As a woman and an avid student of Asian culture and history, the tragedy of Korea's so-called Comfort Women of WWII is a subject about which I read everything I possibly can.

Therese Park did an outstanding job of compiling the stories of many of these sad souls into a novel which, I believe, accurately depicts the conditions under which these women were forced to live.

I have lived in Korea for 10 years. I have read some documentary-type information about the later lives of the surviving Comfort Women. This novel would have been even better if the author had included some of the types of experiences the Comfort Women faced upon return to their Homeland.

I highly recommend this novel for those who desire to read fiction based strongly on historical fact.

I read "A Gift for the Emporer" in one sitting last night. I couldn't put it down! Compelling storyline and an authentic narrative voice! I found the main character of Soon-ah to be quite real and three-dimensional. The graphic and horrifying descriptions of what the Korean "comfort women" endured is a testimony and reminder of the horrors of war. Yet, there were several poignant scenes that made me hope Soon-ah would survive. I've read a number of novels inspired by the "comfort woman" history (Nora Okja Keller's "Comfort Woman" and Chang-rae Lee's "A Gesture Life"). Although those books contain lyrical and beautiful prose, I find that "A Gift of the Emporer" is the only novel that truly shows in great detail what atrocities these women suffered, and the strength and grace they showed in the face of the enemy. I enjoy literary fiction and beautiful poetic prose, but I think Ms. Park's clean and clear language, along with her ability to blend historical fact with fiction, makes "A Gift of the Emporer" one of the better fiction books on this topic. I highly recommend this book, especially for students. I also met Therese Park when she was on a book tour in California, and was very impressed with her passion and dedication towards creating more awareness for victims and survivors of war crimes. She is a gifted writer who shows great promise. I look forward to her next book.

This is apparently Therese Park's initial foray into writing, and this first attempt is very satisfying. Soon-ah, the book's protagonist, is presented with warmth, tenderness, and with a passion that is very tangible, but that never actually descends into being overly melo-dramatic. The horrors of Soon-ah's captivity as a "comfort woman" by the Japanese are graphically described, not for the sake of gratuitousness, but to allow the reader to understand the circumstances. This is a moving fictional account of the horrible reality of war.