In Full Bloom

By Caroline Hwang

Book Overview

In Caroline Hwang's debut novel, In Full Bloom , all Ginger Lee wants is a promotion at the fashion glossy A la Mode magazine. All her mother wants is a nice, professional Korean son-in-law. Unable to keep her mother at bay, Ginger reluctantly agrees to let her play matchmaker. At work, Ginger's efforts at advancement are thwarted by style fiends better practiced in the art of office warfare. Away from the job, she's surprised that her arranged dates are rejecting her before she gets a chance to reject them. With wry humor, lively dialogue, and a compassionate take on being a single woman under a traditional mother's matchmaking thumb, this insightful debut is both a deliciously scathing portrait of life behind the catwalk and an endearing tale of a delicate mother-daughter bond.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452284880
• ISBN13: 9780452284883
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Penguin Adult Hc/Tr
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 10.6"

Customer Reviews

Very much enjoyed it!

For a first novel, this was a great book. To me it reads like a Bridget Jones type of book, except that the main character is not as fluffy and has a lot more going on between the ears. It was much easier for me to relate to this character as a real woman. I loved the ending, which to me was much more realistic than the "got the man and then lived happily ever after" ending that is us used in most women's fiction these days. The mother/daughter relationship rang very true to me, and it was interesting to learn how the character started to understand that it would never be a black and white relationship.

well written clever character study

Korean American Ginger Lee enjoys her New York lifestyle. Ginger gave up on attaining a PhD and ultimately becoming an English professor. Instead she currently works as an assistant drone at what she dubs "Waste" magazine for the brain drain of the staff. She is also quite comfortable with no long term relationship with men.However, Ginger's mom arrives unannounced from Milwaukee with plans to matchmake her with purebred Korean males. Mom refuses to allow Ginger to go down the unholy path of her other child George who committed family heresy by marrying a white woman. Ginger cannot turn to her sibling for help because he has severed the family ties so instead she agrees to go out with some of her mom's choice cut. At work cat-fighting may cost Ginger her job. Turning to her only ally mom for solace and strategy, Ginger begins to reconsider her heritage. She starts recognizing that though a Manhattanite, she is also a Korean-American. Accepting the complete Ginger is the only way that she becomes IN FULL BLOOM.This well written novel cleverly moves along on two obvious levels. First is the noticeable New York scene including the publishing infighting war. Second is the traditional Korean lifestyle modified in America as portrayed by mom with her take on life including marriage and her vividly uttered Korean-English that showcases a first generation individual. However the urban old country tie supports the genuinely brilliant message that the whole person cannot ignore their roots as in a sense it is not whether you can go home, but that "home" came with you.Harriet Klausner

Love the Bloom!

Just finished this last night and am obsessed! Caroline Hwang's talent and fun shine through in this novel. I love the overbearing Korean mother and the hip-single Ginger. Not only that, but the writing is strong and the story is compelling. Great beach read for the summer!

Great Book!

I thought this book was a terrific mix of the typical 20 something, looking for love storyline and the Asian American identity. It's a lighthearted book but it does bring up great examples of Asian American struggles that dont involve laundromats, take out resturants, flat out racism, name calling literature. It's a great example of the 2nd generation experience. As an Asian American woman, I felt that I could identify with this book better than other AA books.

I couldn't put it down.

Just finished this book last night. It was hilarious and well written. It really pulled you through the story and I found I couldn't put it down. Having worked in magazines I found the descriptions of the staff/office politics right on target. My mother also really enjoyed this book, which has got to say something for it.Our book club chose this book after someone saw it on the new release shelf at the bookstore - I can't wait to get together and talk about it. This may be the first book we have actually all read by the time we get together.The only problem with the book is that I am still hungry to find out what happened to Ginger after the book ends, but that isn't a bad feeling to get from a book.