Rating: 
Summary: One of those mediocre, MFA ,ethnic novels
Review: A blend of subtle and broad strokes creating a richly textured prose in a unique and compelling novel. I enjoyed the layers and intricacies of the stories woven together to give protagonist Henry Park the profoundly human visage unearthed here. Lee uses a sensitive yet blunt observational style I found spine-tingling and poignant.For those KoAms here who thought the view of Korean immigrants stereotypical - hey, we're living it, man. Stereotypes are born of truths, painful though they may be. Look in the mirror, you'll find a lot more in common with Henry Park than you wish to admit, or you have yet to discover. Or are you just unmasking the stereotypical Korean schadenfreude in yourselves?
Lee hits the nail on the head and strikes nerves in many ways with this admirable, thought-provoking book.
Rating: 
Summary: not recommended for Korean readers
Review: As a second generation Korean-American, I am always longing for something to identify myself. Being proud of my korean culture and American culture i picked up this book hoping to find something that would attribute to my quest of an identity. Entitled Native Speaker, I was expecting a novel along the lines of a guy having a conflict between his American and Korean culture. However this is hardly the case. Henry Park, the protagonist of this novel, is portrayed as a spy against the korean culture. He works to undermine the work that has been done by Korean-American in America. Very difficult to identify with. In the novel he later begins to have a conflict with the underminging that he has been a part of and begins to regret the work that he has been participating in, but it's unpausible that a cold hearted soul who started working on a job like this would ever feel guilt about what he's done?
however some non-korean seem to identify with it so if your not korean you may like it. Up to you to decide.
Rating: 
Summary: I Was Soooooo Looking forward to This
Review: As it is, it's "serviceable" -- better, to be sure, than the relatively few other Asian-American stuff I've read, but I can't see what the hoopla is about. Now he is a good writer, in terms of his use of language -- though not quite "great" or "lyrical," I don't think -- and the premise is an interesting enough one, but I think the Asian-American existential angst feels rather strained after a few chapters. For a stone-faced fellow, the narrator/protagonist is sure given to long, almost-digressive musing! I couldn't wait for the "action" to start already -- and I know this isn't supposed to be some pulp fiction thriller -- whether that be his espionage, his crumbling marriage, etc. Just an inch above slightly disappointed is how I feel. I guess if I didn't see all those damned blurbs ("a page-turner," "thrilling," "winner of PEN," etc.) I would have been able to enjoy this more, but my expectations were whetted too high for the actual novel to come across as much more than two touches overrated. Again, the writing itself is good, but everything else just seems too unnecessarily "slow." I mean, all right, we get the Asian-American identity crisis stuff already -- can we get on with the rest of the story? And yeah, I check "Asian Pacific American" on the census. The book doesn't "pick up" until after page 200 -- everything before is mere expository prelude, and could have been worked in better, more elegantly. Also, I'm tired of writers who tell their stories too damned coyly: hints are given in drips and drabs as to very important things in the character's background. This kind of frigitdity is cheap suspense; this is a cheap and hack way of engendering suspense in the reader by limiting reader knowledge of really important background info, despite the first-person narration! As it is, I like it well enough, but, again, given the blurbs, I was expecting so much more. I guess I should've knew something was up when one of the blurbs called this an "Asian-American 'Invisible Man'"...! To sum up, my main "beef" with this book is that there too much slogging through precious and near-pretentious angst before we get to the actual meat, which is very interesting indeed.
Rating:
Summary: I Was Soooooo Looking forward to This
Review: As it is, it's "serviceable" -- better, to be sure, than the relatively few other Asian-American stuff I've read, but I can't see what the hoopla is about. Now he is a good writer, in terms of his use of language -- though not quite "great" or "lyrical," I don't think -- and the premise is an interesting enough one, but I think the Asian-American existential angst feels rather strained after a few chapters. For a stone-faced fellow, the narrator/protagonist is sure given to long, almost-digressive musing! I couldn't wait for the "action" to start already -- and I know this isn't supposed to be some pulp fiction thriller -- whether that be his espionage, his crumbling marriage, etc. Just an inch above slightly disappointed is how I feel. I guess if I didn't see all those damned blurbs ("a page-turner," "thrilling," "winner of PEN," etc.) I would have been able to enjoy this more, but my expectations were whetted too high for the actual novel to come across as much more than two touches overrated. Again, the writing itself is good, but everything else just seems too unnecessarily "slow." I mean, all right, we get the Asian-American identity crisis stuff already -- can we get on with the rest of the story? And yeah, I check "Asian Pacific American" on the census. The book doesn't "pick up" until after page 200 -- everything before is mere expository prelude, and could have been worked in better, more elegantly. Also, I'm tired of writers who tell their stories too damned coyly: hints are given in drips and drabs as to very important things in the character's background. This kind of frigitdity is cheap suspense; this is a cheap and hack way of engendering suspense in the reader by limiting reader knowledge of really important background info, despite the first-person narration! As it is, I like it well enough, but, again, given the blurbs, I was expecting so much more. I guess I should've knew something was up when one of the blurbs called this an "Asian-American 'Invisible Man'"...! To sum up, my main "beef" with this book is that there too much slogging through precious and near-pretentious angst before we get to the actual meat, which is very interesting indeed.
Rating: 
Summary: Identiy Journey
Review: Chang-Rae Lee's novel Native Speaker utilizes an immigrant to portray the hardships of finding one's identity in a cultural world. True identity is one of a noble journey. The narrator Henry Park, a Korean American, accepts this quest. Henry Park is the stereotypical second generation son who doesn't know his place in the "New World" society. He spends most of the book searching for the truth. Along the way he experiences hardships that affect his journey. His wife, an American, initiates this journey by listing characteristics of him from her point of view. She leaves on a journey of her own, without him, to Europe. Henry's job as a spy symbolizes his mask in life and his hidden identity. He's task is to protect a politician who is well-liked among immigrants. The main theme in this novel is lost identity. Chang-Rae Lee's novel surfaces this common problem among Koreans in the American society. Henry's relationship with his father, mother, housekeeper, and wife all play significant roles in his quest. His relationship with his father is a typical one among first generation and second generations in a new country. The first generation is wedded to the ways of the "Old Country" and it is the second generation that forsakes them. This statement is obvious in Henry and his father's relationship. Henry wishes for his father to become assimilated into American society and "normal." Henry experiences this want of "fitting in" even from a young age. He is disillusioned throughout the whole book, unaware of what is developing around him. He at a point in the book views his cultural background as a burden unto himself and his life. Henry's family does not understand his burden. Henry doesn't realize the sacrifice his family made for him to live in a better place, to grow and become a successful man. His character is one that resembles a romantic hero. His love of nature and distrust of society is evident throughout the book. Lee uses many stylistic strategies to achieve his portrayal of lost identity. He commonly uses strong diction to reveal Henry's emotions and thoughts. Lee also uses many similes and metaphors to compare Henry's feelings and search for true self. Many motifs are used repeatedly throughout the book to reveal a layer of Henry's multi-layered character. A common motif found in the book is one of Hemingway's philosophy of NADA. This philosophy's characteristics are repeatedly found in Henry's actions. Chang-Rae's use of prose style helps the reader become easily involved in the plot and emotions of the characters. It evens achieves a sense of questioning of identity for the reader and their thoughts. Throughout the book Henry deals with the isolation, alienation, and loss of self identity to finally achieve a sense of identity in the end. He does not completely achieve it, yet he is few steps closer than before. I believe that Chang-Rae Lee's novel describes beautifully the struggle between two worlds and the journey. Overall, I liked this novel for I believe it was a realistic novel that deals with realistic problems that people face in today's society.
Rating:
Summary: Jumping paragraphs half way through...
Review: I was very excited to read this book after learning that it could be the chosen one thousands of New Yorkers would read ....this coming spring. ...The first chapters are very interesting, Lee dissects everything in sight, from relationships, through the character's jobs, failures and dreams. Half way through the book I was still excited and enjoyed the crescendo and wondered where was I headed? Somewhere interesting and fulfilling I hoped. That's when the disappointment started to sink in. Mr. Lee opened the Pandora box of his talent when writing this book and like Indiana Jones found himself in a very dangerous situation where only the likes of Harrison Ford can escape alive. Page after page, while meandering from one plot to the other I felt dizzy and couldn't see the end of the book in sight. I was not is search of a punchline and loud cymbals to clap at the end - I am snob enough to think that I can grasp the multivariate messages of most writers- . I was in search of a coherent dismount that would honor the first half of Lee's routine. Alas, I didn't see this, what I saw was more of a crash-landing. Good effort but better luck next time. Maybe I missed something, but last night I caught myself reading just keywords and jumping entire paragraphs to the end in search for the key dialogues and interesting descriptions. Wishing that I had the patience and presence of mind to follow the unbearable rhythm of this tired and repetitive ode to pseudo-stoic double faced characters. Finally around midnight I finished this book. Thank God, do yourself a favor, don't read it. There are so many good books out there and BTW for New Yorkers? That's why Tom Wolfe wrote The Bonfire of Vanities.
Rating: 
Summary: An American Tragedy
Review: If you read a great deal, you recognize that only a few books are truly profound and will be regarded as noteworthy among those written in a particular era. Having just finished "Native Speaker" I was both moved, and extremely impressed. This is clearly one of the distinguished books of this generation. Chang Rae Lee is clearly a man of acute depth and insights, and he eloquently represents distinctly different cultures, and the angst, disillusionment, and metamorphisis arising from survival that affects immigrants. He also probes fundamental issues of family, loyalty, betrayal, and the question of what constitutes success. While he employs Korean, and Korean American prototypes, his themes and issues are fundamentally human, but perhaps distinctly American. Furthermore, Lee is a superb wordsmith and a beautiful writer, with a masterful command of the English language, which he skillfully and artistically, employs to convey his complex tale and profound concepts. I was motivated to read this book when I read that this was the book that had been recommended by many as that which diverse, fractious, and iconoclastic NYC should claim as it's own in the trend for each of the nation's cities to focus on a book to read. However, this is an important book for all Americans, as it trully speaks to the American experience. I noted one review compared it to Ellison's "Invisible Man". While I think that it stands alone, if I were to compare it with other American classics they would instead be Dreiser's "An American Tragedy" and Richard Wright's "Native Son". I am very pleased that I chose to read this book; it is noble, touching, and important.
Rating:
Summary: A poor choice
Review: It is unfortunate that "Native Speaker" is the likely choice for New York City's ad hoc citywide reading group, as The New York Times reported Feb. 19. I typically read 25+ novels a year, and last year this novel was the least interesting and most cliched I picked up. I forced myself to finish it. "Native Speaker" is so very similar to Tom Wolfe's "Bonfire of the Vanities" in tone, attitude and description that it offers very little that is original and revealing. Wolfe's novel was deserving of its praise, but it does not follow that a book that apes Wolfe should also be lauded. Occasionally Lee's prose may indeed be "remarkable" as some reviewers have suggested, but more often his writing is flat, predictable and downright boring. I am not a Korean American, but I live very near Manhattan's Koreatown, spend much time there, and I speak some Korean. I was eager to read this book given my interests, yet no book recently disappointed me as much as "Native Speaker" did. If you seek a novel that looks at New York from an Asian resident's view, get Fixer Chao by Han Ong, a far superior novel.
Rating:
Summary: A poor choice
Review: It is unfortunate that "Native Speaker" is the likely choice for New York City's ad hoc citywide reading group, as The New York Times reported Feb. 19. I typically read 25+ novels a year, and last year this novel was the least interesting and most cliched I picked up. I forced myself to finish it. "Native Speaker" is so very similar to Tom Wolfe's "Bonfire of the Vanities" in tone, attitude and description that it offers very little that is original and revealing. Wolfe's novel was deserving of its praise, but it does not follow that a book that apes Wolfe should also be lauded. Occasionally Lee's prose may indeed be "remarkable" as some reviewers have suggested, but more often his writing is flat, predictable and downright boring. I am not a Korean American, but I live very near Manhattan's Koreatown, spend much time there, and I speak some Korean. I was eager to read this book given my interests, yet no book recently disappointed me as much as "Native Speaker" did.
Rating:
Summary: Lyrical
Review: Perhaps the highest compliment I could give this book is one that I already have in the title line: this book is lyrical. And like a good lyric it acts upon your imagination to produce visuals and emotions that last with you long after you have finished the book. I am a father and Lee touches on my deepest fears in this book and makes me emphatize with him, even though I am not Korean-American. And that is the beauty of the book, that because of its specificity, it becomes universal. I do not know if the Korean-American experience is truthfully recorded here, however I do believe that truth is present in the words. The truth of father, a husband, an employee, a minority, a human ... if you are interested in a beautifully-structured and well-written book on life, loss and love .. this is the book to read.
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