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'Les Miserables' effect

Hugo's classic carries contemporary resonationA five-volume series of “Les Miserables” by Minumsa“Anna Karenina” by Penguin Classics Korea“The Great Gatsby” by MunhakdongneBy Chung Ah-youngApparently, sitting through a 158-minute movie isn’t enough. The immense popularity of the film, “Les Miserables,” which has so far drawn nearly five million viewers here, is boosting the sales of Victor Hugo’s original book.Publishers hope that the international acclaim following the film’s impressive trophy haul at the Golden Globes Awards and a slew of nominations ahead of the Oscars is expected to further fuel the popularity of the paperback.Literary classics have been adapted to the screen galore but it’s hard to recall if there ever was a time when a movie drove up the sales of its print edition this dramatically.Minumsa, a major Korean publisher, said it sold more than 100,000 copies of its five-volume version of“Les Miserables” in the past two months, which can be seen as a surprising tally given t

Jan 18, 2013
'Les Miserables' effect

Recent book

Healing WaterSanetaka Shirahata and Munenori Kawamura; RH Korea; Translated from Japanese to Korean by Lee Jung-hwan: 200 pp., 13,000 wonWhile drinking water is good for one’s health, this book says that all water is not the same. Known as “miracle water,” believed to cure some diseases, water found in such locations as Lourdes in France, Tlacote in Mexico, Nordenau in Germany, Hita in Japan and Hunza in Pakistan, have something in common, according to the authors.They argue that these so-called “healing waters” contain active hydrogen (atomic hydrogen) and hydrogen (molecular hydrogen). These elements are known to be effective in suppressing aging and improving immunity levels.The book introduces successful cases in which these elements were proven effective in curing diseases such as diabetes, atopy and hepatitis. It provides various methods to improve one’s health both mentally and physically through the elements contained in water.The authors insist that people can be healthy when they drink hydrogen rich water, a way of making the body immune

Jan 18, 2013
Recent book

Suk advises young to have fun

Jeannie Suk, a professor of Harvard Law School, speaks during a press event at a cafe near Hongik University, Seoul, Tuesday. She released her first autobiographical essay “A Light Inside” last Thursday.                 / Courtesy of Book HouseBy Baek Byung-yeulWhat is the recipe for success and what kind of life does a person who is highly acclaimed in their field lead? Jeannie Suk, the first Asian American woman to hold tenure at Harvard Law School said it is “just have fun.”Suk, 39, visited Korea to promote her first essay “A Light Inside” published recently. “I was very touched by the deep attention Koreans gave me then (when she made tenure in 2010). It came as a surprise that especially young people sent me a lot of questions via email. I realized I must talk about my life story first to give proper answers to them and so I wrote this book," the professor said at a press interview held at a cafe near Hongik University in Seoul, Tuesday.Suk left Korea for the United States with her family

Jan 16, 2013
Suk advises young to have fun

Recent Books

You Are What You WearJennifer Baumgartner; Translated by Lee Hyun-jung from English to Korean; 280 pp., 14,000 won People don’t wear clothes just for protecting the body from the outside environment anymore. They want to reveal their individualistic sense and taste through their choices of clothes. They often judge others based on what they wear. This book reveals that fashion is closely related to the revelation of people’s desires and reflection of their psychological trauma. People’s choices on their clothes represent psychology and their personal styles can change their lives.The author and psychologist deals with various symptoms resulting from excessive obsession to fashion and guides readers to learn how they can overcome such problems. It introduces the cases in which the author helps people change their wardrobe collection by suggesting new styles and matching items. She said that they can overcome their internal struggles through the change of their fashion code in a positive way.The book offers useful information and lessons in two fields ― fashion a

Jan 11, 2013
Recent Books

Behind lens: vivid portrayals of humans

Photographer Choi Min-shik releases his pictorial anthology “Human.”By Chung Ah-youngPhotographer Choi Min-shik’s memorable shots have a raw vividness that jumps out from photos or sucks viewers into them with their emotional depth. The 85-year-old veteran photographer, who has been taking pictures for more than five decades, has his lenses permanently aimed at people and awaits the brutally honest moment when life shapes faces in sadness, fear, pride, frustration or happiness. Choi’s pictorial anthology, “Human: Selected Photographs of Choi Min-shik” (Noonbit Publishing; 592 pp. 29,000 won), revisits his illustrious career with his signature black-and-white photos that predominantly capture the lives of the working class and underprivileged. Choi describes the photos, part of his “Human” series that started in 1968, with his own words that reveal a dedication to realism. The photos are also critical historical material showing Koreans’ lives from the 1960s to the 1980s, when the military governments pushed an

Jan 11, 2013
Behind lens: vivid portrayals of humans

Recent books

Sunflowers and ShoesLee Chang-kook; Amormundi: 352 pp., 15,000 wonThere was a time when literary essays became popular in Korea because of the writings of the late celebrated writer Pi Chun-deuk, but recently it is difficult to find such works in bookstores.However, this collection consists of 50 essays by Lee Chang-kook and casts fresh light on Pi. Lee was one of his pupils and has been a prolific writer over the last 30 years.As Pi once said, essays are beautiful writings that are not glamorous or brilliant but make readers smile.Lee’s pieces are written in a free style without flamboyant techniques but plainly portray trivial aspects of life in a hilarious tone.The author touches upon various topics writing on the old typewriter he was fond of before he changed to a computer. He shares his thoughts on how to cope with heat in summer and cold in winter and his habit of frequently losing umbrellas.His articles are rich in humor and wit and contain seasoned experience and insights.― Chung Ah-youngA Light InsideJeannie Suk; translated from English into Korean by Song Yeon-s

Jan 4, 2013
Recent books

Stuttgart Ballet's Kang Sue-jin to release autobiography

Prima ballerina Kang Sue-jin’s autobiography will be released on Jan. 23.       / Courtesy of The PRBy Do Je-haeKang Sue-jin, a prima ballerina of Germany’s Stuttgart Ballet, will release her first autobiography this month.“Passionate Heart Takes a Long Breath” is the story of how a young girl from Korea moved to Monaco by herself at age 13 for ballet training and eventually became a star at one of the most prestigious ballet companies in Europe. It will be released on Jan. 23.As a ballerina, she is mostly known for dramatic roles like Tatiana in “Onegin.” Over the years, she has become an icon of perseverance and hard work. This book will be an intriguing read for ballet fans and youngsters in need of a role model.The 45-year-old has been based in Stuttgart since the late 1980s, but is widely admired in Korea as a pioneering dancer. She will be arriving in Korea on Jan. 22 and staying here for two weeks to promote her autobiography, according to The PR, her domestic press representative.A photography book by Kang was published in 20

Jan 4, 2013By Do Je-hae
Stuttgart Ballet's Kang Sue-jin to release autobiography

'Korean Straight Lines': entertaining vignettes of life here

“Korea Straight Lines” written by N.B. Armstrong; PreLime House: 144 pp., $6.85 (for Kindle Price) Author N.B. ArmstrongBy Chung Ah-youngIt is not easy living in a foreign country mostly because of cultural differences. Some expatriates find these baffling, while others take them lightly. N.B. Armstrong, a British author and translator who has lived in Korea since 2000, favors the latter approach. In his book “Korean Straight Lines,” he recounts his life in a unique way, tinged with humor and jokes.The book is packed with anecdotes about life in Korea, which include incidents of miscommunication or misperceptions caused by cultural differences.The author vividly touches upon various topics from social and cultural points of view, revealing his knowledge about Korea and his deep affection for it. However, the book doesn’t appear to be critical of cultural differences or attempt to warn away foreigners planning to visit Korea. Rather it’s close to a collection of informal essays, from which readers can enjoy entertaining vignettes.“The str

Dec 28, 2012
'Korean Straight Lines': entertaining vignettes of life here

Recent Books

Letters from Joseon: 19th Century Korea through the eyes of an American Ambassador’s WifeWritten and compiled by Robert Neff; Seoul Selection: 432 pp., 19,000 wonThis is a narrative about an American ambassador’s family’s stint in Korea between 1894 and 1897 accompanied by their letters back home.The letters are mostly written by then Ambassador John Sill’s wife Sally and other Westerners. The book presents their thoughts and perspective of the times and events and facts that will amuse and surprise readers who, especially if they are Koreans, will have a bias of their own.The late 19th century was a turbulent and painful time for the Joseon Dynasty, which was at its twilight, a kingdom that most Koreans still associate themselves with culturally. Pressure from the Japanese to cede control was at its highest, and colonization imminent. Western nations were turning a blind eye or, as Neff put it so precisely in the prologue, the appointment as ambassador of the politically-inexperienced Sill was, “an indication of how unimportant the United States viewed

Dec 28, 2012
Recent Books

Minumsa: witness of Korean publishing history

Park Maeng-ho, founder and president of Minumsa, has released his autobiography “The Book” summing up his 46-year career in the publishing industry.                                                                                     / Courtesy of MinumsaBy Chung Ah-young, Baek Byung-yeul“The Book” by Park Maeng-ho; Minumsa: 332 pp., 18,000 won.Having started in a rooftop room in Cheongjin-dong, Seoul in 1966, Minumsa has grown into a major publisher commanding five subsidiaries and publishing more than 5,000 titles over the last 46 years. It has uplifted the level of literature and other academic fields here through the discovery of promising authors.All these achievements were made possible by the company’s founder and president Park Maeng-ho, who has recently released his first autobiography, “The Book.”Summing up his 46-year pub

Dec 21, 2012
Minumsa: witness of Korean publishing history
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