Description 작품 소개
“When she saw the blue whale from the beach, she had glimpsed what eternal life looked like, life that had triumphed against death.”
Compelling characters continuously defy readers’ expectations.
The power of narrative seizes readers like a sweeping wave.
Cheon Myeong-kwan’s novel Whale, the winner of the 10th Munhakdongne New Writer Award, deviates from the conventions of fiction, captivating critics and readers with its rich descriptions and overwhelming narrative. The story depicts the winding and turbulent lives of three women: an old woman, Geumbok, and Chunhui. Rooted in the novelistic soil of mythological imagination, folk tales, urban legends, and wuxia novels, the narrative eventually transcends these sources, earning praise for expanding the periphery of Korean fiction.
Nearly twenty years have passed since its publication, yet the vast narrative and vibrant characters have only grown denser with each passing year, thanks to the infinite variations borrowed from the mouths of storytellers, which serve as the unbreakable bones and flesh of the novel. Think of Geumbok, and you think of Chunhui; think of Chunhui, and you think of the old woman. Therefore, those who talk about Whale later may remember it in slightly different versions. As a naturally gifted novelist who skillfully navigates between genres such as mythology, film, drama, and play and seamlessly weaves one story into another, Cheon Myeong-kwan’s steps not only add variation to the narrative but also expand a small world.
Whale is not just a collection of unconventional stories; it possesses a mighty presence, like a big head that bursts through the door of our lives. Readers can sift through its lush hair, savor it, trim it, and discover and empathize with the various types of humanity they wish to explore.
Reference: Munhakdongne. "Whale", https://www.munhak.com/book/view.php?dtype=brand&id=529. accessed 1 August 2023.
[Where to buy]
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1953861148?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_7E050QQV45MTX99P5SEM
There are no expectations.