G1197 Book Review of Offerings by Michael Byung Ju Kim

Name of Book: Offerings

Author: Michael ByungJu Kim

ISBN: 978-1-951934-26-2

Publisher: Arcade Publishing

Type of book: South Korea, finances, growing up in America, 1970s-1990s, father/son relationship, rescuing Korean government, debt, identities, culture, heritage 

Year it was published: 2020

Summary:

For fans of Chang-Rae Lee, Min Jin Lee, and The Big Short, a moving novel about love, sacrifice, ambition, and greed—and a financial crisis

With the rapidly cascading Asian Financial Crisis threatening to go global and Korea in imminent meltdown, investment banker Dae Joon finds himself back in his native Seoul as part of an international team brought in to rescue the country from sovereign default. For Dae Joon—also known by his American name of Shane, after the cowboy movie his father so loved—the stakes are personal.

Raised in the US and Harvard Business School–educated, Dae Joon is a jangnam, a firstborn son, bound by tradition to follow in the footsteps of his forebears. But rather than pursue the path his scholar-father wanted, he has sought a career on Wall Street, at the epicenter of power in the American empire. Now, as he and his fellow bankers work feverishly with Korean officials to execute a sovereign bond offering to raise badly needed capital, he knows that his own father is living on borrowed time, in the last stages of a disease that is the family curse. A young woman he has met is quietly showing the way to a different future. And when his closest friend from business school, a scion of one of Korea's biggest chaebol, asks his help in a sale that may save the conglomerate but also salvage a legacy of corruption, he finds himself in personal crisis, torn by dueling loyalties, his identity tested.

Characters:

Main character includes Lee Dae Joon/ Shane who was born in South Korea but immigrated to America at a young age. He is the eldest of the eldest going back generations, therefore the pressure to uphold traditions is high on him. Shane is best described as curious, injured, and rebellious, determined to carve his own path. Shanes father was a professor back in South Korea who strongly believes in change, but gets disillusioned. Wayne, Shanes chaebol friend, wants to follow his own path, but is unable to do so.  Jee Yeon is a talented cellist but is best described as an enigma, someone difficult to understand. 

Theme:

The theme I picked up from the story is that of class and responsibility of those who isn't as fortunate.

Plot:

The story is in first person narrative from Dae Joon's/ Shanes point of view. I definitely sensed that Offerings was a cathartic tale to write and to make peace with self. I also will be honest in saying that banking/money jargon was way beyond my understanding, and unfortunately wasn't really enjoyable. I loved the historical aspect of the story, loved gaining cultural information from it, but banking and business developments were beyond my understanding.   

Author Information:
(From the book)

Michael ByungJu Kim is a financier, philanthropist, and author. He has more than thirty years of experience on Wall Street, in investment banking, and in private equity. Offerings is his first novel. He grew up in Seoul, Korea, was educated in the United States and currently works in Seoul and Hong Kong. He has two sons working and studying in US. He lives with his wife of twenty eight years in Seoul. 
Opinion:

It's interesting to note that the more knowledge I gain, the more I find complexity in a tale I am asked to read, and such is the case with this book. I dont make a secret of my passion for East/Southeast Asia, and i frequently love to read stories that take place in the countries, in particular books about South Korea. History wise, this book has been something I didn't know I was searching for, because it fleshed out a lot about a country that I feel I barely know, post Korean War, and it also challenged me a lot on my understanding of South Korea. ( I look forward to when I can pick certain someone's mind over things I learned...) I also would imagine that this book is more for people who are seeking deeper knowledge of South Korea rather than something simplistic. Also, not all American girls are like Ruth. 

This was given to me for a review

4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)