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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
In William Amos’s The Seed of Joy, American Peace Corps volunteer Paul Harkin arrives in South Korea in 1979, where he falls in love with Han Mi Jin, an English teacher involved in the democracy movement. Their relationship comes under pressure when Mi Jin’s parents arrange her marriage to a businessman. Peace Corps officials soon transfer Paul away from Mokpo, the city where the couple met. As military rule tightens, Paul is pulled toward the unrest surrounding Mi Jin’s circle in Gwangju, a city becoming a focal point for opposition to the government. After his presence at a political gathering threatens his future in Korea, Paul must decide how far he will go to stay with Mi Jin as government forces close in on Gwangju.
In The Seed of Joy, William Amos does such an amazing job of recreating 1979 South Korea through details that feel lived in. There is real skill in placing history inside ordinary life, and he does it on every single page. One example comes when a schoolboy returns in a Japanese-style uniform; another as a Peace Corps worker relies on shortwave radio reports that go deeper than the censored broadcasts. Historical figures enter just as naturally, shown when the United States commander, General John Wickham, is given information from an embassy official. Paul’s romance with Mi Jin is the best part, and it's developed convincingly through small exchanges that establish increasing trust. Their Christmas gifts are perfect, carrying private meaning as their ease together in Gwangju shows how fully the relationship has blossomed. All of it clicks together through fluid prose, moving readers between public unrest and one couple's true feelings. Readers interested in Korean history cinched with a love story are in for a treat. Very highly recommended.
