Recent Books

This translated collection of six tales from colonial-era Korea (1910-45) offers insight into different perspectives of the peninsula at that time, with five stories taking place during the occupation and the final story set after Korea finds its independence. Authors include Yom Sangsop, Ch’oe Sohae, Na To-hyang, Pak T’aewon, Yi Tae-jun and Kim Nam-chon.

On the Eve of the Uprising
Translated from Korean to English by Sunyoung Park with Jefferson J.A. Gatrall; Cornell East Asia Studies: 308 pp., $35

This translated collection of six tales from colonial-era Korea (1910-45) offers insight into different perspectives of the peninsula at that time, with five stories taking place during the occupation and the final story set after Korea finds its independence. Authors include Yom Sangsop, Ch’oe Sohae, Na To-hyang, Pak T’aewon, Yi Tae-jun and Kim Nam-chon.

Written in a clear, solid voice, Park’s language embodies a strict translation, perfect for the preservation of the stories through new languages. The tales of family, friends and hardships ring with historically valuable references and relevant emotions of the era.
The book serves as a great introduction to the stories of Korea’s past and the translator inserted brief biographies on each of the literary contributors including a glossary of Korean words for those uncertain of their meanings.

The translated stories implicitly tell of the colonial periods influence on the literary world, with the ideas of the authors constrained under Japanese censorship.
-Ines Min

Cinema Economics
Junichi Shukuwa; Translated from Japanese to Korean by Park Mi-ok; Human & Books: 280 pp., 12,800 won

For the average modern adult, being part of the economic scene is inevitable ― whether it’s investing one’s bonus in a lucrative venture capital project or simply purchasing a movie ticket. The latter, in particular, marks a role as a consumer that contributes to box office sales and influences the film industry.

The author, a financial expert and movie critic, teaches basic economic theories, issues and principles through movies in his new book, which is a compilation of columns that created a ``cinema economics’’ boom in Japan.

The writer’s approach is at once easy to understand and equally entertaining, as he explains the European Union’s adoption of the euro bill, black markets, economic bubbles, brand marketing, demand and supply and other Economy 101-worthy topics through popular movies such as the ``007’’ franchise and ``I Am Sam.’’ For example, he takes a line from ``Roman Holiday’’ to explain Europe’s adoption of a unified currency and uses the currency from ``Star Wars’’ to explain currency theories.
-Lee Hyo-won

Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates
Kazumasa Takeuchi; Translated from Japanese to Korean by Kim Jeong-hwan; Yein: 221 pp., 12,000 won

A comparison of Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs and Microsoft founder Bill Gates might seem redundant, as both tycoons have enjoyed tremendous success in their fields all over the world. But this is precisely what businessman Kazumasa Takeuchi attempts to do in his new book.

The author examines and contrasts the two icons, from birth, adolescence and education to their perspectives on various issues and future goals.

Divided into four chapters ― Business, Figure, Challenge and Passion ― the book carefully looks into the lives and achievements of the two men by reviewing their similarities and differences.

For instance, Jobs and Gates had contrasting upbringings: while Jobs was raised under blue-collar foster parents and didn’t exhibit a gift in studying as a young boy, Gates was born in a wealthier household and managed to make his way to Harvard University.
The author further parallels what either did to succeed, not by just obeying rules and tradition but by following their own path as they achieved success.
-Han Sang-hee

Solomon Returns Home
R Bhakther Solomon; Vitasta: 176 pp., $5.95

The author portrays a boy’s adventures based on real-life stories from his own childhood. He fictionalizes his real experiences through the 13-year-old Solomon who runs away from home to avoid harsh reality.

The story is set in the small town of Colachel in India, the boy travels to Trivandrum and various other places while sleeping in bus shelters, railway stations and on the street after failing to pay a loan he got from a friend.

Struggling through his ordeals, he hides his real identity and makes up stories to survive and get sympathy from people, and finally a Muslim shop owner becomes his benefactor.

The author, a renowned social scientist keenly interested in the study of children, decided to write about his own experiences in which a runaway boy was rescued.

“Writing an autobiography does provide a cathartic experience for the writer, enabling him to not just record the episodes of interest to the readers, but purging his own inner-self while recording those incidents that molded the character of what he is today. My time spent away from home and the lessons life taught me then is the theme of the book,”the author wrote in the preface.
-Chung Ah-young