The problem is that people can’t tell fiction from reality. How can a writer write only about the things she’s experienced firsthand? Don’t you agree? There’s always those who ask: “Is this your personal experience? How do you describe it so vividly?” So foolish! You must have gotten so many silly questions like that. Don’t … [Read More]
Booklist: Literature Fiction and Poetry (page 38)
The Night Nobody Returns Home (Bi-lingual, Vol 73 – Taboo and Desire)
Her eyes drew to the dark gray jacket hung on the wall. The draped jacket made her imagine that only the old man’s exterior self had been left there, decent-enough on the surface, yet deprived of its soul. The effect seemed to be doubled by the black trousers hanging from under the jacket, as if … [Read More]
He Gave Me Roses of the Balkans (Bi-lingual, Vol 72 – Taboo and Desire)
The kids want to go too, and I can’t stand it anymore. If my mouth had not been full of coffee, I probably would have spat out, What? right there. I think it was from that moment on that I felt like I was in some sort of play whenever I was with my wife. … [Read More]
Drumbeat (Bi-lingual, Vol 71 – Taboo and Desire)
After saying goodbye to my old landlady, I wandered aimlessly around the streets of Nongol. I dropped by the Swan Coffee Shop for a cup of coffee and bought a few cigarettes from the women by the road. When dusk fell, I climbed up the hillside crowded with shanties. I couldn’t hear the sound of … [Read More]
Bloody-Sunday (Bi-lingual, Vol 70 – Discovering Everyday Life)
No synopsis available Available on Kindle [Read More]
Flowers (Bi-lingual, Vol 69 – Discovering Everyday Life)
Once, when she was coming back home from school late at night, she was strangled by a black shadow that approached her from behind on a narrow lane. When she collapsed to the ground, the black shadow momentarily hesitated, then pushed his hand up the girl’s upturned skirt. Using her school bag, she hit the … [Read More]
The Canning Factory (Bi-lingual, Vol 68 – Discovering Everyday Life)
Synopsis not available from publishers. Available on Kindle, and in the Dalkey Archive collection of Pyun Hye-young stories, Evening Proposal. [Read More]
Truck (Bi-lingual, Vol 67 – Discovering Everyday Life)
No synopsis available Available on Kindle [Read More]
I Am Food (Bi-lingual, Vol 66 – Discovering Everyday Life)
No synopsis available Available on Kindle [Read More]
Puy, Thuy, Whatever (Bi-lingual, Vol 65 – Relationship)
No synopsis available. Available on Kindle [Read More]
Burying a Treasure Map at the U-turn (Bi-lingual, Vol 64 – Relationship)
Pretty impossible to find. Seoul Selection sells it, and you might pick up a copy elsewhere, but you’ll be lucky. [Read More]
Spring Afternoon, Three Widows (Bi-lingual, Vol 63 – Relationship)
No synopsis available Not available in the UK, but available on Amazon in the US at a huge markup. Try Seoul Selection. [Read More]
Rain, Sky, Wind, Port
From the publisher’s website: Kim Namjo’s dynamic use of sensual language and vibrant imagery portrays the subtlety of humanity and passion for religious life. Her work has received numerous awards and she has served as chair of the Korean Poet’s Association [Read More]
Love, Hopelessly (Bi-lingual, Vol 62 – Relationship)
Available on Kindle. No synopsis available [Read More]
Robbery Training (Bi-lingual, Vol 61 – Relationship)
No synopsis has been provided by the publisher [Read More]
Dear Leader
Publisher description: Dear Leader contains astonishing new insights about North Korea which could only be revealed by someone working high up in the regime. It is also the gripping story of how a member of the inner circle of this enigmatic country became its most courageous, outspoken critic. Jang Jin-sung held one of the most senior … [Read More]