Sonju

By: Wondra Chang

Narrated by: Laurie Carter Rose

Sonju opens on a chilly day in November, 1946 in Seoul, Korea. Japan has ended its 35-year occupation of Korea after the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The American military has become the new occupier. Sonju is on the way to her best friend’s house when she sees two Americans in military uniforms walking ahead of her, and her heart stirs. So begins the story that spans over two decades.

Sonju comes of age in Japanese-occupied Korea, and having received a modern education, she imagines a life of equality and freedom of choice. Her ideals soon clash with the centuries-old Confucian tradition of order and conformity when her mother arranges her marriage to a man she has never met. The decisions she makes during the Korean War lead to her being disowned by her family, betrayed by her best friend, and shunned by society.

Through the period of rapidly evolving political strife in her country following its liberation in 1945, Sonju’s private struggle to seek her relevance in a male-dominated society parallels the struggles of Korea on its way to becoming a force in the world.

©2021 Wondra Chang (P)2021 Wondra Chang

A captivating tale of female power and resilience

From the beginning, I was hooked on this inspiring story of a woman in post-WWII South Korea fighting to carve out a life for herself according to her wishes despite all the obstacles she faces. Though my heart broke for her at times, Sonju is a protagonist who refuses to be broken, and this, combined with her powerful will, is what makes her the hero of this story, despite her flaws. Sonju's thoughtful perspective, introspection, and questioning of both herself and society make her a relatable character despite being from a different time and place. "I don't live with clarity," Sonju tells her friend at one point, and then questions, "Does striving for clarity lead to a better life?" While Sonju's search for clarity never fully comes to fruition, she continues to learn and glean new perspectives throughout the years. And isn't this true for all of us? Through Sonju's eyes, Wondra Chang has given her readers an up-close look at how the personal inevitably is the political, especially for a woman in a society that refuses to recognize her full personhood. A deftly woven tale of family, friendship, and the slow yet steady forces that shape our lives, Sonju is sure not to disappoint. 


If you enjoy audiobooks, the Audible version of this is great, too. Laurie Rose Carter gives a wonderful voice performance and leaves you hanging on her every word. I listened to this on my way to and from work and found myself always slowing down or sitting for a few extra minutes in the car just to hear what would happen next!