Great month wrap-up! Invention of Morel sounds really interesting. I read Memories of Memories of the Black Rose Cat quite a while ago—maybe five years back? I don’t really remember the plot anymore, but I do remember how it felt. It had this floaty, fragmented vibe—kind of disjointed, like memories or histories of people in exile. It was a tough read for me back then. I read it in Thai, so I’m really curious how it feels in English!
I read White Nights a couple decades ago, don't even remember it, and I recently bought The Memory Police on audiobook. I'm a sucker for the NYRB covers and I've often considered Invention of Morel.
I think The Memory Police is good on audio (with the right narrator). It has the quiet longing, melancholic writing voice. That NYRB edition of Morel is quite popular. I’ve been seeing it in social media.
I hope the narrator is okay, I’m so picky with voices (I blame it on my misophonia), I’ve had to give up on a couple audiobooks because of the narrator. I love the NYRB series, so many beautiful covers. I admit that I have bought a handful over the years solely because of the cover.
I’m new here and enjoyed reading this wrap up 🤭 I read and loved Kim Ji-young, Born 1982 but I’ve never heard of Apartment Women. The Vegetarian seems oddly fascinating but I’m unsure if I want to go on that journey.
omg i read the invention of morel last month too!! so good and totally agree with your take— i was skeptical at one point that Casares wasn’t going to be able to land the plane, but boy did he nail it. Such a smart, painful read.
i definitely know what you mean about coming away from The Vegetarian not knowing if you *liked* it but it having made an impression... I always recommend Human Acts first for those who want to read Han Kang! We Do Not Part was also lovely... and haunting.. I'm excited for her new book, too, 빛과 실, to be translated :)
I am crushed for you for your book club mixup!!
I was sad about it too :( Hoping to finally get it right this May 😂
🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽
Great month wrap-up! Invention of Morel sounds really interesting. I read Memories of Memories of the Black Rose Cat quite a while ago—maybe five years back? I don’t really remember the plot anymore, but I do remember how it felt. It had this floaty, fragmented vibe—kind of disjointed, like memories or histories of people in exile. It was a tough read for me back then. I read it in Thai, so I’m really curious how it feels in English!
ohhh I will report back after reading if I like it.
I really enjoyed The Memory Police and liked The Vegetarian (even though it was weird and unsettling). I'll have to check out the others!
It was weird indeed!
I read White Nights a couple decades ago, don't even remember it, and I recently bought The Memory Police on audiobook. I'm a sucker for the NYRB covers and I've often considered Invention of Morel.
I think The Memory Police is good on audio (with the right narrator). It has the quiet longing, melancholic writing voice. That NYRB edition of Morel is quite popular. I’ve been seeing it in social media.
I hope the narrator is okay, I’m so picky with voices (I blame it on my misophonia), I’ve had to give up on a couple audiobooks because of the narrator. I love the NYRB series, so many beautiful covers. I admit that I have bought a handful over the years solely because of the cover.
Same! The narrator is really a dealbreaker. Agree, the NYBR editions are really pretty.
I’m new here and enjoyed reading this wrap up 🤭 I read and loved Kim Ji-young, Born 1982 but I’ve never heard of Apartment Women. The Vegetarian seems oddly fascinating but I’m unsure if I want to go on that journey.
Thank you, Fatima. 💕 The Apartment Woman is a new release. Agree, you have to be on a specific mindset going in The Vegetarian.
So glad you enjoyed White Nights! I like how you described his emotional state at the end - quiet acceptance. Bobok was super weird.
Hope you make it to your book club next time and have a delightful time 😃
haha reminder has been set and will be double checking in the next few weeks haha. We will be reading The Hour of the Star.
omg i read the invention of morel last month too!! so good and totally agree with your take— i was skeptical at one point that Casares wasn’t going to be able to land the plane, but boy did he nail it. Such a smart, painful read.
love it when a book does that!
i definitely know what you mean about coming away from The Vegetarian not knowing if you *liked* it but it having made an impression... I always recommend Human Acts first for those who want to read Han Kang! We Do Not Part was also lovely... and haunting.. I'm excited for her new book, too, 빛과 실, to be translated :)
glad I read Human Acts first. I guess I will probably be turned off if I read The Vegetarian first. but omg a new book??!!!
yes, I believe it’s a little essay collection — I hope it’s translated into English soon! I think it contains part of her Nobel prize speech!
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2024/han/lecture/
https://product.kyobobook.co.kr/detail/S000216361656
oh nice! I was about to ask what does the characters you mentioned earlier mean but I saw it in the link. That’s exciting!
yes, it means Light and Thread! :)