Recent books
Bringing Home the Birkin
Michael Tonello; Maumsan Chaek: 368 pp., 14,000 won
The two-year-old autobiography of Ebay luxury goods reseller Michael Tonello has made its way into the Korean publishing world. While the young people here struggle with a 7 percent unemployment rate (15- to 29-year-olds), the Korean translation takes on the tale of the Hermes hounder with a strange new spin: making money in your pajamas.
Tonello, a one-time beautician who created his own collaborative artists company, reassessed his life goals after an inspiring trip to Barcelona. Deciding to leave behind the world of photo shoots, the author packed up to begin his world travels collecting and providing women with the most sought-after bag: the Birkin. Earning money off his commissions, Tonello made a name for himself (a blacklisted one, by luxury labels) over the course of a decade.
Although this year — and the recession — saw the release of the Birkin into the public wild with the banishment of the notorious years-long waiting list, the tale of Tonello still rings with humor, wit and a truly modern story.
— INES MIN
All the Foods of the World I Loved
¬Edited by Esoope; Esoope: 272 pp., 15,000 won
Cuisine makes up a significant part of one’s daily life and is often a crucial part of travel. There are many books about travel or food out there, but this volume deliciously combines the two.
Twenty-four professionals introduce 34 of the most lasting gastronomic experiences in their lives, which mostly took place over a foreign menu during a stint overseas.
Among the contributors is Yoshiyuki from Japan, who had a negative image of “sundae” (Korean blood sausage) before moving here to teach Japanese.
But surprisingly, the professor became a fervent fan of sundae soup. “Many people refuse to taste foreign cuisine, and aren’t able to find it delicious even if they do try it,” said Yoshiyuki.
The book is divided into two sections, Western and Eastern foods, and features colorful encounters with food all over the world, from discovering the beauty of tangine in Morocco or fondue in Switzerland to tracing the origins of “jjajangmyeon” (Korean-style Chinese black soybean sauce noodles) in China.
— LEE HYO-WON
Hope: The Girl’s Book of Positive Quotations
Steve Deger and Leslie Ann Gibson; Translated from English to Korean by Kim Jung-hwan; Nexus Book: 272 pp., 11,000 won
This compact coffee table book of quotes will be a special treat for young Korean girls and women — it will not only deliver encouraging messages but also provide useful English lessons by allowing readers to compare the original quotes in English and their Korean translation.
The book introduces simple yet heartfelt messages about hope by pop icons to intellectuals, such as supermodel Cindy Crawford (“Even I don’t wake up looking like Cindy Crawford”), mountaineer Arlene Blum (“You never conquer a mountain. You stand on the summit a few moments; then the wind blows your footprints away”) and feminist George Sand (“Let us accept truth, even if it surprises us and alters our views”).
Also included are quotes by the late Mother Theresa, Princess Diana and Audrey Hepburn.
The quotes are divided into 32 thematic chapters, which preach the importance of keeping a positive mindset, taking risks and moving on after hard times.
Trend Korea 2011
Kim Nan-do et al; Mirae Books: 364 pp., 15,000 won
The year 2010 is coming to an end and so comes the time to prepare for 2011. Right before the New Years, professor Kim Nan-do publishes the Trend Korea series for readers who are looking for more than sharing hugs or making never-kept resolutions.
Kim and his team from the Consumer Trend Center come up with catchy acronyms each year and for 2011, they have come up with the acronym TWO RABBITS — Tiny Makes Big; Weatherever Products; Open and Hide; Real Virtuality; Ad-hoc Economy; Busy Break; By Inspert, By Expert; Ironic Identity; Tell me Celeb and Searching for Trust — celebrating the year of the rabbit.
The book consists of an evaluation report on last year’s trends and a full report on how and why they came up with this year’s trends.
None of the trends are highly unpredictable, such as Tell Me Celeb or Weatherever Products, but it’s convenient and practical to read about the next big things in a flash. The book offers a thorough analysis of the society we live in, suggesting helpful and insightful ideas for everyone including students, businessmen and even artists.
— HAN SANG-HEE