I read various books written by Korean authors so far, and l can say that every single one of them is unique in terms of novelty and literary value. However, one of my favorite writers is no other than Han Kang, well-known for her fiction work “The Vegetarian”. She gained enormous recognition internationally and even won the Man Booker Prize in 2016. Her works have been translated not only into English but into other languages as well. Recently l had the chance to discover another marvelous work created by Han Kang, called “The White Book”.
Born in Gwangju in 1970, Han Kang moved to Seoul where she diligently studied Korean literature at a very famous university. Her passion for writing and creation helped her become one of the most prominent Korean authors. Han Kang began her journey as a writer by publishing some of her poems in “Literature and Society”(1993).
As a Korean language and literature graduate, I had the chance to read one of the most popular books written by her and discuss it with my Korean professors. The work I am referring to is, of course, “The Vegetarian”. I was extremely impressed by her narration style and I wanted to discover more.
Works:
- Fruits of my Woman
- Your cold Hand
- The Vegetarian
- The White Book
- The things around the Love
Awards:
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism Today’s Young Artist Award (2000)
- Yi sang Literary Award (2005)
- Man Booker International Award (2016)
- San Clemente Literary Prize (2019)
The White Book
“Each moment is a leap forward from the brink of an invisible
cliff, where time’s keen edges are constantly renewed. We lift our
foot from the solid ground of all our life lived thus far and take
that perilous step out into the empty air. Not because we can
claim any particular courage, but because there is no other way.
Now, in this moment, I feel that vertiginous thrill course through
me. As I step recklessly into time I have not yet lived, into this
book I have not yet written.” (The White Book)
The white book is not a novel as many readers would expect, but a wonderful collection of essays inspired by simple moments in life. The author does her best to channel her inner suffering and pain using intricate stories. She tries to understand the reason behind her sister’s death. Why her? Why then? What is the purpose of everything?
Grief and despair. Sadness. Hopelessness. And then rays of hope and joy. Whiteness. Finding a reason to live. Rediscovering your purpose. The white book is actually a meditation on how to overcome hardships in life. It also talks about death and rebirth. Beauty. And the fragility of life. Each chapter describes a white object that triggers a certain type of feeling or sensation.
Opinions
While reading the book, l experienced an indescribable mixture of feelings and emotions that overwhelmed me. The words are simple, the page format minimalist but somehow those few lines delicately picture the beauty and the pain of human existence. Those words printed on the white paper made me travel to a parallel dimension. Everything felt so vulnerable, yet so concise. Reading the book made me rethink my whole life. Reorganize my list of priorities. Dreams. Everything.
“If that were so, would the souls of this city sometimes drift to
the wall where they were once gunned down and flutter there for a
time with such a soundless motion? But she knew that the people
of this city did not light candles and lay flowers in front of that
wall only for the sake of such souls.” (Spirit- The White Book)
My favorite chapter is Spirit. The author manages to paint a fragile picture of human existence, emphasizing the restlessness of the human spirit. She mourns her sister’s short existence in this cruel world and silently prays for her soul.
At the same time, she is thankful for being alive, even if that hurts sometimes.
Would you like to find out more about Han Kang’s life? You can watch her interview below:
Moreover, if you plan to read more about the author’s biography and works, you can find her books online for free in a multitude of languages on the Digital Library of Korean Literature
Have you read any of the books written by Han Kang or other Korean authors? Which one is your favorite and why? Let us know about your experience.
Do you have questions? Drop me a DM on Instagram. Have a great day!
If you love Korean literature the Literature Translation Institute of Korea holds an annual contest for readers. Prizes include a trip to Korea. Click Here for more information!
