In the Absence of Sun: A Korean American Woman's Promise to Reunite Three Lost Generations of Her Family

How could this true life story not be compelling? Multiple people risking their lives to get 9 strangers out of North Korea, one of the most brutal states in the world. Con artists, mercenaries and missionaries, oh my!An awesome story to tell. But written here by a childish, sheltered and self-centered woman who fancies herself a writer and almost destroys all feeling for the richness of the story and the people involved. I didn't read Lee's first book, "Still Life With Rice" which reviewers here thought was better than "Absence" so I can only judge her as a writer by this book.At the same time I couldn't put the book down because I had to know what became of these wretched people, I cursed the sloppy story-telling and infernally affected self-referencing throughout. Me, me, me, all about Helie. What a spoiled, boring woman, I thought. I would like to have read this story as written by a much more talented and worldly author. Even as one of the protagonists of the drama, Lee brought nothing to the table, even detracting from the story with her limited knowledge and experience of Korean culture and the world at large.With a story like this one, the book could have been great. As it is, it's hardly adequate. Having stories to tell does not make one a storyteller. Perhaps Lee should consider a co-author for her next book about her family's heroic exploits.

My Book Club selection. Amazing story of bravery, determination, family loyalty, corruption and perseverance during an extraordinary attempt to rescue a family member from North Korea only to find in the end that eight family members were brought out. The descriptions of life in North Korea are way beyond anything most of us can imagine.

I wanted to read another book by this author. I taught in the elementary school on the Army base in Seoul many years ago and have an affinity to things Korean ever since. I met many young people in their 20s whose relatives were captured by the North Koreans never to be heard from again by those in the South. This subject fascinates me.

This book is an amazing account of the Author trying to help her 82year old Grandmother unit their family from North Korea. Her realizations of the Dangers she has put her family and herself show the reality of This Communist country and it's leader. I highly recommend it and the the first book. Life in Rice. Both written by Helie Lee

How often we do things without regard of how it may affect others around us. Thus was the case with the author of this book. When Helie Lee wrote her first book detailing her grandmother's history in fleeing North Korea, she never considered the consequences of her words on family members still living in North Korea. This book details her life once she recognizes the responsibility she must undertake to assist those left behind. Honest, graphic and full of emotions! I thoroughly enjoyed this non-fiction, nail-biting journey into the darkest, (sometimes), corners of the author's life. Great book!

I gave this book as a gift and she says it is marvelous - I will rea it next!! I was notified it wasn't available but it arrived in a few days in excellent condition! Carolyn Jenkins

This book was written by my ex boyfriends sister. I learned alot about their family reading this and her other book. Thank you for sharing your life w/ us.

Beautifully written heartfelt story

AOK