THE MAGICAL LANGUAGE OF OTHERS
Washington State Book Award Winner,
Pacific Northwest Book Award Winner,
Association of Asian American Studies Book Award Winner,
PEN/Open Book Award Longlist,
One of the Best Books by Asian American Writers by Oprah Daily,
The Magical Language of Others is the work of a fearless and poetic mind grappling with forgiveness, legacy, and intergenerational trauma. Told through the forty-nine letters E. J. Koh's mother wrote to her in Korean after leaving her in California at fifteen, it is a story of translation, reconciliation, and love among four generations of women.
ISBN: 9781951142278
Pages: 224
"Stunning." —Alexander Chee, How to Write an Autobiographical Novel
"A beautifully crafted saga...graceful and moving." —Nicole Chung, All You Can Ever Know
“Poignant…. Koh writes beautifully of the sacrifices made for love and of the intergenerational tensions between a mother and daughter.” —Oprah Daily
"A moving portrait of abandonment, forgiveness, and the strength of maternal love." —TIME
"Koh’s book is a tremendous gift. We’re so fortunate to have this literary reckoning from a tremendously talented writer. The Magical Language of Others is a wonder.” —The San Francisco Chronicle
“A haunting, gorgeous narrative…lushly told. Brilliant.” —The Star Tribune