The Prince of Mournful Thoughts and Other Stories

Winner of the 2020 Drue Heinz Literature Prize Exploring what it means to be human through the Korean diaspora, Caroline Kims stories feature many voices. From a teenage girl in 1980s America, to a boy growing up in the middle of the Korean War, to an immigrant father struggling to be closer to his adult daughter, or to a suburban housewife whose equilibrium depends upon a therapy robot, each character must face their less-than-ideal circumstances and find a way to overcome them without losing themselves. Language often acts as a barrier as characters try, fail, and momentarily succeed in connecting with each other. With humor, insight, and curiosity, Kims wide-ranging stories explore themes of culture, communication, travel, and family. Ultimately, what unites these characters across time and distance is their longing for human connection and a search for the place - or people - that will feel like home.