Kim Ho-Yeon's Reading List

"The narrative in Whale is so engaging, weaving a tale of one person’s journey from humble beginnings to successful entrepreneur. At first, it seems like the simple story of a bricklayer, but it evolves into a saga encompassing the lives of people across different eras in the past century, finally bringing us to the present day. Cheon Myeong-kwan began his career as a film screenwriter, before he made a stunning debut on the literary scene by winning a prestigious Korean award with this novel. He is a natural storyteller whose work captures the essence of Korean magical realism . I’m thrilled that this remarkable novel was nominated for the 2023 International Booker Prize , garnering attention from English language readers."

"Mirinae Lee was born and raised in Korea and pursued English literature studies in the United States. Upon moving to Hong Kong, she decided to embrace the challenge of writing a novel in English. 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster is an extraordinary story. It was published by a major American publisher and became very popular. It’s remarkable that a non-native English speaker could pen her first novel in English and capture the imagination of readers worldwide. The content is enthralling. I highly recommend this true masterpiece that vividly portrays the strength of Korean women. I met the author at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival last year, and learned about the existence of this book and the author’s amazing story . After returning home and reading the Korean translation, I am full of admiration and respect and now recommend this novel to everyone."

"“Why does my daughter like girls? Why do other parents find it necessary to present me with a dilemma I have no reason to ponder or resolve, and persistently pressure me to just come to terms with it?” Concerning My Daughter examines questions such as these and delves into the lives of women facing the violence of hatred and exclusion. The narrative follows a mother in the first person, her daughter, and her daughter’s same-sex partner. They begin living together for financial reasons. Central to the narrative are the mother — reluctantly confronted with her daughter’s private life that she prefers to ignore — and the daughter, who struggles with societal opposition. As their uneasy cohabitation progresses, the mother’s routines take unexpected turns. Concerning my Daughter is a powerful work that candidly and coolly depicts generational conflicts and the absurdities present in Korean society. It has also been adapted into a film and translated for audiences in many countries worldwide."

"If you’re after a cheerful and bittersweet queer novel, Sang Young Park’s work is a must-read. However, it would be limiting to view this work solely through the lens of a queer narrative. It is a thoughtful exploration of the challenges, love, loss, and mortality faced by today’s Korean youth. This book has become a bestseller in Korea, and English language readers are sure to be captivated by this charming novel as well. It gained international recognition when it was nominated for the 2022 International Booker Prize . It has been adapted into a movie, and a series that was released last year on streaming platforms. To any readers who enjoyed this book, I highly recommend you also watch the film and the OTT series. I liked the movie better than the series, but others prefer the streaming platform version. They are both great examples of a novel being translated into visual language."