I Wish for You a Beautiful Life: Letters from the Korean Birth Mothers of Ae Ran Won to Their Children

Rating:
Summary: The book that doesn't really answer any questions
Review: I bought the book because I wanted to understand birth mothers decisions' a little more. All I came away with was how they folded under the pressure of someone else telling them to give their children away, and how they found god. I understand the god part-after all, this book was edited by someone who works/worked for a christian maternity home. What I wanted was honesty; I didn't get that from this book. I felt a lot of emotions when I first started reading; when I had finished reading, I just felt anger. It didn't answer any questions for me. Maybe it soothes a-parents to read their stories, but as a KAD, it did nothing for me.

Rating:
Summary: The book that doesn't really answer any questions
Review: I bought the book because I wanted to understand birth mothers decisions' a little more. All I came away with was how they folded under the pressure of someone else telling them to give their children away, and how they found god. I understand the god part-after all, this book was edited by someone who works/worked for a christian maternity home. What I wanted was honesty; I didn't get that from this book. I felt a lot of emotions when I first started reading; when I had finished reading, I just felt anger. It didn't answer any questions for me. Maybe it soothes a-parents to read their stories, but as a KAD, it did nothing for me.

Rating:
Summary: Sensitive & Reassuring for All Korean Adoptees
Review: I bought this book for my Korean-born son who is now age 19. The letters in "I Wish for You a Beautiful Life" were written by birth mothers who had their babies in Ae Ran Won, a home for unwed mothers in Seoul and then gave them up for adoption. The letters written by these birth mothers and the records kept by Ae Ran Won will provide a link for Korean Adoptees to find their birth mothers later in life. This is not the case for my son as he was abandoned near a Police Box in Seoul in December 1982 at the age of 15 months. There is very little hope for abandoned children to find their birth mothers/families. That is why I feel this book can be so helpful for abandoned children. Since they can never know for certain, this book can provide some knowledge of background circumstances (cultural and personal) for unwed Korean birth mothers in general. Then, perhaps, these children can feel some measure of comfort in knowing that they were not "rejected" but will indeed be loved forever by their birth mothers. I read the book from cover to cover before presenting it to my son. I had to make three attempts to read it as I was overcome with tears each time. My son was touched to receive it and promised that he would read it during a quiet time when he can reflect on his emotions.

Rating:
Summary: Sensitive & Reassuring for All Korean Adoptees
Review: I bought this book for my Korean-born son who is now age 19. The letters in "I Wish for You a Beautiful Life" were written by birth mothers who had their babies in Ae Ran Won, a home for unwed mothers in Seoul and then gave them up for adoption. The letters written by these birth mothers and the records kept by Ae Ran Won will provide a link for Korean Adoptees to find their birth mothers later in life. This is not the case for my son as he was abandoned near a Police Box in Seoul in December 1982 at the age of 15 months. There is very little hope for abandoned children to find their birth mothers/families. That is why I feel this book can be so helpful for abandoned children. Since they can never know for certain, this book can provide some knowledge of background circumstances (cultural and personal) for unwed Korean birth mothers in general. Then, perhaps, these children can feel some measure of comfort in knowing that they were not "rejected" but will indeed be loved forever by their birth mothers. I read the book from cover to cover before presenting it to my son. I had to make three attempts to read it as I was overcome with tears each time. My son was touched to receive it and promised that he would read it during a quiet time when he can reflect on his emotions.

Rating:
Summary: Sensitive & Reassuring for All Korean Adoptees
Review: I bought this book for my Korean-born son who is now age 19. The letters in "I Wish for You a Beautiful Life" were written by birth mothers who had their babies in Ae Ran Won, a home for unwed mothers in Seoul and then gave them up for adoption. The letters written by these birth mothers and the records kept by Ae Ran Won will provide a link for Korean Adoptees to find their birth mothers later in life. This is not the case for my son as he was abandoned near a Police Box in Seoul in December 1982 at the age of 15 months. There is very little hope for abandoned children to find their birth mothers/families. That is why I feel this book can be so helpful for abandoned children. Since they can never know for certain, this book can provide some knowledge of background circumstances (cultural and personal) for unwed Korean birth mothers in general. Then, perhaps, these children can feel some measure of comfort in knowing that they were not "rejected" but will indeed be loved forever by their birth mothers. I read the book from cover to cover before presenting it to my son. I had to make three attempts to read it as I was overcome with tears each time. My son was touched to receive it and promised that he would read it during a quiet time when he can reflect on his emotions.

Rating:
Summary: A unique opportunity to hear Korean birth mothers' voices.
Review: I consider it an honor to be associated with this important book, unique because it invites the reader to hear and understand the voices of Korean women who have made the difficult decision to place their children for adoption. These letters are both heart-wrenching and hopeful. In editing this collection, I wanted to be mindful of the similarities of birth mother experiences across time and place, but also respectful of the unique context of Korea and of individual birth mothers. But most of all, I wanted the letters to speak for themselves--for adoptive parents and mature adoptees to be able to interact openly and thoughtfully with them. I hope that in the end this collection is both challenging and helpful.

Rating:
Summary: I Wish for You a Beautiful Life
Review: It took strength for these women to write these letters. It took strength for me to read them. But I recommend this book to everyone. I think we can all benefit from a few tears, a bit of new understanding, and an excersize in compassion. And please, donate some money to Ae Ran Won. They are struggling to do what's right in an unforgiving society. By buying this book you give a mother and her baby a home for a few nights.

Rating:
Summary: Sensitive, emotional and thought provoking; a treasure.
Review: Readers are extremely priviledged to have the rare opportunity to read such personal letters of Korean birthmothers. The anguish, pain, and emotional suffering of the women is in stark contrast to their joy of just giving birth. Yet, their faith and hope for a bright future for their children is so vivid. Every adoptive parent should make a point of reading and learning from this captivating book. It clearly puts into perspective how very real and selfless the birthmother's are. A humbling experience to read, with much to be learned, from the words of Korean birthmothers, whose children are not physically with them but to whom they always will be connected spiritually.

Rating:
Summary: Moving and Powerful
Review: This book is wonderful, but be aware that it isn't for children, the emotions and complexity of issues require a more mature frame of reference. For adoptees, irregardless of being Korean, it is one of the saddest things to be reminded of the day your parents decided to put you up for adoption. This book gives you the state of mind of the mothers as they make the most difficult decision in their lives.

Rating:
Summary: Moving stories of mothers needing to place their children...
Review: You often wonder how people can 'give up' a beautiful child. This book has numerous letters from mothers who struggled with the decision to place their child, out of true love placed their child, and then suffered from the guilt of placing their child. There are truly some very moving letters in this book. You can just feel the level of guilt in these mother for 'abandoning' their children and sending them around the world. To really appreciate the mothers choices you really also need to read 'The Koreans'. This book explains the Korean Confucian culture and it helps you understand why these mothers did what they did. Happy reading.