Weekly Thoughts #6
Weekly Thoughts #6, everybody!
This one is going to be a little different, as I plan to dedicate this post to write about this year’s Nobel prize winner in Literature, South-Korean author, Han Kang.
I’m absolutely thrilled, as I also have two of her books that I plan on reading. Back then, I picked these novels based on the synopsis and the particular pattern about the human condition that seemed to arise as a subject and theme of her work. It seemed to resonate with me a lot, actually, I have read from many South Korean authors that I did find that I relate to their work. Especially, Kyung-sook Shin (Violets*, I Went To See My Father* and Please Look After Mother*) or Sun-mi Hwang (The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly*, Miracle on Cherry Hill* and The Dog Who Dared to Dream*) are on the top of my list.
Han Kang received the Nobel “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life”
I only have two of her books, The Vegetarian* and Greek Lessons* but both seem to reflect this ongoing retro and intro-spective journey of the human condition. It’s ability to exist in a hopeful and healing way or its absolute destructive, abusive and anti-matter side. Which I find, where the “fragility of human life” may reside. Obviously, it is rather hard to write about books that I haven’t read, but I thought I can show you the two books I own, in case you come across this post and find it intriguing to learn more about it.
The Vegetarian
The Vegetarian** was first published in 2007 in Korean in South-Korea and then it took another whopping 8 full years to get the english translation, first in the UK in 2015 by Portobello Books. Thanks to the amazing translator Deborah Smith, who is also the founder of Tilted Axis Press (one of my favourite, indie non-profit publishing houses), where they aim to publish books that may not have the chance to be translated otherwise.
Synopsis: The novel is set in present, modern day Seoul, South-Korea. Yeong-hye who is a part-time graphic designer and home-maker one day decides that she doesn’t want to eat meat anymore. Due to the nightmare she experiences at night. The novel is divided into 3-parts, each is written from someone else’s point of view but not hers! I thought this was a brilliant and intriguing concept.
We have first the husband’s point of view, which is written in first person, and based on other synopsis’s I have read it is loaded with triggering subjects, important to keep this in mind before reading. Then, we have the brother-in-law’s point of view, written in the third person and finally at the last part, her sister’s point of view in the present tense.
I don’t want to go into too much detail, because I don’t want to spoil anything, including myself, but I have read a few reviews and almost all of them mentioned that it is a disturbing read. Usually, I take caution, but I have also realised in the past years that what the majority of readers label as books that will ‘destroy’ or ‘abuse’ you, I just don’t seem to react to them this way anymore. Maybe because I’m maturing as a reader, or because I just have read many books and just heard so many stories, that I don’t get shocked anymore. I’m not sure. Although, I think mostly the amount of hype that the people like to sprinkle these books with, is the culprit of making me way too riled up, too tense, too ready before jumping in, and then I don’t feel much when I actually read. It’s just me probably, but it can really spoil the reading experience. But again, I chose what to read on the internet, so I just like to steer clear from reading many reviews or better, none at all when I’m planning to read a new book. This being said, it is important to let readers know if there are subjects in the book that might be triggering for some.
Greek Lessons
Greek Lessons** was first published in South-Korea in 2011, the english translation came in 2023 by Hogarth Press (an imprint of Penguin Random House), translated by Deborah Smith and Emily Yae Won.
Synopsis: A young woman, who became mute due to a recent trauma, decides to take Ancient Greek language lessons in order to reclaim her ability in some way. Her teacher is slowly going blind due to a hereditary disease. This delicate human fragility, the loss of senses, the important role of language, whether in a healing or destructive way is prominent in this novel.
It’s easy to see why I chose to read her work in the future, as I am also on this never-ending journey of meditating about the human condition. I also think many of us do, even unconsciously or in a completely different ‘packaged’ form of existence. I can’t wait to really sit down and read it without rushing or without the pressure of writing a review about it.
If I am hoping to find one thing in her prose, it’s the one thing that I’m always looking for in every book that I come across: honesty. It’s harder to achieve this than it seems, especially if you are writing about such a fragile but provocative subject. I have a feeling though that her novels are going to be more than just honest, so I’m not worried at all.
If you know other Korean authors who I should look out for, please let me know in one of my socials! I’m always on the hunt for less well known authors!
I have included as always the books in a bookshop.org* list, but if you prefer amazon I have the links for there as well shown with **. Obviously, using your local library is probably the best option, if they have these titles. I just wanted to give a range of accessible options to choose from.
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*Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org where your purchases support local bookstores. I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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