A BEST OF THE MONTH SELECTION BY OPRAH MAGAZINE
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF 2021
"An eminent South Korean talent makes her American début in this
poignant watercolor of a novel . . . Kim is a writer on the move." --O,
The Oprah Magazine
Ae-ran Kim's My Brilliant Life explores family bonds and
out-of-the-ordinary friendships, interweaving the past and present of a
tight-knit family, finding joy and happiness in even the most difficult
times.
Areum lives life to its fullest, vicariously through the stories of his
parents, conversations with Little Grandpa Jang--his sixty-year-old
neighbor and best friend--and through the books he reads to visit the
places he would otherwise never see.
For several months, Areum has been working on a manuscript, piecing
together his parents' often embellished stories about his family and
childhood. He hopes to present it on his birthday, as a final gift to
his mom and dad; their own falling-in-love story.
Through it all, Areum and his family will have you laughing and crying,
for all the right reasons.
**"This novel snuck up on me and captured my heart." --Margarita
Montimore, USA Today bestselling author of Oona Out of Order