Kept: A Comedy of Sex and Manners

I didn't like the cover design and the subtitle, but the book is great. I read my parent's copy while I was at their house and could not put the book down. Euny is a very talented author and the storyline is interesting. The writing is eloquent and funny at the same time. The book provides a view of America from the perspective of Judith, a well-educated foreigner with a bit of an attitude. Judith falls into a bit of a financial predicament that leads her to travel through a series of very interesting life experiences. The readers are taken through the world of Korean and Jewish communities in America and through the upper class societies in New York and Seoul.

A wonderful read. Euny Hong manages a startling combination of humor, erudition, and poignancy. The story centers around a main character (Judith), and her experience as a high-class prostitute. The reader develops both an intense affection for the bright, straight talking protaganist, and also some amount of revulsion for the self-obsessed, class-conscious character. It is this tension which keeps the reader fascinated, and propels the story. At some point one becomes so attached to Judith, and so bound up in the narrative, that there is nothing to be done but to finish the book in a single sitting.

An entertaining trip through the world of New York's (and Korea's) upper class, alongside an opinionated guide. Narrator Judith Lee's travails and her comments on art, society, and every other subject imaginable keep the story moving right to the end.

euny has a sense of humor palpable to all. it made me chuckle the whole way through. her intelligence and knowledge of her topics are evident in her literary, cultural and social references. brimming with references to philosophy, literature and mainstream culture, it still carries along light-heartedly. the scarce portrayal of korean families and culture in current literature are surely made up for in this read. she brings a refreshing insight to the struggles of an ancient tradition adjusting to modern society. this book certainly captivated me until the end.

Reading this book was the one thing I looked forward to every day for a week. I love Judith ("Jude"), the main character, she's hilarious and very real. She is from a family of Korean bluebloods but is deep in credit card debt, so she becomes a prostitute with several other girls for an exclusive and high-class clientele in NYC. The story moves along quickly and keeps you in suspense until the very end. Jude is something of a snob, but weirdly she is also very relatable and endearing. I give the author credit for treating issues of race, sex, religion, family, and class with intelligence and honesty. A great read! I hope she comes out with a sequel.