Come Down in the World: Kindle Single Electric Literature Recommended Reading 107

By: Ed Park

Publication Date: 2014

Come Down in the World (Kindle Single) (Electric Literature's Recommended Reading Book 107)

by Victor Sampson

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2301 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	231 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Length: 7,500 words

Genre: Fiction

Summary

Come Down in the World is a short story by Ed Park that was published as a Kindle Single in 2014. The story follows the lives of two Korean-American brothers, John and Christopher, as they navigate the complexities of their family, their culture, and their own identities.

John, the older brother, is a successful lawyer who has always tried to live up to the expectations of his parents. Christopher, on the other hand, is a struggling artist who has never been able to find his place in the world. As the story progresses, the two brothers come to a crossroads in their lives and must make choices that will shape their futures.

Review

Come Down in the World is a beautifully written and moving story about family, culture, and identity. Park's prose is lyrical and evocative, and his characters are complex and relatable. The story is full of insights into the Korean-American experience, but it also speaks to the universal human experience of trying to find our place in the world.

One of the things that I loved most about this story is the way that Park explores the relationship between the two brothers. John and Christopher are very different people, but they are also deeply connected to each other. They love each other, but they also resent each other. They are both trying to live up to the expectations of others, but they are also trying to find their own paths in life.

The story is also full of insights into the Korean-American experience. Park explores the challenges of being a minority in America, and the ways in which Korean-Americans are often caught between two cultures. The story also touches on the issue of mental illness, and the ways in which it can affect families.

Overall, I highly recommend Come Down in the World. It is a beautifully written and moving story about family, culture, and identity. Park's prose is lyrical and evocative, and his characters are complex and relatable. The story is full of insights into the Korean-American experience, but it also speaks to the universal human experience of trying to find our place in the world.

About the Author

Ed Park is a Korean-American writer and editor. He is the author of the novels Personal Days and The Grand Piano, and the short story collection Retire in Flushing. His work has been published in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Harper's Magazine. He is currently the editor-in-chief of the Asian American Literary Review.

Discussion Questions

1. What are the different ways in which John and Christopher try to live up to the expectations of their parents? 2. How does the story explore the challenges of being a minority in America? 3. What are the different ways in which mental illness affects the characters in the story? 4. What are the different ways in which the characters in the story try to find their place in the world? 5. What are the different themes that are explored in the story?

Further Reading

1. Come Down in the World review by The New York Times 2. Come Down in the World review by NPR 3. Come Down in the World on Amazon

Come Down in the World (Kindle Single) (Electric Literature's Recommended Reading Book 107)

by Victor Sampson

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2301 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	231 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE