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: The Camellias

The Camellias by Kim You-jeong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm very glad I picked this up (a nice selection of these "Portable library of Korean Literature" books are available at Kyobo bookstore for 5,000 KRW each).

The first story, "The Camellias" was probably my favorite, about 2 teenagers being very very bad at dealing with feelings. 

The second was a bit depressing, but very nice, also touching on superstitions of poor people getting in their way (the wife not wanting to get an operation).

The third was quite interesting as well. Again, a story of the poorer people in the countryside. 

I wish there were more available by this author in translation. 

 

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