Where to Start with Catherine Chung
Catherine Chung is a master of blending deep research, personal history, and folklore into gorgeous, lyrical prose. Because her books are standalone works rather than parts of a continuous series, you have complete freedom in how you approach her bibliography. However, depending on what elements of storytelling you prefer, we recommend choosing one of two distinct starting paths:
Path A: The Emotional and Folklore-Rich Route (Start with Forgotten Country)
If you love intimate family dramas, stories of sisterhood, and the immigrant experience interwoven with traditional folklore, start with Chung's debut novel, Forgotten Country (2012). This path focuses on the emotional weight of family legacy, cultural identity, and the myths that shape who we are across generations.
Path B: The Intellectual and Historical Mystery Route (Start with The Tenth Muse)
If you prefer sweeping historical fiction, intellectual puzzles, and stories about women fighting for recognition in male-dominated academic fields, start with her sophomore novel, The Tenth Muse (2019). This path is perfect for readers who appreciate math as a form of poetry and want a narrative driven by scientific passion and wartime secrets.
Catherine Chung Books in Publication Order
Reading Catherine Chung's works in order of publication lets you watch her evolve from a poetically focused novelist exploring family dynamics to a highly ambitious historical storyteller. Here is the chronological list of her publications, including the anthologies to which she has contributed:
- Sisters (Anthology Contribution) – 2009
- Forgotten Country (Standalone Novel) – 2012
- Asian Americans in Michigan: Voices from the Midwest (Anthology Contribution) – 2015
- The Tenth Muse (Standalone Novel) – 2019
A Closer Look at the Novels
Forgotten Country (2012)
Chung’s debut novel is a stunning exploration of heritage, immigration, and family duty. The story follows Janie, a Korean-American woman whose sister, Hannah, abruptly cuts ties and vanishes. Janie is tasked by her parents with finding Hannah, a duty complicated by their father's terminal cancer diagnosis and a long-standing family myth that one daughter in every generation is lost. To unpack the mystery of her sister's disappearance, Janie must confront the trauma of her family’s immigration from South Korea to the United States, secrets dating back to the Korean War, and the complex bonds of sisterly love.
Critics highly praised the novel for its emotional precision, leading to honors such as a PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention in 2013 and a spot on Booklist's Top 10 First Novels list.
The Tenth Muse (2019)
Shifting from the quiet intimacy of family drama to the global stage of academic history, The Tenth Muse centers on Katherine, a brilliant mathematician growing up in mid-20th-century America. Facing severe gender discrimination in the male-dominated STEM fields of the 1960s, Katherine embarks on a quest to solve one of history's most challenging mathematical puzzles: the Riemann Hypothesis. Her mathematical journey leads her backward in time to unlock secrets about her own parentage, stretching back to World War II Germany.
The novel elegantly bridges science and art, framing mathematical equations as a search for universal truth and beauty. The book was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award and cemented Chung's reputation as a highly versatile literary voice.
Short Stories, Essays, and Anthologies
In addition to her full-length novels, Catherine Chung has contributed to several key collections that highlight her versatility as an essayist and short story writer:
- Sisters (2009, Paris Press): Published prior to her debut novel, this anthology celebrates the complex relationships between sisters. Chung's contribution appears alongside esteemed writers like Margaret Atwood, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Alice Walker, foreshadowing the themes of sisterhood she would explore deeply in Forgotten Country.
- Asian Americans in Michigan: Voices from the Midwest (2015, Wayne State University Press): Edited by Sook Wilkinson and Victor Jew, this non-fiction compilation features essays from 41 contributors. Chung's piece provides insight into the Midwestern immigrant experience, reflecting her upbringing in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Catherine Chung's work, it helps to keep a few key concepts in mind to maximize your appreciation of her writing:
- The Mathematical Mindset: Chung holds a degree in mathematics from the University of Chicago and worked at the RAND Corporation before pursuing her MFA at Cornell University. This background heavily influences the structured, patterns-based beauty of her prose, particularly in The Tenth Muse.
- Folklore as Truth: In both novels, folklore and myth are not just decorative elements; they function as lenses through which the characters understand their real-world traumas and desires.
- Universal Themes: While her stories are deeply grounded in specific historical and cultural realities—such as the legacy of the Korean War or mid-century academia—they speak universally to anyone who has ever struggled to carve out an identity independent of their family's expectations.