I'm Still Too Far From Becoming An Adult

by Se Hyoung Kang, Ma. Kristina Carla Rico (Translator), Kyung-min Bae (Translator)

Does the concept of adulthood scare you? Have you ever looked around and felt like everyone else knows exactly what they're doing with their lives, while you're still trying to figure things out? If so, this book is perfect for you. I'm Still Too Far From Becoming An Adult is a moving collection of stories that explores the highs and lows of growing up, written and illustrated by acclaimed South Korean radio writer Se Hyoung Kang.



Originally shared on the radio, these stories are now available in this heartwarming book. Each page offers a different glimpse into the complexities of youth and adulthood, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences and find comfort in the knowledge that we're all figuring things out as we go.



This book is not just a collection of stories; it's a lifeline for anyone who's ever felt lost or uncertain about their path. As the author writes, "Whether we're nineteen, twenty-nine, or thirty-nine, perhaps we're all living our youth at all times." Join her on this journey and discover the beauty and complexity of what it means to be an adult.

336 pages

First published July 15, 2010

Reviews

[kutingtin · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked some lines and related well with them, whole some passed my thoughts by and iguess i didn’t really feel a connection :,)

[Cheol Kang · Rating 2 out of 5]

잡지 '페이퍼'를 보는 느낌.
평범한 사람들의 평범한 고민들.
나만 그런게 아니구나. 다들 그렇구나.

근데 딱 그정도.
일부러 읽을 필요는 없고
혼자일 때 손에 집히는 아무 거나 읽고 싶은데 생각하며 읽어야 하는 어려운 책은 부담스러울 때 혹시 옆에 있으면 잠이 올 때까지 스르륵 가볍게 읽으면 나쁘지 않다.

[Nguyễn Bình · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vừa mở trang đầu tiên những câu chữ đầu tiên đã khiến tôi cảm thấy đồng cảm

"Tôi thích xem thích nghe mọi thứ
Có lẽ vì thế gian có quá nhiều thứ tuyệt vời nên thậm chí tôi còn đâm lo
Rằng dẫu miệt mài xem và nghe đến thế nào đi nữa
Chắc cho tới tận khi chết đi tôi cũng không thể thưởng thức được tất cả"

Review:
Cuốn sách này là tản văn.Điều đó là mình cảm thấy hụt hẫng vì khi nhìn thấy tiêu đề sách và phần giới thiệu đằng sau sách, mình tưởng đây là truyện ngắn (sách được bọc nilon) Đọc sách rút ra được nhiều câu văn hay nhưng nó cũng chỉ được đến thế.Sách dành cho nhũng người trẻ hoang mang,bất định nên dễ gây đồng cảm, đúc rút đc nhiều câu, còn giá trị thực dụng và những cảm giác khác thì không có.Lâu lâu xuống dốc tinh thần thì lôi ra đọc đôi ba câu là ổn.

[Jemalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll give 3.5 or 4 stars for it. It was very interesting at first but towards the end of the book, it became a bit boring. I am also confused about the author's gender. I hope that the author can give more deeper thoughts.

[cloud · Rating 5 out of 5]

i wish i was like that:
that at the end of the day, life is good
and that life is indeed worth living.
i really wish it's like that.

🌷

[Kim Scarlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm Still Too Far From Becoming An Adult" is definitely the kind of book that I would love to re-read over and over again. I love how the author naturally correlates his personal experiences, from the comic books he read, to the movies they watched, the K-dramas he liked, the novels he read, the things he bought, the people he loved, and the friends' stories he heard, into everything he writes. I like how simple and little things can make us realize a lot about life. I love how he was able to make me appreciate what I usually missed appreciating. I like how realistic his approach was. I didn't even know that there are people who also felt the same way as I did when I watched that movie, that kind of feeling.

The book is filled with inspirational quotes that I believe have had a significant impact on my life. I'd like to share some of these quotes with you:

1. "I know things may go wrong.
I may fail or suffer even more than I do now.
But still, shouldn't I try out for myself?
Whether I succeed or fail, if this is something I want or dream of,
shouldn't I still give it a try even if it'll lead to regret?"

2. "You aren't the only person in the world who's suffering, sad, or lonely.
Suffering, sad, and lonely people exist everywhere in the world.
And this, sometimes, serves as our consolation."

3. "I must be that kind of person. When I was there, I missed South Korea.
When I'm in South Korea, I miss that place. I must be the type of person who always struggles with longing,"
When we're in this place, we long for that place.
When we're in that place, we long for this place.

4. "Everyone seems to be living a busy life for a better tomorrow,
moving another step forward in a better way.
But I feel stagnant, stuck in the same spot.
But I guess living another similar day isn't always bad.
Because you care about what others think, you push yourself to start unnecessary changes.
I wish you'll be happy
I want to say this to myself.
I want to be someone who feels happy on my own.
Whether I live through the same day or live a different one,
someone who's satisfied with myself,
someone who's happy with myself
— I want to be that someone."

5. "There's nothing you cant do."

If you are feeling lonely, heartbroken, having a hard time moving on, grieving, battling depression, anxious about life, and disappointed with yourself, this might be the book you're looking for. I felt like 329 pages aren't enough for this book. To the one reading this, I hope you find the happiness you've been looking for.

[Angeli]

I would actually rate this 3.5 stars, but I'm willing to round up as I feel this book may be worth rereading in doses.

I'm not really sure about how effective the book's organization is, but its contents are both varied enough to potentially resonate with the diverse audience of people trying to "adult". I like the way the pieces seem to kick off from something mundane, then somehow reveal something deep. It's like having a poetically elaborated collection of shower thoughts or thinly veiled jokes on how confusing life is.

Admittedly, I got a pet peeve while going through the book as a whole. While it's great that the writer gives credit, there are probably too many pieces that include a line that explicitly states "this was from a movie/novel/etc" (without mentioning what that movie/novel/etc is) . I mean, there are other ways to express that fact, so simply stating it does get old fast when you encounter it repeatedly. That's why I think this book would be more fun to reread in (random) doses.

Generally, it's a nice read for anyone looking for solace amidst the roller coaster that is adulting. It's a nice reminder that we my not be alone in how we ponder our lives.