Long for This World is the wonderful debut novel by Sonya Chung. Chung’s writing is precise and effortless, with nothing superfluous to get in the way of a good story.

It is the story of  a Korean family and their Korean-American relatives. There are many fascinating characters whose lives are woven together throughout the story. Although there is a lot of tragedy and loss, there is also a lot of hope here. Some are not “long for this world,” but others are, and this is a story about the survivors and what that means.

It gave me a rare glimpse into Korean culture, a culture I know very little about. Chung is a brilliant writer who masterfully portrays both female and male characters. She has a keen eye for detail, and this is a superb novel. I can’t wait for her next novel.