।। Tarin Fatema ।।
Books
We are witnessing a global shift in literature. Non-European literatures are not clinging on to the margins any more. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that many Asian countries are occasionally stealing the spotlight with its vernacular novels and poetry volumes translated into English? Based on my recent readings, South Korea is leading the way.
Korean literature is usually genre-bending, constantly challenging its readers’ viewpoints without being preachy. Due to a group of brilliant translators, more and more Korean novels are getting translated into English every year. While there are plenty of good fiction titles, here are three titles you can start with:
1. The Court Dancer by Shin Kyung-sook, Translated by Anton Hur
A historical fiction set between Korea and France in the late 19th century, it follows Yi Jin, an orphan who grows up to be a dancer in the court of Joseon Dynasty but embarks on a journey to the West as the wife of a foreign diplomat. The story really focuses on Jin and the relationships she makes but it also explores issues such as identity, exoticism and assimilation, with relevant historical context. The Court Dancer is an atmospheric novel. The novel is beautifully translated. I cannot recommend this enough, especially for history lovers.
2. At Least We Can Apologize by Lee Ki-ho, Translated by Christopher Joseph Dykas
Lee Ki-ho’s debut novel At Least We Can Apologize is a satire about an agency that apologizes, for a fee, on behalf of their clients. Si-bong and our narrator Ji-man, fresh out of mental asylum, decide to make the best use of what limited “skills” they have and make a living out of it. This short but brilliantly written book forces its readers to take a closer look at modern society and its unwritten rules that we as a society insist upon.
3. Almond by Sohn Won-pyung, Translated by Sandy Joosun Lee
Almond follows a young Korean boy, Yunjae, who has a unique brain condition which limits his ability to feel and sense emotions, making him “weird” and an outcast but he gets by with the help of his mother and grandmother. When a tragic accident leaves him alone to navigate the society on his own, Yunjae finds himself in situations that even his mother didn’t foresee. It’s a heartfelt and unconventionally funny coming-of-age story about two boys, who are polar opposites of each other but slowly find out that they have more in common than they thought and form an unlikely friendship.
