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 Sharaku, Secret of Kim Hong-do
Paek Geum-nam; Hangangsu; 340 pp., 12,000 won
Amid the growing popularity of Joseon painters on the cultural scene, this book sheds light on Kim Hong-do, one of the greatest painters, in a historical thriller.
The book is based on historic suggestion that Toshusai Sharaku, one of the greatest masters of woodblock paintings in Japan, is in fact Kim.
Kim was born in 1745 in the Joseon ``Renaissance'' under the reign of King Jeongjo. The book portrays Kim's lifetime from the early era when he met his tutor Kang Se-hwang and entered the royal painting institute Dohwaseo to becoming Joseon's top painter and beloved by King Jeongjo. The story depicting Kim's passionate artistic life is seen through the eyes of his pupil Cho Hee-ryong.
The author spins the historic imagination, juxtaposing Kim as Sharaku, known as a painter with an elusive identity who went missing suddenly after 10 months in Japan, leaving behind 140 pieces of memorable paintings.
The story is based on various historical documents that claim during Sharaku's activity era in Japan, there was no artistic activity by Kim in Joseon. Historic records also show that King Jeongjo sent Kim to Japan's Tsushima Island. The author further finds similarities in painting strokes between the two artists.
-Chung Ah-young
 The Luck Factor
Richard Wiseman; Translated by Lee Eun-sun; Sigongsa: 280 pp., 11,000 won
Do you think good luck is just a kind of destiny over which you have no influence? Psychiatrist Richard Wiseman of the University of Herfordshire in England, argues that good luck is a state of mind that can be cultivated.
The author says although many people believe good fortune is a mystical force affected by superstitious rituals, lucky people have four basic psychological factors compared to unlucky people.
First, they tend to maximize chance opportunities; second, they listen to gut feelings and intuition; third, they expect good fortune and persevere in attempting to achieve their goals; fourth, they see the good side of bad luck with strong conviction.
The author tries to show that luck is a scientifically proven way to understand, control, and increase one's luck, based on real-life stories taken from hundreds of interviews, inspirational quotes from Benjamin Franklin and Oprah Winfrey and research data gathered during his eight-year study of luck.
-Chung Ah-young
 Take Pictures in Your Own Way
Cho Sun-hee; Hwanggeumgaji; 220pp., 15,500 won
Cho Sun-hee is a popular photographer among people in the fashion and entertainment industry. She has also authored books on photography. Her third book ``Take Pictures in Your Own Way'' is a guidebook for people who want to take pictures like her.
Cho didn't major in photography. She learned how to take good photos from experience.
``Throw out your obsession to take a grand masterpiece. All we need is a small compact camera that we can take a picture with when we push the shutter button. I am talking about basic, practical and joyful photography,'' she said in the book.
For beginners, Cho advises taking pictures at the same place, at the same time everyday and taking snapshots of streets on your way to work using a small compact camera.
-Kwon Mee-yoo
 The Carnival Road
Yu Kyung-suk; Dongailbo; 416pp., 13,800 won
Performing arts planner Yu Kyung-suk traveled around the world for a year, experiencing performances as she did. This book is a record of Yu's special trip.
During her 373-day trip, she not only visited Broadway and the West End, but some 39 other countries, such as Cuba, Germany and the Republic of South Africa. She describes performing arts from all over the world, from luxurious musical theaters in New York to the Serengeti Plain in Kenya, and includes colorful pictures.
Moreover, Yu reviews and compares Korean performing arts culture with other cultures as a performing arts planner and gives specific tour plans and tips at the end of the book.
Enjoy an art tour around the world with ``The Carnival Road.''
-Kwon Mee-yoo |
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