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Namsam recounts the years of abuse he suffered at the hands of his father during his childhood in the 1950s. His dad was emotionally and physically abusive toward his family and never appreciated them. He would always make negative comments about them, and he was especially tough on his wife. He enjoyed belittling her in front of his children, wanting them to join him in putting her down. His controlling behavior was so strong that his wife could never say no to him. He expected his family to obey him, and he could do whatever pleased him. He would beat up his wife and children for no good reason. During these years of abuse, Namsam would still always stand up for himself, his siblings, and his mother. But at the same time, he tried to seek out his father’s approval.
Namsam openly describes how these years of abuse affected him mentally and psychologically. For instance, he establishes a sharp contrast about how he reacted when his mother and father passed away. When he found out that his mother was dead, it deeply affected him. However, years later, when his father died, he discovered that it did not affect him nearly as much as his mother’s death. In fact, over the years, Namsam always wondered if his father loved his family at all. The author offers up a refreshingly honest look at his emotional experiences in his book. In fact, the more he taps into his feelings, the more he realizes that he has finally forgiven his father. Readers will appreciate this book because it conveys the message that one can free themselves by exploring their emotions deeply. Namsam’s candid memoir might even offer some desperately needed hope for those dealing with their own stories of familial abuse.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review