Miracle on Cherry Hill by Sun-mi Hwang

Miracle on Cherry Hill by Sun-mi Hwang

This wonderful Korean classic follows Kang Dae-Su, who after having lived a miraculous life rising from poverty to building a thriving construction company, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

He arrives in Cherry Hill, a close-knit but dwindling neighborhood, with a proud, entitled, and arrogant attitude, wishing to retreat into his childhood home and enjoy some tranquility and solitude. However, Kang soon discovers that being the owner of the property does not mean it belongs to him, as the residents encroach on his privacy. As the story reveals the contours of Kang’s childhood and its connection to the house, we see how these intrusions confront Kang with his regrets and resentments and how this home echoes not only through Kang, but through generations of the neighborhood residents. 

This is not a fast-paced novel, but rather a gentle escort through the story. Although I found the story to express some moving and powerful emotions, it’s written in a very different emotive style than we usually see in European and Western writing. It’s truly an original, and although it could definitely make you cry, it also instills a peaceful joy even after you finish the last page. Happy reading!

Reviewed by Emma Mikkelsen

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