Review: Time Difference

Time Difference by Sou Linne Baik
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A short novella that is a pleasure to read, with some difficult moments. The "Time difference" could also be "Different timeline" or something along those lines, although it also ties together Korea with Europe.


The author has a smooth, pleasant writing style. I will be looking for more by her.


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Review: Hot Air Balloon

Hot Air Balloon by Son Bo-mi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I probably didn't understand much of the symbolism of this book, but quite liked it nonetheless. There was a constant feeling of "what if" in terms of things that happened in the past, and wishing things had gone differently. And the main one becomes more clear toward the end.

Reading the afterword, it was very interesting to see how the author came about her ideas for this book.


4.5 stars


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Review: The World's Most Expensive Novel

The World's Most Expensive Novel by Kim Min-Jung
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm not sure I 100% understood this novella, but I know I enjoyed it. It shows the juxtaposition between a "starving artist" writer and a financially (very) successful businessman. It is written almost as stream of thought, and in it the author seems to attempt to bridge the gap between her and her brother. How does he have so much money? How can she do the same in order to earn money? Should she?


Enjoyable and original



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Review: Convalescenza

Convalescenza by Han Kang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This felt almost like a study for The Vegetarian. Similar feel.

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Review: The English Understand Wool

The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As with any Helen DeWitt novel, this was genius, comedic and entirely unique.


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Review: Foster

Foster by Claire Keegan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a short good read and I *think* it had a really sweet/bittersweet ending.


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Review: I live in Bongcheon-dong

I live in Bongcheon-dong by Kyung-ran Jo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this short book. It is a sort of autobiography, but at the same time (and more importantly), the story of an area of Seoul that was disappearing, and apparently disappeared altogether after the book was published. The subway station still exists, however.

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Review: Galatea

Galatea by Madeline Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A nice re-imagining of the Pygmalion story from Ovid, discussing his creation in a way Ovid never considered. A great short yet poignant read you can get through in one session.

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Review: Poor Man's Wife

Poor Man's Wife by Eun Heekyung
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This short book left me feeling frustration, anger and disappointment, which was probably the point. 

It shows the frustration on both the side of the husband and the wife in a so-called 'typical marriage'. 

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Review: The Chronicle of Manchwidang

The Chronicle of Manchwidang by Moon Soo Kim
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Whenever I get the feeling a book has ended mid-story, I can only assume I missed something, whether plotwise or symbolic (usually symbolic). This was what happened here. The story was quite interesting, building up gradually as the son makes his journey South, leading to a culmination toward the end, only to conclude... I'm not sure how. Oddly, I guess. With a sort of whimper. Which is why I assume I'm missing something. Probably some of the symbolism of "Manchwidang" itself. 

But this might also be due to my reading in translation. If the Hangul, or even the Hanja of Manchwidang were shown it might help. Am I right in thinking one version was "滿醉" (very drunk), while the 'official' one was "萬歲" (10,000 years)? 

Still, an enjoyable short story. 

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Review: An Appointment with My Brother

An Appointment with My Brother by Yi Mun-Yol
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great book by Yi Mun-Yol. Although this is an "imagined" encounter with his North Korean half-brother, it seems autobiographical enough that my theory (completely without basis in anything), is that it actually happened. As he mentions in the book, any such encounter would have been illegal both in South and North Korea. Nowadays it would probably be ok to admit it in the South, but probably not in the North. Anyway, it's much more likely that he imagined it, since I'm sure all these thoughts have been ruminating in his mind all his life, since his father escaped to the North, but still. 

Also, apparently I read an earlier translation, but I think it's ok. The newer translation seems to add context for international readers. 

Regardless, a great book, including a lot of thought on what reunification of the Koreas might entail and the different opinions and parties that would be involved. 

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Review: A Dwarf Launches a Little Ball

A Dwarf Launches a Little Ball by Cho Se-Hui
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A few points: 

1) The book I read was quite short (88 pages), but apparently this was originally a collection of 12 intertwining stories. I get the impression I read an abridged version. 

2) I understand this is a classic in Korean literature, but having read other, more modern renditions of the same plight beforehand, I have to say I enjoyed this one less. My favorites are those by Hwang Sok-yong, such as "At Dusk" and "Familiar Things". 

Having said that, the story was poignant, and the struggle of this family, and others like it, which very much existed in 1970s Korea, becomes vivid.

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Review: Between Heaven and Earth

Between Heaven and Earth by Daenyeong Yun
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an excellent book! It was a tad reminiscent of some contemporary Japanese fiction, only in that it had that same dreamy/semi-surreal feel that you can get with Murakami or Yoshimoto.

Bonus that it takes place in Wando, an island I visited around a decade ago, quite randomly.

Regardless, a great novella with a resonating story, and the Pansori music as a backdrop. I wish there were more by this author in translation, but it looks like there isn't, at least not yet.

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Review: Off to Battle at Dawn

Off to Battle at Dawn by Hyeon-seok Bang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My first book by this author, and a grim look at the inside of a (I'm guessing) somewhat typical factor in Korea in the 1980s. This is a group of (mostly) women on strike, and a view from the inside at all the trials, tribulations, doubts, conversations, arguments, etc. involved with endeavors like this. And an illustration of how the deck is stacked against them from the beginning. 

To be honest it wasn't my favorite. While it is probably very realistic, it didn't really do much other than take the premise and squeeze out various scenarios that might occur over time, ending with a still-ongoing strike. 

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Review: 소설가 구보씨의 일일 = A Day in the Life of Kubo the Novelist

소설가 구보씨의 일일 = A Day in the Life of Kubo the Novelist by Pak Taewon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Apparently this novel was sort of an exercise in the Korean language and what it was capable of. So unfortunately I'm sure a lot was lost in translation. 

However, it was also a fascinating glimpse into a solitary life during the Japanese occupation of Korea.

A very interesting short read.  And I see from another commenter that Yi Sang drew of picture of Kubo!

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Review: The Road to Sampo

The Road to Sampo by Hwang Sok-yong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very atmospheric short story, taking place during the early 70s, when farmers were being uprooted for factory/construction work, but the work itself was sporadic and seasonal. I liked all three characters, although the main protagonist (Yong-dal) was a bit of a mystery to me. 

And someone mentioned they made this into a movie? I'd love to see that. 

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Review: There Will Come Soft Rains

There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I must have read this in my youth at some point. The story was extremely familiar. Regardless, a good short story. And it helped me rediscover Sara Teasdale’s poem!

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Review: Danny

Danny by Yun I-Hyeong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I confess I wasn't really able to follow this story. Having said that, I really enjoyed it for various reasons. 

The commentary on grandmothers taking care of their grandchildren was poignant, very true, and as far as I know hasn't been tackled anywhere else (and I've frankly never seen it mentioned anywhere, despite witnessing it more than once). I'm really glad this book took that theme on. 

I also liked the idea of a cyborg helping out with taking care of children in the not too distant future, after a group of teachers snap. 

(SPOILER BELOW, PROBABLY):

I feel like I was missing something, however, since I never really understood why the cyborg was arrested. 

(END POSSIBLE SPOILER)

I saw some commenters had complained about the translation. I noticed some issues too (words missing here and there, or odd sentence structure), but actually I think it was more of an issue with the editor, whoever it was. I've read at least one other book translated by this same person, which had no issues. 

4 stars, mainly for discussing the grandmother child-rearing issue. 

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Review: Pilon's Pig

Pilon's Pig by Yi Mun-Yol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Everytime I read Yi Mun-Yol I'm reminded of why I like his books so much. This short story was excellent, discussing violence, and the moral dilemma of violence, both with the aggressor as well as with how the victims of aggression often are no better. 

It was interesting to read, in the afterword, how Yi Mun-yol is seen as too conservative in Korea. This story certainly didn't convey that at all (in fact, if anything it seemed quite the opposite), and frankly, knowing how his father defected from South Korea to North Korea, one can see how he might be a bit more right-leaning. 

Regardless, the book stands on its own and is a great short read. 

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Review: Alone Over There

Alone Over There by Kim Hoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I went to the bookstore run by Asia publishers and the editor working there recommended this book to me. I have no idea why she did, but I did enjoy it. The feeling is very melancholy, and gives a sense of the futility of life, but it's also very different from other contemporary Korean fiction I've read. I'll be looking out for more books by this author. 

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