Whale: A masterpiece of modern Korean fiction
Product ID: 507601655
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A sweeping, multi-generational tale blending fable, farce, and fantasy-a masterpiece of modern fiction perfect for fans of One Hundred Years of Solitude. A woman sells her daughter to a passing beekeeper for two jars of honey. A baby weighing fifteen pounds is born in the depths of winter but named "Girl of Spring". A storm brings down the roof of a ramshackle restaurant to reveal a hidden fortune. These are just some of the events that set Cheon Myeong-kwan's beautifully crafted, wild world in motion. Set in a remote village in South Korea, Whale follows the lives of its linked characters: Geumbok, who has been chasing an indescribable thrill ever since she first saw a whale crest in the ocean; her mute daughter, Chunhui, who communicates with elephants; and a one-eyed woman who controls honeybees with a whistle. Brimming with surprises and wicked humour, Whale is an adventure-satire of epic proportions, by one of international literature's the most original voices. Review: Shortlisted for international booker, maybe the winner! - A Quote from the book: ‘LIFE IS SWEEPING AWAY THE DUST THAT KEEPS PILING UP. DEATH IS NOTHING MORE THAN DUST PILING UP.’ Has your grandma /grandpa told you stories? I remember many stories that my grandpa used to tell me. Whale reads like a story that we would listen to all huddled up and cozy, very hyggelig! This three-part novel is hilarious, and has elements of magical realism, with a singularly powerful narrative. It is utterly funny and gloomily dark. Originally written in Korean, it is beautifully translated by CHI-YOUNG KIM. On one side the story is about this beautiful lady and another story is about her not-so-beautiful mute daughter, and the story is about a one-eyed bee lady and her mother. The book is all about intertwined stories flowing mellifluously. Everything happens in Pyeongdae. This small place is connected by train and then there are quantum leap transformations. From an unknown obscure place to a well-known place on the map and then to nothingness again. The meaning of existence, social ties, and happiness differs for every character, every character has a different purpose of living and approach to life. It sort of explains the science of happiness through Geumbok’s life. There is a stark difference in the characters of mother and daughter. While the mother Geumbok, is enterprising and full of life, the daughter Chunhui, doesn't speak and prefers being left unseen. I liked Geumbok’s innovative and tenacious nature and admired the resilient and persevering nature of Chunhui. The old crone and Geumboke were heartless mothers, I hated them for ignoring their daughters. The talking elephant, who would talk only to Chunhui, was a cute element of the book. The identical twins, the man with a scar, and the one-eyed woman who could control the bees, prophecies, beliefs, and premonitions, were all interesting elements of the novel. Does a daughter pay for her mother's sins? Does a mother ever hate her children ? I loved the fact that every event was summed up as a law; the law of ideology, the law of ennui, the law of beliefs etc and there are 57 laws in the book, after every other page or so. Parts of the book remind me of the poem OZYMANDIAS BY PB SHELLY My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.” It is an enthralling book bound to make an indelible impression on anyone who reads it. It is profundity in a packet! I enjoyed reading and discussing the book with my friends. Review: Great - Amazing novel
| Best Sellers Rank | #166,023 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #24 in Disability Fiction #337 in Satire #982 in Mythology & Folk Tales |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 78 Reviews |
A**S
Shortlisted for international booker, maybe the winner!
A Quote from the book: ‘LIFE IS SWEEPING AWAY THE DUST THAT KEEPS PILING UP. DEATH IS NOTHING MORE THAN DUST PILING UP.’ Has your grandma /grandpa told you stories? I remember many stories that my grandpa used to tell me. Whale reads like a story that we would listen to all huddled up and cozy, very hyggelig! This three-part novel is hilarious, and has elements of magical realism, with a singularly powerful narrative. It is utterly funny and gloomily dark. Originally written in Korean, it is beautifully translated by CHI-YOUNG KIM. On one side the story is about this beautiful lady and another story is about her not-so-beautiful mute daughter, and the story is about a one-eyed bee lady and her mother. The book is all about intertwined stories flowing mellifluously. Everything happens in Pyeongdae. This small place is connected by train and then there are quantum leap transformations. From an unknown obscure place to a well-known place on the map and then to nothingness again. The meaning of existence, social ties, and happiness differs for every character, every character has a different purpose of living and approach to life. It sort of explains the science of happiness through Geumbok’s life. There is a stark difference in the characters of mother and daughter. While the mother Geumbok, is enterprising and full of life, the daughter Chunhui, doesn't speak and prefers being left unseen. I liked Geumbok’s innovative and tenacious nature and admired the resilient and persevering nature of Chunhui. The old crone and Geumboke were heartless mothers, I hated them for ignoring their daughters. The talking elephant, who would talk only to Chunhui, was a cute element of the book. The identical twins, the man with a scar, and the one-eyed woman who could control the bees, prophecies, beliefs, and premonitions, were all interesting elements of the novel. Does a daughter pay for her mother's sins? Does a mother ever hate her children ? I loved the fact that every event was summed up as a law; the law of ideology, the law of ennui, the law of beliefs etc and there are 57 laws in the book, after every other page or so. Parts of the book remind me of the poem OZYMANDIAS BY PB SHELLY My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.” It is an enthralling book bound to make an indelible impression on anyone who reads it. It is profundity in a packet! I enjoyed reading and discussing the book with my friends.
A**S
Great
Amazing novel
S**9
Okay
This was an interesting read, very weird story if you like that kind of thing. I did feel connected to the protagonist but there was not enough going on to really keep me enthralled with where the story was going.
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