Evening Hero

By: Marie Myung-Ok Lee

Narrated by: Raymond J. Lee

A “moving and captivating” (Cathy Park Hong, New York Times bestselling author of Minor Feelings) novel following a Korean immigrant pursuing the American dream who must confront the secrets of the past or risk watching the world he’s worked so hard to build come crumbling down.

Dr. Yungman Kwak is in the twilight of his life. Every day for the last fifty years, he has brushed his teeth, slipped on his shoes, and headed to Horse Breath’s General Hospital, where, as an obstetrician, he treats the women and babies of the small rural Minnesota town he chose to call home.

This was the life he longed for. The so-called American dream. He immigrated from Korea after the Korean War, forced to leave his family, ancestors, village, and all that he knew behind. But his life is built on a lie. And one day, a letter arrives that threatens to expose it.

Yungman’s life is thrown into chaos—the hospital abruptly closes, his wife refuses to spend time with him, and his son is busy investing in a struggling health start-up. Yungman faces a choice—he must choose to hide his secret from his family and friends or confess and potentially lose all he’s built. He begins to question the very assumptions on which his life is built—the so-called American dream, with the abject failure of its healthcare system, patients and neighbors who perpetuate racism, a town flawed with infrastructure, and a history that doesn’t see him in it.

Toggling between the past and the present, Korea and America, Evening Hero is a “soulful, melodic, rhapsodic novel” (The New York Times) about a man looking back at his life and asking big questions about what is lost and what is gained when immigrants leave home for new shores.

Critic reviews

"Lee portrays an enormous cast, including Yungman; his wife, Young-ae; and their son, Einstein, as well as staff at health-care facilities, members of the local Korean–American community, and Yungman's family and others in Korea. With precision and care, Lee conveys this exploration of the devastation inflicted by foreign nations upon mid-twentieth-century Korea, as well as the sacrifices made by immigrant families in search of the American dream."

"Lee’s narration showcases his versatility, embodying the varying tones of the story, from satirical commentary on contemporary issues like healthcare in the United States to the heartbreaking trauma of the Korean War. To capture the disparate moods of the story, Lee seamlessly fluctuates his delivery; he is by turns conversational, lighthearted, somber, and serious." (Van McGary)

A great story is woven around the Korean war

Wonderful writing. The author is able to bring a beautiful love story to life while weaving insight regarding the Korean war from a Korean point of view.

Great story and compelling, fun narration

The Evening Hero was a pleasure to listen to. Great characters and action, fascinating history, and a compelling narrator. Highly recommend!

Hard to follow

I found the book as presented very disjointed. Just not my kind of book. Perhaps my book group will bring more to light.