Book Review: ‘The Starlet And The Spy’ Is Good Debut Novel

Author Ji-Min Lee’s debut novel is a a great historical fiction novel about a Korean War survivor Alice J. Kim and Marilyn Monroe in 1954. The war has been over for a year but South Korea is still not what it use to be. Alice is from North Korea but live here now with her new name of Alice. She is a typist and translator for the Americans. She learns that Marilyn will be coming to visit the troops and she is assigned to be with her as a translator/assistant. She is now sure about this but has no choice but to do it.

Alice still thinks about the things that have happened in her past when she is with Marilyn. She finds that Marilyn is not what she expected. She has no airs about her and is easy to talk to. She soon has to deal with her past and finds solace in Marilyn and her visit.

A well-written look at one woman’s life during and after the Korean Was and how it has affected and continues to affect her life. I was engrossed in this story of Alice and readers will of this story will be as well. Ji-Min Lee is one to watch in the future.

You can pick up The Starlet And The Spy in stores on Tuesday, September 10th from Harper Paperbacks.