Concerning My Daughter
by Kim Hye-jin
An unsettling portrait of love, shame, and quiet resistance
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Looking for a spoiler-free take on Concerning My Daughter?
Here’s what it’s about, why it resonated with me, and why it’s the perfect book to open our Pride Month series.
What It’s About
In Concerning My Daughter, a middle-aged Korean woman grapples with her daughter’s same-sex relationship. At first, it seems like a story of disapproval. But as the story unfolds, we see that her fear is rooted in something deeper — a desperation to protect her daughter from the pain of standing out in a society that punishes nonconformity. Through subtle shifts and difficult realizations, the mother’s worldview begins to unravel.
My Take
Restrained. Tense. Unflinching.
This novel pulled me in not through drama, but through the complexity of the mother’s anguish. Her journey isn’t about acceptance — it’s about the price of silence, the fear of shame, and the slow awakening to injustice. What moved me most wasn’t just the relationship at the center, but the mother’s realization that some things are worth standing up for — even when you’re standing alone.
Would I Recommend It?
Yes — especially if you’re drawn to books that explore generational conflict, quiet resistance, and societal pressure. It's the kind of novel that asks you to sit with discomfort — and rewards you for doing so.
📚 Read this if you liked:
I Went to See My Father by Kyung-Sook Shin
Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa
Where to Read It:
Buy on Amazon • Bookshop.org • Join the conversation in the My Asian Era book club on Fable
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