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The Melancholy of Untold History
A beautifully crafted, enriching saga inspired by East Asian mythology, The Melancholy of Untold History is Minsoo Kang’s debut novel, steeped in history like R.F. Kuang’s Babel, epic in scope like Anthony Doerr’s Cloud Cuckoo Land, and lyrically exciting like David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas, interweaving four complex yet entertaining stories as they shape and create a nation’s literary narrative through the themes of love and grief.
A history professor mourning his wife. His young protégé’s search for a path forward. Four witty mountain gods with much to say and not enough time to listen. A gifted storyteller bringing a world into being out of thin air...
Famous for his dispelling of the national myth, the Historian understands the power of narrative. He has inspired another young professor to search for her own truths, while trying to understand the way fiction creates fact and how sometimes the past can only be understood by filling in holes with a new narrative. Which is exactly what he needs when his wife passes away to parse meaning out of a world that no longer makes sense.
Together the protégé and the Historian find comfort in each other. Yet they know their time together is fleeting, as time usually is. Only the gods have an abundance of time, and yet—the two discover—even that might not be so clear cut. Part of their homeland’s myth tells of four gods who squabbled and argued and destroyed and rebuilt time and again.
Or did they?
Because, of course, even the gods need mouthpieces on earth. And the one the Historian knows of—the elusive Storyteller—may have just been spinning tales for his own amusement and, ultimately, revenge. By fabricating the exploits of the gods, he could have set a course for certain events to unfold and a particular story to survive today.
Spanning 3,000 years and multiple voices—with tales within tales woven expertly together—The Melancholy of Untold History reveals a people and its individuals who seek to confront the hardships of life through storytelling. Mixing the East Asian mythos with a postmodern approach to standard sci-fi/fantasy narrative tropes, Minsoo Kang has created a challenging, beautiful, sad, humorous, and ultimately unforgettable novel of love, grief, and myth-making.
A history professor mourning his wife. His young protégé’s search for a path forward. Four witty mountain gods with much to say and not enough time to listen. A gifted storyteller bringing a world into being out of thin air...
Famous for his dispelling of the national myth, the Historian understands the power of narrative. He has inspired another young professor to search for her own truths, while trying to understand the way fiction creates fact and how sometimes the past can only be understood by filling in holes with a new narrative. Which is exactly what he needs when his wife passes away to parse meaning out of a world that no longer makes sense.
Together the protégé and the Historian find comfort in each other. Yet they know their time together is fleeting, as time usually is. Only the gods have an abundance of time, and yet—the two discover—even that might not be so clear cut. Part of their homeland’s myth tells of four gods who squabbled and argued and destroyed and rebuilt time and again.
Or did they?
Because, of course, even the gods need mouthpieces on earth. And the one the Historian knows of—the elusive Storyteller—may have just been spinning tales for his own amusement and, ultimately, revenge. By fabricating the exploits of the gods, he could have set a course for certain events to unfold and a particular story to survive today.
Spanning 3,000 years and multiple voices—with tales within tales woven expertly together—The Melancholy of Untold History reveals a people and its individuals who seek to confront the hardships of life through storytelling. Mixing the East Asian mythos with a postmodern approach to standard sci-fi/fantasy narrative tropes, Minsoo Kang has created a challenging, beautiful, sad, humorous, and ultimately unforgettable novel of love, grief, and myth-making.
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First published July 16, 2024
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July 28, 2024
4.5⭐️
“You said that when a civilization tells stories about itself, it starts with myths, dealing with gods and monsters. Then, when that civilization develops, it moves on to history, telling stories of important personages who achieved great things. When it moves into the modern era, it becomes increasingly interested in the lives of regular people, their thoughts and feelings. You described it as the movement from myth to history to life.”
The Melancholy of Untold History by Minsoo Kang is a unique and creative work of fiction and an ode to storytelling that revolves around how the interpretation of myth and history define a civilization and its beliefs.
An ancient storyteller who realizes that his gift is the only thing that is keeping him from being executed by his captors; four divine deities who from their perch in the mountains shape the fate of the realm below as a consequence of their actions; a prolific historian who accomplished the unimaginable feat of disproving the history of a prolific dynasty as was written in history books; and the historian’s protegee in whose arms he finds solace as he grieves for his deceased wife, and who also a researcher studying the interplay between history and fiction while on a personal journey of self-acceptance - the author weaves multiple threads and voices, spanning over three thousand years into a complex, yet absorbing narrative.
The narrative is divided into segments named Myth, History and Life – with chapters arranged in no specific chronological order, frequently jumping timelines, which can at times overwhelm the reader. As with most narratives with multiple timelines, not all the timelines were equally impactful, but this did not detract from my overall experience. The author employs an embedded storytelling format, rich with symbolism and vividly described settings. The Epilogue is clever (though a tad pretentious) and I loved how all the threads of the story converged and appreciated how the author incorporates certain philosophical/spiritual concepts into the narrative to bring all the threads of the story together.
I will admit that this book is a challenging read and will garner mixed reactions. Though only 240 pages, the narrative is dense, occasionally disjointed and there is a lot to absorb. The novel explores themes of history, legacy, grief, loss, atonement, survival, and most importantly, the power of stories and the importance of authenticity, transparency and honesty in preserving and sharing of the history of those who came before us.
“The world was filled with effective stories in the forms of myths, rumors, propaganda, and conspiracy theories that were used to distort reality, manipulate people, and, in some cases, commit atrocities.”
The story/history of a civilization and/or its people is incomplete without its darkest phases, but the author balances these aspects with a healthy dose of humor infused into the narrative. As the story nears its conclusion, the author relies on our interpretation of the cyclical events described in the narrative. which is not surprising given the nature of the story and the underlying themes.
“‘We may not be able to change our fates,’ the storyteller said. ‘Our imagination may not be able to break open this cangue or relieve you of your sorrow, but we could create a more fortunate ending for others, perhaps even a brand-new start.’”
Overall, I found this to be well-crafted,immersive novel and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.
Many thanks to William Morrow for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on July 16, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
“You said that when a civilization tells stories about itself, it starts with myths, dealing with gods and monsters. Then, when that civilization develops, it moves on to history, telling stories of important personages who achieved great things. When it moves into the modern era, it becomes increasingly interested in the lives of regular people, their thoughts and feelings. You described it as the movement from myth to history to life.”
The Melancholy of Untold History by Minsoo Kang is a unique and creative work of fiction and an ode to storytelling that revolves around how the interpretation of myth and history define a civilization and its beliefs.
An ancient storyteller who realizes that his gift is the only thing that is keeping him from being executed by his captors; four divine deities who from their perch in the mountains shape the fate of the realm below as a consequence of their actions; a prolific historian who accomplished the unimaginable feat of disproving the history of a prolific dynasty as was written in history books; and the historian’s protegee in whose arms he finds solace as he grieves for his deceased wife, and who also a researcher studying the interplay between history and fiction while on a personal journey of self-acceptance - the author weaves multiple threads and voices, spanning over three thousand years into a complex, yet absorbing narrative.
The narrative is divided into segments named Myth, History and Life – with chapters arranged in no specific chronological order, frequently jumping timelines, which can at times overwhelm the reader. As with most narratives with multiple timelines, not all the timelines were equally impactful, but this did not detract from my overall experience. The author employs an embedded storytelling format, rich with symbolism and vividly described settings. The Epilogue is clever (though a tad pretentious) and I loved how all the threads of the story converged and appreciated how the author incorporates certain philosophical/spiritual concepts into the narrative to bring all the threads of the story together.
I will admit that this book is a challenging read and will garner mixed reactions. Though only 240 pages, the narrative is dense, occasionally disjointed and there is a lot to absorb. The novel explores themes of history, legacy, grief, loss, atonement, survival, and most importantly, the power of stories and the importance of authenticity, transparency and honesty in preserving and sharing of the history of those who came before us.
“The world was filled with effective stories in the forms of myths, rumors, propaganda, and conspiracy theories that were used to distort reality, manipulate people, and, in some cases, commit atrocities.”
The story/history of a civilization and/or its people is incomplete without its darkest phases, but the author balances these aspects with a healthy dose of humor infused into the narrative. As the story nears its conclusion, the author relies on our interpretation of the cyclical events described in the narrative. which is not surprising given the nature of the story and the underlying themes.
“‘We may not be able to change our fates,’ the storyteller said. ‘Our imagination may not be able to break open this cangue or relieve you of your sorrow, but we could create a more fortunate ending for others, perhaps even a brand-new start.’”
Overall, I found this to be well-crafted,immersive novel and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.
Many thanks to William Morrow for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on July 16, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
August 14, 2024
4 words, dragon fart lightning bolt.
June 9, 2024
ARC gifted by the publisher
This novel will be very polarizing. I can see this working for patient readers, those who love unconventional structures, metafiction enthusiasts.
As metafiction, it really depends on what the reader takes away from the story. So I’m marking this review as spoiler because the themes don’t really become clear until the epilogue
I really love the themes of “untold stories”—why they exist and their significance to readers. The relationships between readers and writers is another fascinating aspect of the book.
What didn’t work for me is the execution. It’s pretty much all telling and 0 characters development. I didn’t care about the multiple stories at all because I couldn’t get a sense of who these people are.
I also really dislike the naming conventions in the book, some examples—Dragon Child National University, Radiant Tiger People, Four Verdant Mothers, Radiant Dynasty, Lord Fiery Dedication, etc. Maybe I missed the deeper meaning but it sounds so childish I couldn’t take it seriously.
Tbh the book reads like Wikipedia summary rather than an actual novel. It’s like the author wrote out a detailed plot of “A happened and then B and then C” and left it at that.
So while the premise is interesting and the themes have a lot of potential, they’re not enough to make up for the poor execution.
I suggest reading these books if you’re looking for books with similar topics:
- A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING
- LONG DIVISION
- 地底三萬呎 (not translated to English)
This novel will be very polarizing. I can see this working for patient readers, those who love unconventional structures, metafiction enthusiasts.
As metafiction, it really depends on what the reader takes away from the story. So I’m marking this review as spoiler because the themes don’t really become clear until the epilogue
I really love the themes of “untold stories”—why they exist and their significance to readers. The relationships between readers and writers is another fascinating aspect of the book.
What didn’t work for me is the execution. It’s pretty much all telling and 0 characters development. I didn’t care about the multiple stories at all because I couldn’t get a sense of who these people are.
I also really dislike the naming conventions in the book, some examples—Dragon Child National University, Radiant Tiger People, Four Verdant Mothers, Radiant Dynasty, Lord Fiery Dedication, etc. Maybe I missed the deeper meaning but it sounds so childish I couldn’t take it seriously.
Tbh the book reads like Wikipedia summary rather than an actual novel. It’s like the author wrote out a detailed plot of “A happened and then B and then C” and left it at that.
So while the premise is interesting and the themes have a lot of potential, they’re not enough to make up for the poor execution.
I suggest reading these books if you’re looking for books with similar topics:
- A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING
- LONG DIVISION
- 地底三萬呎 (not translated to English)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2024
Finished a book in one sitting......is my book slump OVER?
The concept of this book was interesting, but the execution and narrative choices were boring.
The concept of this book was interesting, but the execution and narrative choices were boring.
September 3, 2025
The review by Amal El-Mohtar is the reason I read this: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/bo...
Excerpt:
"The thoughtful aloofness of Kang’s narration allows him to punctuate quiet, heartfelt meditations on the nature of grief with fart jokes, and include sections in which a god named Red Bear Fat Butt wields a sword he calls Red Bear Penis. I can’t remember the last time a book made me laugh so immediately after making me cry."
Yes! Read her review first, then come back for my brief remarks. I liked this a lot, and for a first novel, it's remarkably accomplished. The Korean folk-tales are fun: their gods aren't much more believable than the Greek ones. But earthier. And the academic stuff is fun too: the author himself is a history professor, in Missouri, and had an interesting, well-traveled childhood. He almost gets away with his "I awoke, and it was all a dream" ending, by making fun of it. For me this was a solid 4-star read. Plus it's blessedly short. Recommended reading.
We're in the midst of trying to get our house ready to sell, and this doesn't leave a lot of extra energy for writing book reviews. I hope to come back and add some other Korea stuff to this.
Excerpt:
"The thoughtful aloofness of Kang’s narration allows him to punctuate quiet, heartfelt meditations on the nature of grief with fart jokes, and include sections in which a god named Red Bear Fat Butt wields a sword he calls Red Bear Penis. I can’t remember the last time a book made me laugh so immediately after making me cry."
Yes! Read her review first, then come back for my brief remarks. I liked this a lot, and for a first novel, it's remarkably accomplished. The Korean folk-tales are fun: their gods aren't much more believable than the Greek ones. But earthier. And the academic stuff is fun too: the author himself is a history professor, in Missouri, and had an interesting, well-traveled childhood. He almost gets away with his "I awoke, and it was all a dream" ending, by making fun of it. For me this was a solid 4-star read. Plus it's blessedly short. Recommended reading.
We're in the midst of trying to get our house ready to sell, and this doesn't leave a lot of extra energy for writing book reviews. I hope to come back and add some other Korea stuff to this.
Read
March 2, 2025A moody story within a story within a story, in the vein of Cloud Atlas, and set in a world that is not quite our own.
June 9, 2025
What in the actual eff did I just read?
.
.
December 12, 2025
The Melancholy of Untold History by Minsoo Kang is a deeply imaginative, genre‑blending novel that interweaves three main narrative strands across myth, history, and contemporary life, exploring how stories shape both civilizations and individuals: a grieving history professor in the modern era grapples with love and loss, an ancient storyteller spins epic myths to survive a cruel emperor’s court, and four mountain gods squabble and reconcile across millennia, all within a single, ambitious tapestry that probes the nature of narrative, memory and meaning.
From the very first page I felt like I was entering a book that is less about a single plot and far more about why stories matter at all. Kang’s prose can be both lyrical and philosophical as it moves between a scholar mourning his wife and wrestling with academic despair, tales of mythical deities whose immortal conflicts echo through ages, and the voice of a storyteller whose job, and very life depends on the power of tale‑telling. The mythic leaps and layered structure reminded me that history is not simply a record of facts but also a mosaic of what we choose to remember, embellish or forget; this theme threads throughout the book in ways that felt both intellectual and profoundly human.
What grounded me emotionally was the historian’s vulnerability: his deep grief, his search for solace and connection, and his uneasy recovery after loss. These moments of sincerity made the more abstract, mythic sections feel connected to our shared human experience, even when the gods and ancient conflicts threatened to eclipse the personal narrative. The interplay between myth and modernity made me think about how we construct our own stories, how we reconcile our pasts, and how imagination and history shape identity. I find the novel’s non‑linear structure and philosophical density challenging. The multitude of voices and rich symbolism can sometimes overwhelm character intimacy, yet that very complexity is part of its ambition.
I give The Melancholy of Untold History 4 out of 5 stars. It made me feel both intellectually stimulated and quietly reflective, a novel that doesn’t offer tidy resolutions but instead invites contemplation on how we narrate our lives and the world around us. If you enjoy thoughtful, layered literary fiction that blends myth, philosophy and emotional depth in a way that lingers long after the last page, this is a richly rewarding read.
From the very first page I felt like I was entering a book that is less about a single plot and far more about why stories matter at all. Kang’s prose can be both lyrical and philosophical as it moves between a scholar mourning his wife and wrestling with academic despair, tales of mythical deities whose immortal conflicts echo through ages, and the voice of a storyteller whose job, and very life depends on the power of tale‑telling. The mythic leaps and layered structure reminded me that history is not simply a record of facts but also a mosaic of what we choose to remember, embellish or forget; this theme threads throughout the book in ways that felt both intellectual and profoundly human.
What grounded me emotionally was the historian’s vulnerability: his deep grief, his search for solace and connection, and his uneasy recovery after loss. These moments of sincerity made the more abstract, mythic sections feel connected to our shared human experience, even when the gods and ancient conflicts threatened to eclipse the personal narrative. The interplay between myth and modernity made me think about how we construct our own stories, how we reconcile our pasts, and how imagination and history shape identity. I find the novel’s non‑linear structure and philosophical density challenging. The multitude of voices and rich symbolism can sometimes overwhelm character intimacy, yet that very complexity is part of its ambition.
I give The Melancholy of Untold History 4 out of 5 stars. It made me feel both intellectually stimulated and quietly reflective, a novel that doesn’t offer tidy resolutions but instead invites contemplation on how we narrate our lives and the world around us. If you enjoy thoughtful, layered literary fiction that blends myth, philosophy and emotional depth in a way that lingers long after the last page, this is a richly rewarding read.
June 6, 2024
thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy.
Minsoo Kang’s "The Melancholy of Untold History" offers a unique blend of history, myth, and narrative complexity that makes for an intriguing read, even if it doesn't always hit the mark. The story revolves around a grieving history professor and his young protégé, weaving together their personal journeys with the mythic exploits of four mountain gods and the elusive Storyteller.
The strength of the novel lies in its ambitious scope and Kang’s ability to intertwine various narratives. The exploration of how stories shape our understanding of history and reality is thought-provoking, and the inclusion of East Asian mythology adds a rich, cultural layer to the tale.
However, the novel's complexity can sometimes be its downfall. The multitude of voices and stories within stories can make the plot feel disjointed. While the philosophical musings on grief and the power of narrative are compelling, they occasionally overshadow character development, making it hard to fully connect with the protagonists.
The interactions between the professor and his protégé provide some touching moments, highlighting their shared struggle to find meaning after loss. The mountain gods' witty banter adds humor and a sense of timelessness, contrasting nicely with the more grounded human experiences.
Overall, "The Melancholy of Untold History" is a beautifully written and intellectually stimulating book, but its dense structure and occasional narrative tangents might not be for everyone.
Minsoo Kang’s "The Melancholy of Untold History" offers a unique blend of history, myth, and narrative complexity that makes for an intriguing read, even if it doesn't always hit the mark. The story revolves around a grieving history professor and his young protégé, weaving together their personal journeys with the mythic exploits of four mountain gods and the elusive Storyteller.
The strength of the novel lies in its ambitious scope and Kang’s ability to intertwine various narratives. The exploration of how stories shape our understanding of history and reality is thought-provoking, and the inclusion of East Asian mythology adds a rich, cultural layer to the tale.
However, the novel's complexity can sometimes be its downfall. The multitude of voices and stories within stories can make the plot feel disjointed. While the philosophical musings on grief and the power of narrative are compelling, they occasionally overshadow character development, making it hard to fully connect with the protagonists.
The interactions between the professor and his protégé provide some touching moments, highlighting their shared struggle to find meaning after loss. The mountain gods' witty banter adds humor and a sense of timelessness, contrasting nicely with the more grounded human experiences.
Overall, "The Melancholy of Untold History" is a beautifully written and intellectually stimulating book, but its dense structure and occasional narrative tangents might not be for everyone.
October 24, 2024
I feel deeply unskilled to comment on this book. It's structurally complex and trying to combine historical recreation with a myth cycle. The first really appealed to me, the second less so. I need to reread it.
July 4, 2025
There is hardly a place Storyteller doesn't go. Hardly things the Gods and Goddesses don't do. Words Sky Baby doesn't say. This is a story all over the map, every map.
It made me rather dizzy, actually, to go from stories within stories, to endless characters with titles, honorifics and names (I gave myself a 5 name limit here) such as Lord of Fiery Dedication, Clouds of Discord, Dragon Child, Little Rat Face and Red Bear Fat Butt. After awhile, I just listened through all the digressions, tangents and disappearing paths the tale took.
Despite my mostly confused experience, I was astonished at a satisfying comprehension at the end of the tale. I left the book smiling, not a bit of melancholy left about the issue of untold history.
*A sincere thank you to Minsoo Kang, William Morrow, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:25c
It made me rather dizzy, actually, to go from stories within stories, to endless characters with titles, honorifics and names (I gave myself a 5 name limit here) such as Lord of Fiery Dedication, Clouds of Discord, Dragon Child, Little Rat Face and Red Bear Fat Butt. After awhile, I just listened through all the digressions, tangents and disappearing paths the tale took.
Despite my mostly confused experience, I was astonished at a satisfying comprehension at the end of the tale. I left the book smiling, not a bit of melancholy left about the issue of untold history.
*A sincere thank you to Minsoo Kang, William Morrow, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:25c
February 14, 2025
I loved the structure of this story but I was bored around 50%. I don't know if this stems, in part, from mental exhaustion due to existing in America in the year 2025, but the allure of the story narrative was lost to me unfortunately.
It's literary fiction with mythological elements, crossing multiple perspectives across time. You definitely have to be patient to read and enjoy this book because the connections are made very slowly. Half the chapters follow a historian as he grapples with change and loss in his life. The other chapters are the more mythology based ones, following gods and goddesses as their meddling in human affairs has devastating consequences for both themselves and humanity for thousands of years.
I think part of the problem for me is that it's all just telling - especially the gods/goddesses story line. It's very much "they did this and then this happened. 100 years later a child was born, only to die. etc." So the story is interesting to a point, but after a while I realized I felt nothing for any of the characters and got tired of the rinse and repeat nature of it - things are good, things are bad on repeat. This was better with the historian because we actually got to see into his mind a bit and experience his emotions.
It's a complex story and definitely quite the undertaking. Eventually all things connect, as these things are wont to do. I think the complexity hindered it a bit sometimes because the plot did feel a bit disjointed and at times I found myself asking "what is the point of this?"
But it was definitely intellectually stimulating, although not for everyone due to its winding nature and tangents that seem to go nowhere only to be found relevant much later on.
It's literary fiction with mythological elements, crossing multiple perspectives across time. You definitely have to be patient to read and enjoy this book because the connections are made very slowly. Half the chapters follow a historian as he grapples with change and loss in his life. The other chapters are the more mythology based ones, following gods and goddesses as their meddling in human affairs has devastating consequences for both themselves and humanity for thousands of years.
I think part of the problem for me is that it's all just telling - especially the gods/goddesses story line. It's very much "they did this and then this happened. 100 years later a child was born, only to die. etc." So the story is interesting to a point, but after a while I realized I felt nothing for any of the characters and got tired of the rinse and repeat nature of it - things are good, things are bad on repeat. This was better with the historian because we actually got to see into his mind a bit and experience his emotions.
It's a complex story and definitely quite the undertaking. Eventually all things connect, as these things are wont to do. I think the complexity hindered it a bit sometimes because the plot did feel a bit disjointed and at times I found myself asking "what is the point of this?"
But it was definitely intellectually stimulating, although not for everyone due to its winding nature and tangents that seem to go nowhere only to be found relevant much later on.
August 1, 2024
The stars are how the works affects me, not for how good I think it is. This is good though - and a breath of fresh air.
Minsoo Kang guest lectured for a class I took at UMSL in 2019 or so. I was impressed with his presentation and would have taken a class with him if I had stayed another semester. I was trying to get the degree done, so I didn't have the chance.
I have a copy of the book he wrote about Hong Gildong, non-fiction. This is quite different than that. I don't do plot stuff, just impressions. The writing is very good, but the point of the novel is the story and the presentation of the history of a created society and it's origin myths. Woven into that is the stories of several more characters linked through time, sort of anyway, maybe more clearly said through imagination.
This is another stretch for me genre-wise. I just finished "Absalom, Absalom!" so anything that followed was going to be less dense, and this was, but there is a very subtle depth that I will probably not appreciate for some time, something I think defines a good novel.
I bought the book at the book-signing and Minsoo signed it for me and stamped the imprint page with his name in Korean. Way cool. I have enjoyed the whole experience. St Louis Public Library has a copy and you can get it at Amazon.
Minsoo Kang guest lectured for a class I took at UMSL in 2019 or so. I was impressed with his presentation and would have taken a class with him if I had stayed another semester. I was trying to get the degree done, so I didn't have the chance.
I have a copy of the book he wrote about Hong Gildong, non-fiction. This is quite different than that. I don't do plot stuff, just impressions. The writing is very good, but the point of the novel is the story and the presentation of the history of a created society and it's origin myths. Woven into that is the stories of several more characters linked through time, sort of anyway, maybe more clearly said through imagination.
This is another stretch for me genre-wise. I just finished "Absalom, Absalom!" so anything that followed was going to be less dense, and this was, but there is a very subtle depth that I will probably not appreciate for some time, something I think defines a good novel.
I bought the book at the book-signing and Minsoo signed it for me and stamped the imprint page with his name in Korean. Way cool. I have enjoyed the whole experience. St Louis Public Library has a copy and you can get it at Amazon.
October 24, 2024
I found this to be an unexpected surprise of a debut novel - based on East Asian Mythology, the Author weaves four stories through themes of love and grief. Really for me two of the stories were most important. The Professor, who is mourning his recently deceased wife and the memories of his parents. And the Storyteller who must create original stories to save his life from the evil Emperor.
I found this novel complex, creative, imaginative and at times beautiful.
The way the Author has the Storyteller create his stories out of thin air is phenomenal.
I found this novel complex, creative, imaginative and at times beautiful.
The way the Author has the Storyteller create his stories out of thin air is phenomenal.
May 23, 2024
A unique read for me. I liked the different views and time periods between the storyteller and historian. This was a very different approach with elements of East Asian mythology and fantasy and a weaving of different stories spanning over 3000 years. The ending pulled together well. Thank you William Morrow Books for the advanced copy. Give it a try…July 24 release date.
August 11, 2024
I will admit there were a couple sections in the middle that I drudged through a little bit, but overall I really liked this. The concept, the layout, the subtle underlying tones and messages, the interwoven stories. One of the most unique books I've read.
August 16, 2024
Overall a good read, but the myth-centered sections slowed down the much more interesting present-day story. It's annoying when you're following one story, it stops at the 56% point, and you don't get back to it until the 81% point (especially if the stuff between isn't as interesting). I was tempted to do a 3.5 rounded up to 4, but I was a bit too let down by the ending to make myself do that.
July 22, 2024
I really enjoyed this one!
It has a very unique premise about a historian who uses East Asian mythology and folktales to comfort himself with the losses and grief of his own life while finding solace in his imagination and storytelling.
The novel tells two stories in parallel, the first is the historian who is mourning his wife and the second is more of a mythological history of his homeland that spans over 3000 years.
I know it sounds a little mystifying but trust me it really works well for this book!
At the heart of this novel is a tale of how history and myths can be intertwined together to connect us in unexpected ways. It is a story of friendship, love, hardships, loss, betrayal, and forgiveness.
If you enjoyed books such as Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, or Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell than you will love this book!
Thank you for the gifted copy William Morrow Books in exchange for an honest review.
It has a very unique premise about a historian who uses East Asian mythology and folktales to comfort himself with the losses and grief of his own life while finding solace in his imagination and storytelling.
The novel tells two stories in parallel, the first is the historian who is mourning his wife and the second is more of a mythological history of his homeland that spans over 3000 years.
I know it sounds a little mystifying but trust me it really works well for this book!
At the heart of this novel is a tale of how history and myths can be intertwined together to connect us in unexpected ways. It is a story of friendship, love, hardships, loss, betrayal, and forgiveness.
If you enjoyed books such as Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, or Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell than you will love this book!
Thank you for the gifted copy William Morrow Books in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2025
a fascinating interweaving of imagined history and historical imagination, imagined mythology, and a very real, very dear historian.
January 5, 2024
(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley)
I really liked the book's initial premise, in where a China-esque country's mythological past, historical past, and present-day each were given their own storylines that quickly intertwined with one another. I also enjoyed the mythological plot and how it blended with the historical elements. Unfortunately, I found the present-day plot to be the weak from its very start, and it made the book the equivalent of an unbalanced three-legged stool. Also, while I applaud Minsoo Kang's creative efforts with the addition of several meta elements, their execution ended up falling a little flat especially at the very end. Overall, I just found The Melancholy of Untold History to end up being much less than the sum of all of its initial parts.
I really liked the book's initial premise, in where a China-esque country's mythological past, historical past, and present-day each were given their own storylines that quickly intertwined with one another. I also enjoyed the mythological plot and how it blended with the historical elements. Unfortunately, I found the present-day plot to be the weak from its very start, and it made the book the equivalent of an unbalanced three-legged stool. Also, while I applaud Minsoo Kang's creative efforts with the addition of several meta elements, their execution ended up falling a little flat especially at the very end. Overall, I just found The Melancholy of Untold History to end up being much less than the sum of all of its initial parts.
March 11, 2025
Reading some of the reviews here, I think my experience falls into the category of ‘good idea but lacking execution.’
I originally purchased this book for two reasons: 1. It was something like 65% off, and I had a gift card, and 2. It seemed like a weird book, and I have a special fondness for weird books. In weirdness, it certainly delivered — no complaints there, but I don’t think I was a full chapter in when, flipping the the author’s blurb in the back, saw that it was Kang’s first novel and said to myself “ah, that makes sense.”
I grew up reading fairytales, and this book clearly takes from this fairytale style — with much of the book itself comprised of folktales. I think this is a very interesting element of the book, and an element that I liked very much, however I found the writing a bit boring and more than a little cliche (ex: “… that would be the last time he ever saw her alive…”). It would not have bothered me that none of the characters are particularly compelling, if the structure itself delivered on its promise to weave each disparate storyline together in some satisfying way. For me, the dots just weren’t connecting, and I felt as neutral to the history of the land as I did about its inhabitants.
Also, despite Kang criticizing at several points the historical mistreatment of women and their tragic absence from historical texts, his own depiction of women feels a bit careless. Even in the storyline of the historian, where characters are a bit more fleshed out, the female characters are defined solely by what they give (then what they take) from the historian figure, positioned as the barriers against his apparently predestined solitude.
*spoilers below*
But of course, the ending is perhaps my least favorite part of the book. Now, while I don’t believe meta endings to be inherently bad, they are difficult to pull off and require readers to be engaged with the text in ways that I simply was not. Even with its ties to a deeper philosophical argument about the importance of truth vs fiction, the whole ‘and maybe it was all a dream’ ending came off as cheesy and bit of a betrayal to the book itself, which was, as I said before, trying to do something that was genuinely pretty interesting and unique. The ‘back off reader/writer, we’re going to tell our own stories now’ thing came across as similarly cliche and overdone.
This is to say, I really like what this book could have been. I just think that it was a bit of a complicated first attempt at the already complicated art form of novel writing. I have a lot of respect for the author for attempting such a unique (weird!) premise/structure, but I wish I had read it as his fifth or sixth novel, instead of his first.
I originally purchased this book for two reasons: 1. It was something like 65% off, and I had a gift card, and 2. It seemed like a weird book, and I have a special fondness for weird books. In weirdness, it certainly delivered — no complaints there, but I don’t think I was a full chapter in when, flipping the the author’s blurb in the back, saw that it was Kang’s first novel and said to myself “ah, that makes sense.”
I grew up reading fairytales, and this book clearly takes from this fairytale style — with much of the book itself comprised of folktales. I think this is a very interesting element of the book, and an element that I liked very much, however I found the writing a bit boring and more than a little cliche (ex: “… that would be the last time he ever saw her alive…”). It would not have bothered me that none of the characters are particularly compelling, if the structure itself delivered on its promise to weave each disparate storyline together in some satisfying way. For me, the dots just weren’t connecting, and I felt as neutral to the history of the land as I did about its inhabitants.
Also, despite Kang criticizing at several points the historical mistreatment of women and their tragic absence from historical texts, his own depiction of women feels a bit careless. Even in the storyline of the historian, where characters are a bit more fleshed out, the female characters are defined solely by what they give (then what they take) from the historian figure, positioned as the barriers against his apparently predestined solitude.
*spoilers below*
But of course, the ending is perhaps my least favorite part of the book. Now, while I don’t believe meta endings to be inherently bad, they are difficult to pull off and require readers to be engaged with the text in ways that I simply was not. Even with its ties to a deeper philosophical argument about the importance of truth vs fiction, the whole ‘and maybe it was all a dream’ ending came off as cheesy and bit of a betrayal to the book itself, which was, as I said before, trying to do something that was genuinely pretty interesting and unique. The ‘back off reader/writer, we’re going to tell our own stories now’ thing came across as similarly cliche and overdone.
This is to say, I really like what this book could have been. I just think that it was a bit of a complicated first attempt at the already complicated art form of novel writing. I have a lot of respect for the author for attempting such a unique (weird!) premise/structure, but I wish I had read it as his fifth or sixth novel, instead of his first.
July 22, 2024
Childish and amateurish are the words that best describe this book. It´s neither epic or lyrical like the blurb says. Not clear what it wants to be,lame contemporary story, all tell,tell,tell as if readers were dumb, and the "fantasy" part is too basic, tries symbolic and ends up being in your face ridiculous,totally silly. It would be an insult to those genres to call this YA or children´s lit, but it´s definitively not for adults. Awful.
May 13, 2025
You can never trust a Red Mountain God with an immaculate peach, and I've literally always said that.
I really liked the overarching idea in this book of themes explored through myth, stories, and lived experiences, but I struggled with it more than I wanted to. The narration felt too 'tell don't show', the jumps felt jarring, and the impacts of the stories felt wildly different. I loved the concept and some of the stories within it, but struggled with the read itself.
I really liked the overarching idea in this book of themes explored through myth, stories, and lived experiences, but I struggled with it more than I wanted to. The narration felt too 'tell don't show', the jumps felt jarring, and the impacts of the stories felt wildly different. I loved the concept and some of the stories within it, but struggled with the read itself.
July 9, 2025
Wow I usually really do not enjoy anything mythological but this one was so good! I read this book alongside a friend and this was a great selection for discussion along the way. Here is what I posted on Storygraph:
This was such a fun and unique book! There were so many discussions about authority, autonomy, war, destruction, and power, but done in a way that was incorporated so well into the story. None of it seemed preachy, but definitely served as a warning. I also really enjoyed the questions it rose about history and how we influence it, as well as the roll mythology plays into our retelling of gaps in history. The mythological aspect and how that tied into the "real life" parts of the story was so well done! There were moments that had such silly, childlike humor, but it was fun. This was such an enjoyable read!
This was such a fun and unique book! There were so many discussions about authority, autonomy, war, destruction, and power, but done in a way that was incorporated so well into the story. None of it seemed preachy, but definitely served as a warning. I also really enjoyed the questions it rose about history and how we influence it, as well as the roll mythology plays into our retelling of gaps in history. The mythological aspect and how that tied into the "real life" parts of the story was so well done! There were moments that had such silly, childlike humor, but it was fun. This was such an enjoyable read!
July 1, 2025
Fiction>Fantasy
This is a weird book...I definitely do not usually read books like this but it was on my TBR for some reason so I gave it a try. Funny at times, through-provoking at times, and definitely just plain weird at times.
I am a little troubled by the concept of 'critical fabulation' as I did find out this is a real thing and pretty much means to make up or extrapolate experiences when you can't find sources that humanize the people you're talking about as much as you want or you decide the evidence should be expanded beyond what the real evidence is. hmmm...I like at as historical fiction I don't like it as new-age invented-the-facts history.
The Historian was very relatable imo. The myth story line was interesting and I couldn't decide if it was following a particular culture's history or if it was made up wholesale by Kang. Either way, good twists. I feel like the myths I'm familiar with (the ones from our 'real' world) are so predictable bc I know them---to hear new ones with new turns and new heroes was fun.
If you're in the mood for a fantasy story, this is one of the shortest ones you will find :)
This is a weird book...I definitely do not usually read books like this but it was on my TBR for some reason so I gave it a try. Funny at times, through-provoking at times, and definitely just plain weird at times.
I am a little troubled by the concept of 'critical fabulation' as I did find out this is a real thing and pretty much means to make up or extrapolate experiences when you can't find sources that humanize the people you're talking about as much as you want or you decide the evidence should be expanded beyond what the real evidence is. hmmm...I like at as historical fiction I don't like it as new-age invented-the-facts history.
The Historian was very relatable imo. The myth story line was interesting and I couldn't decide if it was following a particular culture's history or if it was made up wholesale by Kang. Either way, good twists. I feel like the myths I'm familiar with (the ones from our 'real' world) are so predictable bc I know them---to hear new ones with new turns and new heroes was fun.
If you're in the mood for a fantasy story, this is one of the shortest ones you will find :)
September 15, 2025
Auf verschiedenen Zeitebenen, aus mehreren Perspektiven und sogar in unterschiedlichen Genres (zeitngenössische Fiction, Mythos, Historie) erzählt dieses Buch über Trauer und Beziehungen, große Reiche, fiktive Städte, historische Persönlichkeiten, Streit zwischen Freunden.... und das mit viel Liebe zu Details, Ironie und versteckten blöden Witzen. Hat mir sehr gut gefallen, auf jeden Fall etwas sehr Eigenes.
August 14, 2024
Amazing, sweet and lovely.
This book is incredible. I knew I had to read it from the first page. I don't know what else to say. You must read it if you like strange, adventurous and wise stories.
This book is incredible. I knew I had to read it from the first page. I don't know what else to say. You must read it if you like strange, adventurous and wise stories.
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September 8, 2024Listen to my review on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvTjq...
December 27, 2024
I love stories about storytelling, and this one, written by a historian, plays with myth-making and the many aspects of story-making and our human need to fill in the gaps. A compelling book that moves between time periods.
July 23, 2025
⭐️3.5
Loved the myths and the concept but the execution could be better. The ending is such a big disappointment!
Loved the myths and the concept but the execution could be better. The ending is such a big disappointment!
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