Korean Literature Recommendations

[Jeshika]

Which are your favourite Korean books?

[Henk]

I loved The Vegetarian from Han Kang and am kind of ashamed that together with the White Book from her and Tongue from Jo Kyung-Ran I can’t remember reading more from Korean authors. Happy to explore and discover new literature from Korea in this group!

[micha]

I guess my favorite Korean book is "Please look after Mom" from Shin Kyung-sook.

[Jeshika]

My all time favourite is Our Happy Time by Gong JiYoung. It was such an amazing read!

[Maddie]

One of my favorite books ever, and first South Korean book I've ever read is "Please look after Mother", by Shin Kyung-sook. I cried my eyes out reading it. I also love "Our Happy Time" by Gong Ji-young. I haven't read any other books written by these two talented authors, but I'm sure once I do I will discover more favorites.

[Carol]

My two favorites are, The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Sun-mi Hwang and The Plotters by Un-su Kim.

In the last year, I've read Hye-Young Pyun's The Law of Lines and The Hole, and am still uncertain whether I would flock to a third. I also read The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong and, while it had some obvious flaws, I look forward to reading another novel by her.

[Edgar]

My forth Korean book is the arguably best one - Your Cold Hands by Han Kang, better than Human Acts and the Vegetarian IMHO and better than The Hole. I am reading it in German so I do not know the proper English title. In Korean it is 그대의 차가운 손. Possibly, there is no English translation yet.

[Paul]

I'd like to recommend the small press Honford Star who specialise in East Asian literature - c50% of their output is translated from Korean.

In 2018-19 they focused on some classic literature from the 1900-1945 period. But in 2021, they have three books due, all from modern writers in the speculative/SF area, but strongly literary as well.

My review of the first of these with links to the others:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Paul]

Edgar wrote: "My forth Korean book is the arguably best one - Your Cold Hands by Han Kang, better than Human Acts and the Vegetarian IMHO and better than The Hole. I am reading it in German so I do not know the ..."

Wow - great to hear of a Han Kang even better than The Vegetarian and Human Acts, both of which I loved (The White Book was also wonderful). Hopefully Deborah Smith will translate at some stage.

[Henk]

Oh, very intriguing, nice to discover a new press!

[Henk]

Oke I caved in and preordered the Honford Stars forthcoming books, excited to discover their work and support some smaller presses!

[Aleksandra]

Paul wrote: "Edgar wrote: "My forth Korean book is the arguably best one - Your Cold Hands by Han Kang, better than Human Acts and the Vegetarian IMHO and better than The Hole. I am reading it in German so I do..."

Henk wrote: "I loved The Vegetarian from Han Kang and am kind of ashamed that together with the White Book from her and Tongue from Jo Kyung-Ran I can’t remember reading more from Korean authors. Happy to explo..."

I feel like I need to seriously brush up my German really fast...

[Aleksandra]

Henk wrote: "Oke I caved in and preordered the Honford Stars forthcoming books, excited to discover their work and support some smaller presses!"

I have a few books from them and they were really good deals. I need to preorder the new ones as well. Thanks so much for the tip! I had no idea there was anything from them coming out soon.

[Alwynne]

I've pre-ordered Tower and tempted by Cursed Bunny and To the Warm Horizon

[Jeshika]

I really want Cursed Bunny but I'm holding out until I've read some of the too many books I've already bought this year. Honford Star have a good little catalogue of books there. I'm impressed.

[My Little Forest]

The three that I have read which have impacted me the most as well are: The White Book, Human Acts and Almond. I'm looking forward to being introduced to more Korean books!

[Henk]

Han Kang her books are fabulous

[Alwynne]

For anyone on Netgalley UK, a digital arc of Violets is now available for request.

[Paul]

Thanks for the heads up, have requested.

Another Anton Hur translation Love In the Big City was published this week but still available on US netgalley. As is another Korean novel, Lemon.

[Alwynne]

Thanks Paul, I wasn't impressed by "Lemon" but have already pre-ordered "Love in the Big City" direct from Tilted Axis, think they probably need the support and they're offering it at a very fair price atm.

[Paul]

Yes that is very fair. I used to subscribe to Tilted Axis but dropped it at one point and I really should buy their books direct.

[Alwynne]

I should probably consider subscribing, I've liked so many of their books.

[Paul]

I actually got a little frustrated when I did subscribe as the books came sometimes after they were in the shops. I’d see signed copies for sale in Waterstones and get my unsigned copy 2 weeks later. But that may have been early teething issues.

[Jon]

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

My friend Jimmy reviewed this, and I am interested...

[Fernanda]

Anyone has read the HQ of Park Kun-woong? In Portuguese published as “Memórias de um freixo”, as adaptation of Choi Yong-tak novel’s (do you know this author? I’m searching in Portuguese, Spanish or English published books in his name but couldn’t find any)

[Aleksandra]

Jon wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

My friend Jimmy reviewed this, and I am interested..."


Adding this one to my wishlist! Thank you, Jon!