Korean Literature discussion

Annyeonghaseyo! In March we will be discussing "Please Look After Mom" by Shin Kyung-sook. The book is a work of penitence, which became a bestseller in South Korea and got somewhat favorable reviews, like the one in the NYT.

I have already read the book and did not like it at all, but I'm looking forward to seeing what you make of it. Maybe there is something to appreciate about it after all?

I still need to pick it up (have it lying around) but why did you dislike it Aleksandra? Any thoughts/observations to share?

It sounds like the reviewer for the NYT didn't care much for it either.

I was put off this one by reading that it was extensively revised for the English-language market because it was assumed that a lot of the cultural issues would be too alien for readers outside Korea.

I've finished it and was not impressed. It reads easy but feels rather over the top in martyrdom of the mother, even though the message underlying that one should not take loved one's for granted is valuable. Would definitely not say this is a Bookerprize winner based on sentimentality and sparseness of the prose.

Henk wrote: "I've finished it and was not impressed. It reads easy but feels rather over the top in martyrdom of the mother, even though the message underlying that one should not take loved one's for granted i..."

Exactly. I was put off by the style of it as well. And pathos aside, what was the point of the narrative anyway?

Some time ago in the Japanese Literature club we read "Tokyo Ueno Station". I feel like "Please Look After Mom" was aimed at a similar target, just failed at reaching it.

Alwynne wrote: "I was put off this one by reading that it was extensively revised for the English-language market because it was assumed that a lot of the cultural issues would be too alien for readers outside Korea."

I wonder what elements have been taken out. Perhaps the book would have much more to offer had they been left intact...