Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but not great, memoir
Review: I am very torn in my evaluation of this book. I don't want to appear to discount the tough times that the author suffered, first as a "mixed-race" in Korea, then at the orphanage, then with her ultra-religious adoptive parents and, later, in an abusive marriage. However, as several other earlier reviewers have noted, there are many holes in the story, and other "facts" which appear inherently questionable.This memoir appears to be the cathartic process of mid-life psychotherapy, including childhood "memories" which may or may not be accurate. While the apparent (but unstated) dates in the book lead me to believe that she left Korea around age 4 or 5 (see the cover photo, taken in the US), her detailed recollections about her experiences in Korea are too vivid. Also, while her parents were wholly unprepared for adopting a Korean infant, and apparently lacked any sensitivity, it is really hard to believe that this toddler learned English in a few days and the piano in a month. As did other reviewers, I found her failure to refer to any dates, and the lack of identity of her parents, ex-husband, or anyone else to also affect some of the credibility. (If she lived in a small unidentified desert town, how did she end up so close to the beach when she took her daughter out of school one day (in August? ) to go to the beach?) Clearly, she must not have been trying to protect her adoptive parents since they are still alive, and their friends and fellow church members surely know who they are. This memoir is interesting with regard to its depiction of growing up essentially a non-believer in a Fundamentalist Christian home in a small desert town, and the hypocrisy of her family and church. Her parents appear cold and cruel. However, I am not sure how complete these recollections are, especially in light of her present perception that her parents have now made nearly a 180 degree turn in their attitude. Clearly, Ms. Kim has been psychologically scarred by her early experiences (her admitted-self mutilation is a clear sign of a borderline personality), but I was not left with the feeling that her story is representative of the experience of other Korean adoptees. Finally, although Ms. Kim is a journalist by trade, this book is not very well-written. Many sections are repetitive, the story is hard to follow because it jumps around chronologically, and the last psychotherapy section is overall negative and written in a "stream of consciousness" style. Overall, this book would have been far more compelling if it had been written in a more credible fashion.
Rating: 
Summary: Rare courage
Review: This is a wonderful, beautifully written book. After hearing an interview with her on National Public Radio, I knew I had to read it. I was appalled that one reviewer suggested that Kim "made some of it up to make her life seem more tragic." To naively or cruelly mock someone's suffering is unthinkable. Kim's Omma would be proud of her. After all that she endured, she was able to triumph in the end, and I believe that this is a clear indication that she is her mother's daughter. This is an encouraging story for all of those who have experienced pain, and are in the process of healing. I highly recommend this book for all parents, especially those considering foreign adoption. In fact, I recommend it to all my friends, and I'm not the type to generally read an "Oprah pick" type book; I prefer sci fi. Anyway, Elizabeth Kim deserves a hand. I wish her and her daughter the very best.
Rating:
Summary: I really wanted to love this book but...
Review: Elizabeth Kim does a wonderful job drawing the reader in, allowing us to experience the depth of emotions and anguish of her displaced, horrowing childhood. Her pathos is masterful and heart wrenching. As a Korean adoptee, I want to embrace her story as one that speaks about universal suffering many adoptees, children, and women have experienced. But underlying the fabric of her story are inconsistencies and an unrelentingly bitter tone lacking sublety or introspection that undermine her voice. I find myself wishing that this were not a memoir but fiction so that I won't be distracted by and stumble over little hints, possibilities of embellishment, questions of the validity of her story which ultimately diminish what she tries to convey and of what it means to hold true sorrows.
Rating:
Summary: Lessons in Ten Thousand Sorrows
Review: Anger rises within me when I read negative reviews on Elizabeth Kim's Ten Thousand Sorrows. What motivated me to choose this remarkable book out of the library was the fact that it was about a Korean war orphan. Like Kim, I am a Korean adoptee who did not have a father. I have disabilities that I have to deal with for life, and I know how Kim felt with her share of tough times. Like her, I idolize my birthmother that I never knew. Some complain about how Kim viewed her mother as "perfect with no flaws." Everyone has weaknesses in life, and I'm sure she knows that. But the reader has to realize when Kim was living in Korea, her mother was all she had and they loved each other deeply. The pair was already outsiders in society because there was no father in the family. It was very admirable that they spent the few years they shared together with a very close relationship, instead of adding to their misery and having a unhealthy bond. This fantastic novel teaches a major lesson-That you shouldn't take for granted the people in your life, because there comes a time where they won't be there anymore. If Kim wants to see her mother as picture perfect, that's totally fine. One can relate to this book if they ever felt isolated, lost, unloved, or a constant victim of throes. If not, then when reading this novel, the reader can step in Kim's shoes and see what real suffering is all about. This book is a source of inspiration to those who wish to give up on life in difficult times. Kim felt suicidal and she got the help she needed and stayed strong, regardless of all the pain. This author is a true fighter. Because of all her suffering, Kim was able to sympathize with others who went through similar hardships. All her struggles gave her a gift in providing knowledge and comfort to those who experienced the same emotional and physical struggles as she did. I believe every word in Ten Thousand Sorrows is true. Some say part of the material was false because they can't believe one can go through so much within thirty years. Those people need a reality check. This is life. I couldn't believe her parents were Christians, and these type of people do exist. Although I was never abused by my adoptive parents, I know what it's like to be abused because I've gone through so much harassment in school. I know how it feels to have racial remarks being thrown in your face. I know what it's like to be an outcast. I know the strong anger one has when others try to control you, like Kim's husband did. I know how mortifying it is when others read your diary like her parents did. I know how it feels to be depressed and think there's no way out of misery. This is what her book is all about. I have great compassion for Kim. Ten Thousand Sorrows is a real tear-jerker, and it's one of those books that have such a major impact on you, that you'll vividly remember it forever.
Rating: 
Summary: Unique life
Review: I listened to the audiobook version. Kim's whole life was astonishing, but especially the abuse at the hands of her adoptive parents and her ex-husband. These were Christians? This may go to show how "fundamental" doctrines can twist around the ideas of Christ. The word took precedence over the spirit in these folks, according to Kim. It's hard to believe that her ex-husband claimed to be a Christian at all, but I guess in some corners of these United States there are such twisted minds.
Some of Kim's introspection was not that interesting, and the poetry was maybe a nice touch, but it didn't touch me much. But there was something uniquely different in Kim's life journey, and I learned a lot from that special quality. Diximus.
Rating: 
Summary: No Comment
Review: I am a "naive", caring person and this book made me weep! To read about a child who sees her mother getting killed by her uncle and grandfather then later being adopted by "Cruel" religious parents - depressed me a great deal. But as I kept reading the book I was suspecting the writer's honesty! Especially when in page 101 she refers to the mother of her adopted mother as "How could anyone love that withered, malevolent old hag?". Automatically, once I've read that line I re-visited the holly Amazon.com and read a couple of reviews and in there I've found a lot of people who contradicted everything this pathological liar said in her "Ten thousand sorrows" book, and who calls herself a victim.
I knew about the term "Too good to be true" but only after I've lost about two hours of my life in this "book" I got to know that there must be a term "Too horrible to be true" too.
Nice one "Doubleday"! We'll see how am I going to buy your books from now on.
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