Feedback on My Writings

                                               Feedbacl on My Writings

 

                                                                 By Hyon Soo Lee

 

I pass myself off as an essayist. I have written most of my essays in English over the years. As it was not easy to write essays in a language which is not my native tongue, I would have given it up long ago but for the words of encouragement that I received from my former college professors and colleagues at work. They encouraged me to keep up my writing by heaping praises on me, praises that I know I hardly deserve. Some of them are quoted below.

 

Alan Taylor: The frank tone of your essays, your ease of expression and clarity of writing seemed remarkable to me. 

 

John Bernbrock: Your essays are tinged with good humor and self-deprecation so as to make them pleasant, easy reading and not at all pompous. Your alma mater is lucky to have a graduate so able to express himself.

 

Robert Martin: Your essays are delightful and I think you are a great writer.

 

Peter Blanar: I really enjoyed your essays; they’re refreshing and well written.

 

Thomas Hart: I can see that you became a master of the English language. I marvel at your command of English. No one would suspect that you were not born in the U.S.A.

 

Joseph Ward: Your writing is both correct and cogent. I really have no suggestions about how you could improve your writing.

 

 

In 2019 Amazon published my book titled “Essays by A Korean-Canadian” in the United States. It is a collection of English essays that I contributed to The Korea Times and/or posted on social media. Having read my book, three of my former college professors sent me the following comments:

 

Feedback #1

 

I genuinely enjoyed reading your compilation of short pieces. I think it isn’t easy to write such brief pieces well, and you have obviously mastered the art. The mixture of travel observations, personal accounts and reflections on your Korean heritage, language, etc. works well to sustain a reader’s interest. 

 

I found certain pieces especially interesting and/or fun: the piece on Singapore, the accounts of your experiences in life and the one on the illogic of English are examples.

 

Your success is a testament to your ability and perseverance, as the Korea of today is a testament to those qualities in the Korean people.

 

Denis Carville

 

 

Feedback #2

 

Congratulations! What a remarkable achievement to be able to write on such a wide variety of topics and to do it so flawlessly in a language you had to work so long and hard to learn from scratch.

You are widely traveled, have read much, and are obviously very reflective on all that you have surveyed. You have lived a very full life and have a lot to share. And you still have a deep love for your native land and its culture. I am glad you have been able to put all this together between the covers of this book.

May your book find a wide audience and may you continue to enjoy your life in retirement. 

Thomas Hart

 

 

Feedback #3

 

I have read your book and enjoyed it. Your mastery of English is quite remarkable. I particularly like your travel writing. Your essays about the language are insightful and fun to read as well. In fact, the whole book is fun to read. You write with skill about what you know. A reader can't ask for more than that.

 

Joseph Ward