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The Camellias
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 21, 2020
It's writing like this that makes me want to quit trying. Honest. This slender volume is three short stories written by Kim Yu-Jeong. They were written in 1936 or '37. He died in '37 of tuberculosis at the age of 29, leaving behind about 30 short stories. His stories were about working-class people trying to make their way in Japan-occupied Korea. The world lost a good one when he passed. My goodness, how good he was.
November 23, 2022
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.
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.
September 15, 2023
Very short and sweet stories of poor folk. Describing the feelings and structures that people are subjected to. Each story feels very real and reads quickly.
Want to read
May 13, 2016e
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews