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.

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!