أخبار الأدب / November 24, 2020

list_Books from Korea / -

Reflections of Korea’s East and Central Asian Neighbors   By Choi Sungmin on Nov 01 2014 23:46:43 Vol.18 Winter 2012 Korea is linked with countries in East and Central Asia both historically and geographically, so it is no surprise that these regions play a prominent role in Korean literature.     Located in East Asia, Korea has constantly influenced and been influenced by other countries in the region. In fact, to say that these countries have exchanged influences is not enough to describe the complex relationship they have had. Korea’s relationship with the Ming and Qing dynasties of China was servile for a long time. In the 13th century, Korea was ruled by the Yuan Dynasty established by the Mongols and was colonized by Japan in the 20th century. Koreans, who began moving to the Russian Maritime Territory from the end of the 19th century, were relocated to Central Asia by Stalin’s policy of forced migration. The works introduced in the following are recent Korean literary works that have been set in Japan, China, Mongolia, and Central Asia.

list_Books from Korea / -

Spotlight On Three Poets: Yoon Zelim, Heo Yeon, Lee Jangwook   By  Yoon Zelim , Heo Yoen , Lee Jangwook on Nov 14 2014 16:52:19 Vol.9 Autumn 2010   Yoon Zelim , Heo Yoen , Lee Jangwook     Snow Falls on the Subway - Yoon Zelim To cross the river the subway rises above ground An ajumma1 sits silently nudging her companion’s side to say the snow is falling An old man in the next seat shakes his grandson whose eyes are half closed and points outside the window with a part of his finger missing the snow is falling A young man and woman who have been standing sullenly turn to look at each other the snow is falling A red-haired girl who sits reading a comic book swiftly pulls out her cell phone the snow is falling Snow is falling on the Han River2 Snow is falling on the subway All are grateful when the subway comes above ground momentarily   ---------------------------------- 1 A common Korean term for a middle-aged married woman 2 A river that runs through Seoul * Translated by Chae-Pyong Song and Anne Rashid. Share. Twitter Facebook Google Email .

list_Books from Korea / -

Truth Is Subjective: Stranger than Paradise by Lee Jangwook Author's Profile By Kim Young-burn on Oct 27 2014 20:33:23 Vol.23 spring 2014   Stranger than Paradise Lee Jangwook Minumsa Publishing Group 2013 276pp. ISBN 9788937473043     The novel Stranger than Paradise offers a unique narrative structure with each character’s point of view accessible to the reader. The book reads like a road trip movie telling the story of two men and a woman traveling in a car. Kim and Choi are the two male characters and Jeong is Kim’s wife. They all attended the same university and are on their way to attend the funeral of their mutual female friend, “A,” who was a fellow member of the film club during their college days. While they are traveling to the small, provincial town for her funeral, each of them reminisces about A, reflecting on things that had happened between them. All three had once loved A, but each has a bitter memory of their love not coming to fruition. They all think they know A, yet when they share their stories about her, their recollections vary. In fact, even their views on the events that take place during their trip are completely different. Stranger than Paradise does not provide a clear-cut picture. Author Lee Jangwook constructed the narrative by telling it from the perspective of each character: first Kim, then Choi, and finally Jeong. The strange questions that arise from each person’s viewpoint overlap as their stories unravel. Readers will have a hard time figuring out whose recollection comes closest to the truth. In actuality, it does not matter whether or not each individual’s story is correct since every recollection and testimony has, in its own way, a kernel of truth. There is a twist at the end of the novel, which overrides all the testimonies: there was a camera observing them the whole time. Like the viewfinder of a camera suspended overhead by a crane, it completely alters the perspective of the three characters. Share. Twitter Facebook Google Email .

The New York Times / September 06, 2023

Han Kang grew up in Seoul, a city that embraces “thousands of years of turbulence.” She recommends reading that draws from the various eras that have made up her hometown.