American Seoul

A Memoir

By: Helena Rho

Narrated by: Helena Rho

She was everything everyone else wanted her to be. Until she followed her own path.

Helena Rho was six years old when her family left Seoul, Korea, for America and its opportunities. Years later, her Korean-ness behind her, Helena had everything a model minority was supposed to want: she was married to a white American doctor and had a beautiful home, two children, and a career as an assistant professor of pediatrics. For decades she fulfilled the expectations of others. All the while Helena kept silent about the traumas - both professional and personal - that left her anxious yet determined to escape. It would take a catastrophic event for Helena to abandon her career at the age of forty, recover her Korean identity, and set in motion a journey of self-discovery.

In her powerful and moving memoir, Helena Rho reveals the courage it took to break away from the path that was laid out for her, to assert her presence, and to discover the freedom and joy of finally being herself.

©2022 Helena Rho (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“A poignant, personal, sometimes painful chronicle of self-awareness and understanding.”—Kirkus Reviews

“As she takes us across three continents, from childhood to middle age, Helena Rho shares the raw truth of what it’s meant to strive for decades to be a good daughter, sister, mother, wife, and physician, all the while navigating the contradictory demands of Eastern and Western cultures. This is a powerfully heartfelt story about seeking the gravity of a place to belong while overcoming regrets and losses along the way. Her honesty is searing and, in the end, inspiring.”—Julia Glass, author of Vigil Harbor and the National Book Award-winning Three Junes

“In her devastating memoir, American Seoul, Helena Rho underscores the central truth of being alive: that while we are often helpless to prevent our suffering at the hands of others, we are not helpless to reimagine ourselves, to invent ourselves anew. There are second acts in American lives, and Rho beautifully teaches us what living means after the anguish. She is among the rarest of memoirists who can alchemize experience into art.”—William Giraldi, author of The Hero’s Body

Beautifully written

Helena is a poet and a great storyteller. Although I couldn't relate to many of her experiences since she comes from privilege, it was entertaining to listen on audible. She is a talented and I look forward to her other works!

Interesting at times

I found it to be a little repetitive and confusing at times. Overall just okay.

There are no words!

This novel was brought to my attention by my son, roommate to Liam. I’m
Always one to purchase a novel because someone knows the author. In this case, it happened to be the mother of my son’s roommate. Naturally I had high hopes. But I truly have no words. How Helena is still standing is beyond me. How she didn’t give up, I have no clue. Her journey is courageous and her writing is incredible. I felt like I walked behind her as she told her story. I could not put this book away! I highly recommend it and will likely read it again! Please get this. It’s a must read or listen.

Hard to be positive

I don't usually review books if I can't find them appealing. I got this book because it sounded interesting and I could learn about a culture I don't know much about. I read it to the end but was completely bored. I appreciate Ms Rho desiring to be an author, and she did write a book but I hope she moves on and tries another career doing what she is passionate about. Narration was not enthusiastic and a monotone. I do not recommend reading this book.