Your House Will Pay

Well written, moving, suspenseful, and so engaging, this is a fictionalized version of the Latasha Harlins murder and the LA Uprisings of ‘92 . Cha weaves the plot and character threads so deftly. There were some passages that I read a few times and thought - yes, yes that's EXACTLY how you explain that feeling, WOW, Cha! A strongly recommended read.

The writing was good and the plot was executed well. Sean and Grace read as real people, but I feel awkward commenting on it because the families that this story was based on are still alive. If you want to have a better understanding of the racial tensions between Korean liquor store owners and black youth during the 90's, this is a thorough insight.

What I will comment on, though the actual plot had nothing to do with my personal history, it was eerie how much of this book mirrored random specific aspects of my life. I grew up in Palmdale and moved to LA when I was 21. To Koreatown specifically. I also married someone who's last name is Cha. It's weird to hear about my high school and have my favorite K-pop band mentioned. Definitely creepy.

Two weeks after four LAPD officers were caught on camera “arresting” Rodney King, 15 year old Latasha Harlins is shot at point blank range by Korean store owner Soon Ja Du, her death captured on grainy convenience store footage.

It's the inspiration for what Steph Cha calls her social crime novel. Here, Ava Matthew is likewise shot by a Korean shopkeeper. 30 years later, Ava's brother Shawn is trying to move past the tragedy and lives a quiet live in Palmdale working as a mover. Their cousin Ray is just out of prison after a 10 year stint for armed robbery with a toy gun. Their lives are about to collide with Grace Park.

It's a story about processing grief and the possibility of grace. How people work through a tragedy in the moments after and how it lingers decades later. Even now one can see it preface #BlackLiveMatter and echo the LA riots in Watts almost 30 years prior. A powerful read. If you're looking for context, the National Geographic documentary “LA 92”, that is comprised completely of footage from that era, is incredibly good. As well, the YouTube documentary “Sa I Gu” that focuses on the Korean women whose lives were irrevocably changed in the aftermath of the riots is equally wrenching.

Full review here: https://youtu.be/OMZOBskPA4c

This is a tough review, because it's a tough read. The characters are so REAL. I really felt like I spent time with both of these families. I'm of the age to remember reading about some of these events in the 90's but I had no idea of the personal sides and was very interested to experience them through Cha's work. I loved how she balanced both sides of the event with realistic emotions and showed that each side had it's own complexities.
For me, there was some bogging down in the middle and I found myself losing patience but that may have to do with the fact that I've been reading some very heavy lit lately and may have tuckered myself out. I need a light, breezy read before I continue on with the TOB books.