Shelter

A Novel

By: Jung Yun

Narrated by: Raymond Lee

You can never know what goes on behind closed doors.

One of The Millions' Most Anticipated Books of the Year (selected by Edan Lepucki).

Kyung Cho is a young father burdened by a house he can't afford. For years he and his wife, Gillian, have lived beyond their means. Now their debts and bad decisions are catching up with them, and Kyung is anxious for his family's future.

A few miles away, his parents, Jin and Mae, live in the town's most exclusive neighborhood, surrounded by the material comforts that Kyung desires for his wife and son. Growing up, they gave him every possible advantage - private tutors, expensive hobbies - but they never showed him kindness. Kyung can hardly bear to see them now, much less ask for their help. Yet when an act of violence leaves Jin and Mae unable to live on their own, the dynamic suddenly changes, and he's compelled to take them in.

For the first time in years, the Chos find themselves living under the same roof. Tensions quickly mount as Kyung's proximity to his parents forces old feelings of guilt and anger to the surface, along with a terrible and persistent question: How can he ever be a good husband, father, and son when he never knew affection as a child?

As Shelter veers swiftly toward its startling conclusion, Jung Yun leads us through dark and violent territory where, unexpectedly, the Chos discover hope. Shelter is a masterfully crafted debut that asks what it means to provide for one's family and, in answer, delivers a story as riveting as it is profound.

©2016 Jung Yun (P)2016 Macmillan Audio

A little over the top

This book started out good but then quickly went a little over the top. The main character doesn't really act realistically and I found it hard to be drawn into his narrative. Towards the end I found myself rolling my eyes at some of his thoughts. Not the worst book I've "read" but if I could go back in time I would choose something else.

Heavy as F**k, But Incredibly Gripping

Written by a fellow Asian (woohoo!).

This book is all about watching the darkness unfold after a tragedy that forces the main character to reconnect with their parents, despite their strained relationship. It really shows how a person can be affected by their upbringing. The book is graphic, honest, & sad, and it immediately drew me in.

I could relate to the main character very well, as we both grew up in an Asian household in America. I highty recommend this book, as it's very well written. I love the pacing; the book is straight-forward but full of details. If you're looking for a honest, morbid book, definitely check this out!

Exceeded my expectations

I read this book years ago, loved it, and now that the audio format is available, I decided to relive the experience. This is so much better than I remembered.

Just ok

Once begun, I wanted to finish, but as I suspected, it lacked in various ways, and after all the time spent listening, I wasn't particularly moved one way or another in the end, and by any of the characters. Just ok....

Lives up to the good reviews!

This book was like a sleeper. It slowly crept into my subconscious and hypnotized me. The characters are well developed and the storyline intricately illustrates the forward motion, inertia, and legacy of abuse. Definitely worth your time reading/listening!

Well-told story

Although I felt a bit cheated by the end of the story, it was a great ride. The narrator did a terrific job of capturing distinct voices for each of the characters.

Heartbreakingly raw, real unresolved

Any additional comments?

This is a spectacular book however to say I enjoyed it would be wrong. It was depressing until the end. there were no reprieves no happy accidents that blur the line of plausibility, no feel good warmth at the end. Everything about it was real, raw and struck a deep painful cord that stayed with me for weeks after. It was like nothing I have ever read. The author's talents lie way beyond the spectrum of her peers in that she is able to weave a beautiful gripping tale without giving in to cliches, predictability, or straying from reality no matter how distasteful and unpalatable . Initially the protagonist was so cloyingly depressed and irritating I almost stopped : thinking " You want me to feel sorry for this guy?" However by the end I was identifying with him so closely his pain was mine. If you are looking for a book that renews your faith in humanity or makes the world seem alright this isn't it but in my opinion it offers something better.

A well crafted story about the ongoing effects of racism and family violence

What begins as a crime scene develops into a story about the ripple effect that physical and emotional abuse has on the next generation. In this case the family are well off and highly educated Korean immigrants. The point of view is from the only son whose parents settled in a university town in the seventies, where the population was mainly white American. The story begins in the present day when they experience a home invasion and it deals with how this event affects the married son's already rocky relationship with his wife and son. The main character was believable and his inner dialogue plays a strong part in holding the reader's interest. I thought the pace was good, interesting characters and the ending was believable, without resolving things it presented a realistic scenario.

Brilliant story

Being a Korean American raised in the States, I could relate to every part of this book. From the prejudice of the 70s to pressures of being accepted. This seems to be the story for most Korean immigrants living in the United States and the consequences that follow them here. As a second Gen daughter, the strained relationship of parent and child resonates with me. I still struggle with my mother and her expectations of me. How not being the ideal daughter has disappointed her time and time again. But we have grown and come into a better understanding of each other and OUR expectations. I loved the Narration of this book. Even down to the accent, great job. Loved this book.

Worth it!

A tale of self-doubt and dark family secrets wrapped in suspense! We'll worth listening /reading.