Language & Literature

THE KOREAN BOOK CLUB (THE CALIGRAPHER’S DAUGHTER BY EUGENIA KIM

DATE & TIME: Thursday 23 September 2021, 18:30-19:30(AEST)

VENUE: Online Zoom

BOOK OF THE MONTH: Calligrapher’s Daughter

STORY OF THE BOOK: In early-twentieth-century Korea, Najin Han, the privileged daughter of a calligrapher, longs to choose her own destiny, though her country-newly occupied by Japan is crumbling, and her family, led by her stern father, is facing difficulties that seem insurmountable. Narrowly escaping an arranged marriage, Najin takes up a new role as a companion to a young princess. But the king is soon assassinated, and the centuries-old dynastic culture comes to its end.

A sweeping debut novel, inspired by the life of the author’s mother, about a young woman who dares to fight for a brighter future in occupied Korea.

GUEST: Australian author Suzanne Leal will join us in conversation with Eugenia Kim, author of the Calligrapher’s Daughter.

FEE: Free admission, bookings essential. Please click ‘HERE‘ to apply

※ Register to win one of 10 copies of our book of the month. (Australian residents only. The winners will be announced next day of the book club)

Eugenia Kim: Eugenia Kim’s debut novel, The Calligrapher’s Daughter, won the Borders Original Voices Award, was shortlisted for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and was a Washington Post Best Historical Novel and Critic’s Pick. Her second novel, The Kinship of Secrets, was a Library Reads pick, and an Amazon Best Book of the Month/Literature and Fiction. She is a two-time Washington DC, Council on the Arts and Humanities Fellowship recipient, and received fellowships at Yaddo, Hedgebrook, MacDowell, and elsewhere. Ms. Kim teaches fiction and nonfiction at Fairfield University’s MFA Creative Writing Program.

Suzanne Leal: Suzanne Leal is the author of novels The Teacher’s Secret, Border Street and, most recently, The Deceptions, for which she won the Nib People’s Choice Prize and was shortlisted for the Davitt Awards and the Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award. A regular presenter at literary events and co-presenter of the BAD All About Crime podcast, Suzanne is the host of Thursday Book Club, a relaxed, friendly book club connecting readers online. www.suzanneleal.com