#Kwon Yeo Sun

[whoismims]

2023 was the year I was able to rediscover my love of reading after a difficult time, particularly at the height of the pandemic. Here are some of my favorite books that I read.

[fictionalbond]

2022 Book Wrap-Up (Part 1)

I read a lot of books this year, I didn't achieve my reading goal but I nonetheless had good reading year overall. Here's part 1 of the books I've read and enjoyed in 2022.

1) Sweet Bean Paste by #duriansukegawa 🇯🇵 2) Lemon by #kwonyeosun 🇰🇷 3) Carmen by ##prospermérimée 🇫🇷 4) HumanActs by #hankang 🇰🇷 5) Before the coffee gets cold by #toshikazukawaguchi 🇯🇵 6) A song of wraiths and ruin by #roseanneabrown 🇬🇭🇺🇸

[daisiearchive]

kwon yeo-sun lemon (레몬) — 117

[wordsmithie]

In the summer of 2002, when Korea is abuzz over hosting the FIFA World Cup, nineteen-year-old Kim Hae-on is killed in what becomes known as the High School Beauty Murder. Two suspects quickly emerge: rich kid Shin Jeongjun, whose car Hae-on was last seen in, and delivery boy Han Manu, who witnesses Hae-on in the passenger seat of Jeongjun's car just a few hours before her death. But when Jeongjun's alibi turns out to be solid, and no evidence can be pinned on Manu, the case goes cold. Seventeen years pass without any resolution for those who knew and loved Hae-on, and the grief and uncertainty take a cruel toll on her younger sister, Da-on, in particular. Unable to move on with her life, Da-on tries in her own twisted way to recover some of what she's lost, ultimately setting out to find the truth of what happened.

Lemon, by Kwon Yeo-Sun

[somanykdramas]

THE STORY OF PARK'S MARRIAGE CONTRACT

GENRES: Comedy, Romance, Supernatural

SUMMARY: A fashion-forward Joseon fiancee wakes up in the 21st century and tries to make sense of all the familiar faces.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Couture hanboks, wells, terrible mother-in-laws, robot vacuums, choco pies, murder, ill-gotten Joseon artifacts, courtship, redemption, childhood trauma, workplace sabotage, and faulty pacemakers.

HOT TAKE: Really impressed with how easily both Yeon Woo and Sa Wol take to modern life. Within a few weeks, they're scheming, using computers, hailing taxis, and using modern kitchen equipment like pros.

The writers tried so hard to tie the characters in Seoul with their Joseon doppelgängers, but I think they either ran out of time, lost their notes in the process, or just kinda figured we'd be okay with whatever ending they chose as long as it was a happy one.

[grahamkennedy]

I did it! I finished a book from cover to cover for the first time in over a year!

[mmepastel]

J’ai dévoré aujourd’hui Lemon, de la coréenne Kwon Yeo-sun.

L’histoire ressemble à celle d’un roman policier, mais raconté comme un puzzle, par diverses voix féminines, des personnages qui entourent ou ont entouré la victime (à commencer par sa sœur), que le lecteur s’échine à reconstituer. Mais au fond, plus qu’un puzzle, il s’agit d’une narration kaléidoscopique… ce qui rend la tâche ardue et fait advenir le malaise.

A la fin d’un roman policier, on est satisfait, on a le coupable, l’ordre du monde peut reprendre. Ici, les choses restent ambiguës même si on peut se faire notre propre idée des événements. Ici, au contraire, chaque personnage raconte une partie du réel, mais à travers le prisme de sa sensibilité, de sa culpabilité, de ses névroses, il n’y a pas vraiment de langage commun qui permettrait de tout mettre à plat. En revanche, des motifs reviennent, comme le jaune (celui du citron du titre, celui d’une robe, celui d’un œuf) ou d’un crâne brisé contre un carrelage… cela contribue à des effets d’échos troublants qui semblent dire que la vérité est à jamais insaisissable, que le réel n’existe pas vraiment puisque nos subjectivités troubles la corrompe. Ce qui est assez angoissant, et diablement malin.

A vrai dire, ce livre m’a fait penser à La fracture de Nina Allen qui évoque aussi la disparition d’une jeune fille (sans que ce l’hypothèse d’un meurtre ne soit retenue) et la réaction de sa jeune sœur ; comme dans le livre Lemon, le réel se troublait suite à cette disparition, comme si elle impactait non seulement les survivants mais aussi le monde entier, le sens de l’existence, sa réalité même. C’était tout aussi vertigineux.

Cette fois, je suppose qu’il y a aussi une dimension sociale dans le roman, mais je ne l’ai pas bien perçue, seulement devinée avec le personnage du jeune homme pauvre et pour le moins malchanceux ; mais je connais mal le fonctionnement de la société coréenne et j’ai juste compris que là-bas comme partout ailleurs, la vie est plus compliquée quand on est pauvre.

En revanche, on sent bien le verrou posé sur la parole des femmes, ce qui est rendu palpable par ces récits de narratrices différentes, qui peinent à communiquer, qui restent étanches en quelque sorte, renvoyant à une solitude douloureuse.

Un livre très intrigant, que je ne vais pas oublier de sitôt.

[travelingviabooks]

Lemon by Kwon Yeo-sun ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Couldn’t each moment were living now be the meaning of life?

Genre: fiction, literary, mystery

Country: South Korea

Review:

Um, why have I not seen more people talking about this book? I couldn’t put it down. I finished it in a day and that hasn’t happened in a long time. It was so good. I found the POV changes a little confusing at first, but once I figured out what was happening, I was fine.

This is definitely a book where you’re not going to just be presented with the answers. You’re going to have to read between the lines and come to your own conclusion, but I love those kinds of books. With that being said, don’t go into this expecting a mystery. It’s more of an exploration of grief and guilt.

Would I recommend this book?: Yes!

[poemstainedlips]

I still can’t help but wonder, do our lives truly hold no meaning? Even if you try desperately to find it, to contrive some kind of meaning, is it true that what’s not there isn’t there?

— Kwon Yeo-sun, Lemon

[harognakosh]

"...like a parachute bursting open. I felt as if I was going to explode." - Kwon Yeo-sun

Taking this a little out of context, have you ever felt like exploding. This was a fantastic visualization. It brought me from negative emotions to laughter.

[whoismims]

“Death turns us into junk. In the blink of an eye, we become meaningless, like scraps.”

— Kwon Yeo-Sun, Lemon

[book-repository-for-ducks]

“I still can't help but wonder, do our lives truly hold no meaning? Even if you try desperately to find it, to contrive some kind of meaning, is it true that what's not there isn't there? Does life leave only misery behind? Could the fact that we're alive—the fact that we're in this life where joy and terror and peace and danger mingle—couldn't that itself be the meaning of life?”

― Kwon Yeo-Sun, Lemon

[joshiji-darling]

ㅤ𐙚˙⋆.˚ 𝐤𝐰𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐧'𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 ⭑⚝

(수인의 연기경력)

synopsis: she start debuted in 2016 at the age of 21, under the cut is all of suin's roles and kdramas

masterlist

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Descendants of the sun

(태양의 후예) → feb. 2016 

─⚝ character name: Kim Miseul (김미슬)

─⚝ age when filming: 21 y/o 

─⚝ love interest: Yang Taewoo (양태우)

─⚝ played by: Nam Joohyuk (남주혁)

─⚝ his age when filming: 22 y/o (1994)

Guardian: The lonely and great god

(쓸쓸하고 찬란 하 - 도개비) → Dec. 2016 

─⚝ character name: Min Yeoreom (민여롬)

─⚝ age when filming: 21 y/o 

─⚝ love interest: Lee Juyeol (이주열)

─⚝ played by: Doh Kyungsoo (도경수)

─⚝ age when filming: 23 y/o (1993) 

storyline (go read this to find out what role/character they play in the kdrama!)

100 days My Prince

(백일의 낭군님) → Sept. 2018

─⚝ character name: Hong-Sim / Yoon Yi-Seo (홍심 / 윤이서)

─⚝ age when filming: 23 y/o 

─⚝ love interest: Won-Deuk / Lee Yool (원득 / 이율)

─⚝ played by: Do Kyungsoo (도경수)

─⚝ age when filming: 25 y/o (1993)

Hotel Del Luna

(호텔델루나) → Jul. 2019 

─⚝ character name: Jang Manwol (장만월)

─⚝ age when filming: 24 y/o 

─⚝ love interest: Koo Chansung (구찬성)

─⚝ played by: Yeo Jingoo (여진구) 

─⚝ age when filming: 22 y/o (1997)

Crash Landing on you

(사랑의 불시착) → Dec. 2019  

─⚝ character name: Yoon Saeram (윤새람) 

─⚝ age when filming: 24 y/o 

─⚝ love interest: Park Juon (박주언)

─⚝ played by:  Lee Dongwook (이동욱)

─⚝ age when filming: 38 y/o (1981)

Hi Bye, Mama

(하이바이, 마마) → Feb. 2020

─⚝ character name: Cha Yuri (차유리)

─⚝ age when filming: 25 y/o 

─⚝ love interest: Jo Kanghwa (조강화)

─⚝ played by:  Lee Soohyuk (이수혁)

─⚝ age when filming: 32 y/o (1988) 

Hospital Playlist

(슬기로운 의사생활) → Mar. 2020 

─⚝ character name: Park Geumjoo (박금주)

─⚝ age when filming: 25 y/o 

─⚝ love interest:  Song Minguk (송민국)

─⚝ played by:  Cha Eunwoo (차은우)

─⚝ age when filming: 23 y/o (1997) 

Mr Queen

(철인왕후) → Feb. 2021

─⚝ character name: Kim So-yong (김소용,  Queen Cheorin (철린여왕)

─⚝ age when filming: 26 y/o 

─⚝ love interest:   Yi Won-beom (이원범, King Cheoljong (철종)

─⚝ played by:  Do Kyungsoo (도경수)

─⚝ age when filming: 28 y/o (1993) 

Extra- ordinary Attorney woo

(이사한 변호사 우영우) → Jun. 2022

─⚝ character name: Bae Yeseul (배예슬) 

─⚝ age when filming: 27 y/o 

─⚝ love interest: Jeon Taebin (전태빈) 

─⚝ played by: Woo Dohwan (우도환)

─⚝ age when filming: 29 y/o (1992) 

The Glory

(더글로리) → Dec. 2022 

─⚝ character name: Moon Dongeun (문동은)

─⚝ age when filming: 27 y/o 

─⚝ love interest: Joo Yeojeong (주여정)

─⚝ played by: Do Kyungsoo (도경수)

─⚝ age when filming: 29 y/o (1993)

Moving

(무빙) → Aug. 2023 

─⚝ character name: Kang Gyu Ram (강규람)

─⚝ age when filming: 28 y/o 

─⚝ love interest:  Bae Doyoon (배도윤)

─⚝ played by: Ahn Hyoseop (안효셥)

─⚝ age when filming: 28 y/o (1995)

Lovely Runner

(선재 업고 튀어) → Apr. 2024

─⚝ character name: Im Sol (임솔)

─⚝ age when filming: 29 y/o 

─⚝ love interest:  Ryu Sunjae (류선재)

─⚝ played by: Do Kyungsoo (도경수)

─⚝ age when filming: 31 y/o (1993)

kwon suin masterlist

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and comment for requests!

[librarycards]

Hello all, and happy September! I'm excited to share my third quarterly book rec post for 2023. I had a great summer, particularly reading-wise, mixing books like Anna Édes (picked up at an indie bookshop in Budapest), Angel Blood (foraged at my hometown library's book sale), and Blue Flame (found at a new-to-me indie I found while pre-move shopping).

If you like these posts, you can find my very, very extensive archive of recommendation posts here, and my substack, where I recommend media every month for free, here. If you really like my work, and want commenting privileges + access to occasional essays/musings, consider becoming a paid subscriber –– it's totally not required, but means a lot!

Now, without further ado, my top nine books read between mid-June and now, in no particular order. I can't wait to see what you come up with on your own posts!

Emily Petit, Blue Flame

Sarah Rose Etter, Ripe

Dezső Kosztolányi tr. George Szirtes, Anna Édes

Sara Ahmed, On Being Included

Kwon Yeo-sun, tr. Janet Hong, Lemon

Fiona Mozley, Elmet

Davey Davis, X

Becky Chambers, The Galaxy and the Ground Within

John Singleton, Angel Blood

I tag @thepixiediaries @discworldwitches @smokedgoudagirl @gwenderqueer, @capricornpropaganda, @wirefoxedterrier @fatehbaz @punkkwix @patchworkstudies, @growtiredofpublicvulnerability, @biomaterial @probablymoons @materialisnt @bioethicists @slowtides, @stephen-deadalus, @artuhmes @felgueirosa @myalgias, @metamatar, @heavenlyyshecomes, @osmanthusoolong, @passerea, @txttletale, @aldieb, @sawasawako, @voidofcourse, @boykeats, @tirragen, @sadhoc @campgender @r-ob-yn, @querxus, @grimesapologist, @closet-keys, @abstractlesbian, @vawoolf, @feypact, and anyone else who wants to!

[iuteamstarcandy]

IU’s book recommendations

There are lots of books IU has recommended in recent years. Links have been provided for the ebooks that you can legally read for free online.

Fredrik Backman - A Man Called Ove

L. Frank Baum - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz [Shoes, NOT Red Shoes*]

Lewis Carroll - Alice in Wonderland [Twenty-three]

Lewis Carroll - Through the Looking Glass [Red Queen]

Paulo Coelho - Brida

Osamu Dazai - No Longer Human

Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The Brothers Karamazov

Gong Ji Young - Very Light Feather

Kaori Ekuni - Falling Into the Evening

Hermann Hesse - Demian

Hwang Sun Won - Rain Shower [The Shower]

Hwang Jeong Eun - 파씨의 입문 Introduction to Paschi/Passy

Hwang Jeong Eun - Savage Alice

Im Sol Ah - 최선의 삶 The Best Life

Jonas Jonasson - The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

Byron Katie - Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life

Kim Hye Jin - 딸에 대하여 About my Daughter

Kim Sung Jong - 계엄령의 밤 The Night of Martial Law

Kim Young Ha - 오직 두 사람 Only Two People

Kwon Yeo Seon - 레몬 Lemon

Lee Hye Rin - 열정 같은 소리하고 있네 You Call It Passion

Lee Kyung Hye - One Day I Died

Lee Seok Won - 보통의 존재 Common Being

Milan Kundera - The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Haruki Murakami - Hear the Wind Sing

Guillaume Musso - Will You be There?

Friedrich Nietzsche - Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Ito Ogawa - Have Some Warmth~

Ito Ogawa - The Restaurant of Love Regained

Park Min Gyu - Castella

Park Min Gyu - 죽은 왕녀를 위한 파반느 Pavane for a Dead Princess

Mirjam Pressler - Bitter Chocolate

Françoise Sagan - Do You Like Brahms?

Leo Tolstoy - Ivan the Fool [Glasses]

José Mauro de Vasconcelos - My Sweet Orange Tree [Zeze]

Virginia Woolf - Jacob’s Room

Virginia Woolf - Mrs. Dalloway [Black Out]

(*Note: IU’s The Red Shoes did use the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale as a motif, but IU didn’t write that song, therefor it was not included above)

Sources: IU’s fancafe, news etc.

[grahamkennedy]

I can tell I'm gonna like this book.