Yang: A Distant & Beautiful Placecl

by Yang Gui-ja and Yang Kwija

Book Overview

Somewhere on the periphery of Seoul, between the modern metropolis and the traditional farming communities, lies a "distant and beautiful place," the neighborhood of Wonmi-dong. Here, a young couple... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824821920
• ISBN13: 9780824821920
• Release Date: November 2002
• Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
• Length: 242 Pages

Customer Reviews

excellent story collection

This is a first rate collection of stories of life in a dismal modern exurb of Seoul. The stories share location and characters, and as a whole they form a sort of novel; yet each one stands on its own, focusing on different characters in the town, with their very different perspectives on their generally disappointing and drab lives. In the context of this unity of people and place, the diversity of the stories is remarkable, a pleasure to experience. Among my favorites: "The Wonmi-dong Poet," a description of one of the town's eccentric characters, told from the viewpoint of a 6-year-old girl; "A Vagabond Mouse," the story of a young husband gradually succumbing to the lure of spending all his time on the nearby mountain, told from his standpoint and that of a group of town men; and "The Tearoom Woman," a brief tale of adultery. The translation are smooth and readable. Highly recommended.