마른 꽃 Weathered Blossom

by Park Wan-suh, 박완서, 유영난 (Translator)

Part of the Modern Korean Short Stories Series, the short story "Weathered Blossom" illustrates elders in love, but also discerns the substance of love, and distance between reality and feeling of love. The lady believes that love is beautiful only with lust, as it is the only way to be blinded. Thus she realizes elders in love can not be anything but a charming facade then humbly accepts reality. However, to say her lustless love is not beautiful is incorrect, as she humbly accepts the limitation of age and reality.

-Lee Nam-ho, Literary Critic and Professor at Korea University

Genres: Asia

154 pages, Hardcover

First published May 30, 2006

About the author

See 박완서

Park Wan Suh (also Park Wan-seo, Park Wan-so, Park Wansuh, Park Kee-pah and Pak Wan-so, Pak Wanso) was born in 1931 in Gaepung-gun in what is now Hwanghaebuk-do in North Korea.Park entered Seoul National University, the most prestigious in Korea, but dropped out almost immediately after attending classes due to the outbreak of the Korean War and the death of her brother. During the war, Park was separated from her mother and elder brother by the North Korea army, which moved them to North Korea. She lived in the village of Achui, in Guri, outside Seoul until her death. Park died on the morning of January 22, 2011, suffering from cancer.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Barry Welsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watch my review on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/live/Uq5gsQVE...

Hear my review on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS0Go...

Read my review on Substack here - https://barrywelsh1.substack.com/p/th...

[Rosie Mae · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a random book that as a student of Korean language I picked up at a Thrift store.
I don't at all agree with the main character's sentiment that love isn't worth sharing once you're older because there is no lust.
It's an odd book that perhaps I would understand and appreciate if I was a student of contemporary literature.

[Fasahath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really nice book. It talks about a traditional Korean woman who is aging. Her fears are so real ...

[Michaela Raschilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is one of the first books I've read with an older protagonist. Whether this is because I as a young woman primarily read books about other young people or because they are incredibly rare in literature.

I can only think of a handful off the top of my head.

I feel like this was incredibly well written, although the translation was a bit iffy at times. I enjoyed the story and the characters and the message the book had as a whole. I felt like I could write several papers on this book which is not the case for a lot of the books I read for my english classes and therefor it is a bit sad that it will be one of twenty something I'm talking about in my thesis paper.

Its a good story. I recommend that you read it if you want some insight into the psyche of a middle aged Korean person.

[Narth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the same story as found in Lonesome You from the Library of Korean Literature, albeit with a different translator. In Lonesome You it is called Withered Flower. This edition is a lovely little hardback in Korean and english with illustrations. A particular favourite of mine from Park Wansuh.

[Siew Ping · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love needs no age...it happens at anytime, anyplace....

[Pontus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't really have anything to say