This essay appears in the anthology Why I’m a Democrat (PoliPoint Press) which was edited by Susan Mulcahy. The proceeds of this book benefit survivors of the Katrina Hurricane. Contributors include: Frank McCourt, Jonathan Franzen, Isaac Mizrahi, Tama Janowitz, Maira Kalmon, Tony Bennett and Melissa Etheridge. Incidentally, I am a huge fan of David Gutkowski of Largeheartedboy.com, because indeed, his heart is enormous.
Dear Ms. Lee,
Have just begun your novel today and am absorbed. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give, though, is that it has rekindled in me that Instinct to write after one completed short story in the past 2 years.. so I just wrapped up the notes for an opening chapter and am now typing this message.
Like you, I’m a history major from Yale (so proud of you and Mr. Lee Chang-Rae! class of ‘05 here), and am biglaw-bound for at least a few years after graduating from CLS next May. Like you, I was also interested in the jae-il gyopo situation in Japan, and lived in Tokyo for about a year after undergrad. Hoom.. a friend once said my life is like one of the wilder/unpredictable Murakami Haruki novels, not sure if this is a good thing. Lots to learn still. : )
In any case, just wanted to get in touch and say Thank You truly for writing this book. I have only poetry credits to my name thus far, but am inspired both by your work + what I know of your life story to keep it going. Hope I can make you proud.
All the best,
Steven
Oof—apologies, to stay on topic (would’ve emailed had I your address!), my mother laughed a little too meanly when I told her I dreamed of shaking hands and laughing over some jokes with Obama a few nights ago. In the spirit of his candidacy, here’s to hoping that more of my mother’s (Korean) generation will give him a chance, some day.
