AE-RAN KIM was born in Incheon, South Korea, the youngest of three daughters. She has won the Hankook Ilbo Literary Award, Kim Yu-jeong Literary Award, Lee Hyo-seok Literary Award, and the Prix de l'Inaperçu, among others, for her short fiction and collections. My Brilliant Life is her first novel.
다른 김애란 작가의 작품보단 몰입도가 떨어졌지만, 그녀만의 언어로 평범할 수 있는 이야기를 평범하지 않게 만들었다. 깊은 바다와도 같은 슬픔, 그 슬픔의 끝까지 독자의 멱살을 끌고 내려갔다가도 마지막엔 늘 물 밖에 존재하는 희망찬 세상을 보여주는 그녀의 이야기들을 나는 계속해서 읽고 싶다.
This is a truly remarkable work. At first glance, it appears to be three independent stories, yet they intertwine just like the plotlines of a K-drama.
In the final chapter, the "return" of one of the characters brings out the core values of the entire book, leaving us with an open ending—much like life itself. Through the protagonists’ life stories, I believe the author aims to convey that no matter who you are, everyone’s life contains unpredictable moments, imperfections, and hidden layers. It is perhaps only through a game like "One of Them is a Lie" that we get a chance to gradually get to know (though not necessarily fully understand) a person.
The author’s descriptions are incredibly realistic. While the writing is subtle and understated, it effectively shatters the "world is beautiful" filter. We have seen far too many success stories and inspirational tales, but those don't represent the stories of the majority. People are never as simple or trustworthy as they appear on the surface. This resonates deeply with Bob Marley's famous words: "The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for."
For me, reading this book wasn't just about following a narrative; through these stories, I found myself projecting and reflecting on my own life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
조용이 흘러가는 책이었다. 책 속에 주인공들도 조용하고 그들이 겪은 시련도 사회적으로 조용히 덮는 사건들: 가정폭력, 찢어지는 가난, 그리고 부모의 죽음 후에 고아가 되는 것.
이 세 아이들의 삶들이 멀리서부토 엮이면서 서로가 덜 외롭고 고통스러워지는데, 그래도 홀로 묵묵히 살아가는 캐릭터를 읽으면서 마음이 너무 아렸다. 혼자서 아주 흔한 인생의 슬픔과 고난을 겪는 아이들. 내 10대와 20대도 생각하게 되었다. 나도 그 때는 나를 알아주는 친구 덕분에 위로가 됐지...
I always try to go to a bookstore when I go back to Korea. It's a difficult decision to choose a book while there because I don't have much information about what is published and who the good authors are. I read it a few months ago, and I remember liking it and enjoying the book.