In the Absence of Sun: A Korean American Woman's Promise to Reunite Three Lost Generations of Her Family
Language: English
Published by Crown, 2002
- Softcover
- Used

Seller: Aspen Book Co., Denver, CO, U.S.A.Aspen Book Co.
AbeBooks seller since January 29, 2025
Condition: Used - Good
£ 3.99
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
A well-loved companion. Corners and cover might show a little wear, and you could find some notes or highlights. The dust jacket might be MIA, it might have been a library book and extras aren't guaranteed—but the story's all there.
Seller Inventory # PKV.1400081386.G
- Title
- In the Absence of Sun: A Korean American Woman's Promise to Reunite Three Lost Generations of Her Family
- Author
- Lee, Helie
- Publisher
- Crown
- Publication year
- 2002
- Condition
- good
- Binding
- Soft cover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1400081386
- ISBN 13
- 9781400081387
Helie Lee often had heard her grandmother speak of an uncle, lost decades ago when he was a child during the family's daring escape from North Korea. As an adult, he was still living there under horrid conditions. When her grandmother began to ail, Helie became determined to reunite her with her eldest son, despite tremendous odds. Helie's mission became even more urgent when she realized that her first book, the bestselling novel Still Life with Rice, about the family's escape, might have angered the North Korean government and put her uncle in danger.
Pushing through rivers and forests, fighting the cold, bribing and manipulating border guards, gangsters, and secret service agents, Helie and her father finally achieve their goal. But there are many hurdles. Her uncle is forced to make a harrowing choice: leave his North Korean family behind or continue to live in oppression and starvation away from his beloved mother. And Helie has to face her deep, sometimes ambivalent, emotions about her identity in the family and as a Korean American woman. Unmarried and outspoken, she struggles in Korea, where women marry early and keep silent, and writes eloquently about the landscape there, both literal and cultural. She comes through a heartbreaking love affair only to face an intense and confusing relationship with the Guide--the man who, despite being crude and macho, ultimately helps to save her uncle and eventually his extended family through several daring acts of heroism.
In the Absence of Sun is a riveting adventure story and a powerful tale of family bonds and reunion.
"An eerie fear crawled through my flesh as I stood on the Chinese side of the Yalu River, gazing across the murky water into one of the most closed-off and isolated countries in the world. I couldn't believe it. Even as my boots sank into the doughy mud, I had trouble coming to terms with the fact that I was actually standing there. . . . I was not prepared for the kind of despair and insane fear I felt that day. My wizened old uncle looked nothing like the sweet-faced teenager in the faded photograph that Halmoni kept pressed between the pages of her Bible. That day, at the Yalu River, staring helplessly into his terrorized face, I hadn't fully realized what a dangerous thing I had done the year before. I had placed him and his family in danger. By including details of my uncle's life in a book, I had alerted North Korea's enigmatic leadership to the identity of my relatives in a nation where it was better to remain invisible." --From In the Absence of Sun
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Aspen Book Co.
Denver, CO, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since January 29, 2025
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 2 to 5 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 0.00 | £ 5.29 |
Payment methods
Store description
Aspen Book Company is a Colorado bookstore that breathes new life into loved books. We recycle and resell a diverse collection, connecting readers with their next favorite story while helping the environment.
Specialty
High quality and some hard to find books. Comic books and graphic novels, and lots of other fiction and non-fiction books.Seller's business information
PINKERTON COLLECTIVE LLC
1868 E 117th ct
Northglenn, CO U.S.A. 80233
Terms of sale
Company name: Pinkerton Collective LLC.
Business Address:
80 E 62nd Ave. Unit 105A
Denver, CO 80216
Email: info@aspenbookco.com
Authorized Representitive: Jacob Pinkerton
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Aspen Book Co., Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., +1 7206631151, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
International packages exceeding 3 lbs may require additional postage.