjoyed it, if it was a bit sad. Oh, well :) "

" Mixed feeling about this story. Compelling plot, descriptive language, characters that run deep. I found myself confused as storylines changed. "

" Rough stuff in this story. I enjoy Lee's writing... it's vibrant. However, since this story dealt with some of the atrocities of the Korean War (and the messiness of people impacted by the war), this vibrancy made for some pretty horrific images. "

" This book was at once boring and overly graphic. I'm surprised I finished it. "

" Sad but intriguing story of lives that crossed during the Korean War. I enjoyed it, even though it was painful. "

" Love, love, love this book. Could not put it down. I got so involved with the characters. It is a war story but more about the effects of war on the lives of people for decades. The end gets a little tedious but still a great read! "

" The beginning was a extremely gripping if not a bit disturbing. You just knew the body of the novel would be as captivating. Lee does not disappoint. When I wasn't reading the book, I was looking forward to reading it. "