What do you think?
Portakal ve Ekmek Bıçağı
“Bıçağın yüzeyinde yansımamı gördüm. Ağlıyor olmama rağmen gülümsüyordum.”
Herkesin birbirine benzediği, toplumun görünmez kurallarına uymanın bir zorunluluk olduğu kusursuz bir düzen. Oh Yeong-a da bu düzenin sadık bir parçası: Her zaman gülümseyen, her zaman alttan alan, hayatını başkalarının beklentilerine göre şekillendiren sevecen bir öğretmen. Ancak bu sonsuz uyum sağlama çabası, içten içe derin bir çaresizliği ve öfkeyi büyütüyor.
İçindeki bu tıkanmışlığı aşmak için son çare olarak radikal bir adıma başvuruyor: İnsanı “kendisinin daha iyi bir versiyonuna” dönüştürmeyi vaat eden, dört haftalık, son teknoloji eseri bir duygu düzenleme programı. Fakat bu yapay müdahale, beklenenden daha iyi işleyecek.
Üzerindeki tüm sosyal filtreleri ve yorucu sorumlulukları bir kenara atan Oh Yeong-a, hayatında ilk kez kendi ham, filtresiz ve kuralsız benliğiyle yüzleşecek. Toplumun dayattığı tüm idealleri tek tek yerle bir etmeye kararlı şekilde hem de. Özgürlük bu kadar tehlikeli ve cazip bir hâl almışken, kim o eski, uysal kafese geri dönmek ister ki?
Kore edebiyatının geleceğini şekillendiren en başarılı genç yazarlardan biri seçilen Cheong Ye’den; toplumun tektipleştirme çılgınlığına ve bireyin sınırlarına dair gerilimi yüksek, tekinsiz ve sarsıcı bir roman.
“Hayranlıkla sayfaları çevirirken kendimi bir anda sarsıcı finalde buldum. Haz, âdeta donup kaldı.” -KANG HWA-GİL
“Diğer insanlarla aynı seçimleri yapmazsan hastalıklı gibi görülmenin normal sayıldığı bu dünyanın gerçekten doğru bir yer olup olmadığını sorgulatıyor okura.”
-JEONG HAE-YEON
“Cheong Ye fedakârlık ile bencillik arasındaki o rahatsız edici, karmakarışık çizgiyi vahşi ve hummalı bir şekilde baltalıyor.” -SUNG RYU
Herkesin birbirine benzediği, toplumun görünmez kurallarına uymanın bir zorunluluk olduğu kusursuz bir düzen. Oh Yeong-a da bu düzenin sadık bir parçası: Her zaman gülümseyen, her zaman alttan alan, hayatını başkalarının beklentilerine göre şekillendiren sevecen bir öğretmen. Ancak bu sonsuz uyum sağlama çabası, içten içe derin bir çaresizliği ve öfkeyi büyütüyor.
İçindeki bu tıkanmışlığı aşmak için son çare olarak radikal bir adıma başvuruyor: İnsanı “kendisinin daha iyi bir versiyonuna” dönüştürmeyi vaat eden, dört haftalık, son teknoloji eseri bir duygu düzenleme programı. Fakat bu yapay müdahale, beklenenden daha iyi işleyecek.
Üzerindeki tüm sosyal filtreleri ve yorucu sorumlulukları bir kenara atan Oh Yeong-a, hayatında ilk kez kendi ham, filtresiz ve kuralsız benliğiyle yüzleşecek. Toplumun dayattığı tüm idealleri tek tek yerle bir etmeye kararlı şekilde hem de. Özgürlük bu kadar tehlikeli ve cazip bir hâl almışken, kim o eski, uysal kafese geri dönmek ister ki?
Kore edebiyatının geleceğini şekillendiren en başarılı genç yazarlardan biri seçilen Cheong Ye’den; toplumun tektipleştirme çılgınlığına ve bireyin sınırlarına dair gerilimi yüksek, tekinsiz ve sarsıcı bir roman.
“Hayranlıkla sayfaları çevirirken kendimi bir anda sarsıcı finalde buldum. Haz, âdeta donup kaldı.” -KANG HWA-GİL
“Diğer insanlarla aynı seçimleri yapmazsan hastalıklı gibi görülmenin normal sayıldığı bu dünyanın gerçekten doğru bir yer olup olmadığını sorgulatıyor okura.”
-JEONG HAE-YEON
“Cheong Ye fedakârlık ile bencillik arasındaki o rahatsız edici, karmakarışık çizgiyi vahşi ve hummalı bir şekilde baltalıyor.” -SUNG RYU
136 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2024
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June 21, 2026
What would you become if you could no longer control your own emotions? Would you feel liberated, or would you lose yourself entirely? This is the unsettling question at the heart of Cheong Ye's Orange and the Bread Knife. From its deceptively gentle title to its harrowing conclusion, this novel takes the reader on a journey that is as thought-provoking as it is disturbing.
From the very beginning, the book hooked me. The story follows Young-a, a kindergarten teacher who constantly tries to be considerate of everyone around her. Whether dealing with Eunwu, a disruptive child who bullies his classmates; Eunju, a friend who never misses an opportunity to criticize her; or Suwon, her excessively kind boyfriend, Young-a always prioritizes understanding others over herself.
This performance of virtue, however, begins to feel deeply wrong to her, a feeling that intensifies until she accepts an invitation to participate in an experiment at the Seohyang Medical Research Centre. The experiment promises a profound change over four weeks, but what Young-a doesn't know is that it is designed to strip away her ability to regulate her emotions, forcing her to confront the raw self she has spent years suppressing.
Young-a is a protagonist who will feel familiar to anyone who has ever felt constrained by expectations. Watching her constantly scrutinize herself, second-guess her actions, and perform kindness for the sake of being perceived as "moral" was both frustrating and deeply relatable. I felt her suffocation keenly. When the experiment begins and those restraints start to disappear, the transformation becomes strangely cathartic. Yet the novel never allows that feeling to remain uncomplicated, continually asking whether freedom achieved through such means can truly be considered liberation.
Surely, this very first line in the book stood out to me. Since childhood, many of us have been taught that living morally is the correct way to live. The novel challenges readers to consider how much of that morality stems from genuine conviction and how much from fear of judgment, rejection, or punishment.
In the end, the novel’s true genius lies in its title, which I did not fully appreciate until reading the translator's note. It is the kind of realization that feels just within reach. While I suspect some cultural nuances may have been lost on me, the experience felt intentional in a way. This is one of those rare books that leaves you feeling as though you have understood something significant while remaining uncertain of exactly what it is.
Just one aspect that still confuses me is the connection between Eunwu's mother, Suwon, the research center and its significance. Considering the revelations later in the novel, I found myself wondering whether the people surrounding Young-a were more interconnected than they initially appeared. Perhaps this ambiguity was deliberate, but it remained one of the few unresolved questions I had after finishing the book.
At its core, the 'orange' in the title comes to symbolize the soft, human emotions we all possess, while the 'bread knife' represents the forces that cut into them, whether societal expectations, personal repression, or the people around us. Through the collision of these symbols, the novel explores why relationships can simultaneously comfort and wound us.
In the fullness of time, the novel begins lightly but ends heavily. If you, like Young-a, have ever felt caught between who you are and who you are expected to be, this novel will likely leave you with much to think about long after the final page. It is a provocative and deeply human story for anyone who has ever dreamed of being truly free.
From the very beginning, the book hooked me. The story follows Young-a, a kindergarten teacher who constantly tries to be considerate of everyone around her. Whether dealing with Eunwu, a disruptive child who bullies his classmates; Eunju, a friend who never misses an opportunity to criticize her; or Suwon, her excessively kind boyfriend, Young-a always prioritizes understanding others over herself.
This performance of virtue, however, begins to feel deeply wrong to her, a feeling that intensifies until she accepts an invitation to participate in an experiment at the Seohyang Medical Research Centre. The experiment promises a profound change over four weeks, but what Young-a doesn't know is that it is designed to strip away her ability to regulate her emotions, forcing her to confront the raw self she has spent years suppressing.
Young-a is a protagonist who will feel familiar to anyone who has ever felt constrained by expectations. Watching her constantly scrutinize herself, second-guess her actions, and perform kindness for the sake of being perceived as "moral" was both frustrating and deeply relatable. I felt her suffocation keenly. When the experiment begins and those restraints start to disappear, the transformation becomes strangely cathartic. Yet the novel never allows that feeling to remain uncomplicated, continually asking whether freedom achieved through such means can truly be considered liberation.
"Ethics are enforced by fear."
Surely, this very first line in the book stood out to me. Since childhood, many of us have been taught that living morally is the correct way to live. The novel challenges readers to consider how much of that morality stems from genuine conviction and how much from fear of judgment, rejection, or punishment.
In the end, the novel’s true genius lies in its title, which I did not fully appreciate until reading the translator's note. It is the kind of realization that feels just within reach. While I suspect some cultural nuances may have been lost on me, the experience felt intentional in a way. This is one of those rare books that leaves you feeling as though you have understood something significant while remaining uncertain of exactly what it is.
Just one aspect that still confuses me is the connection between Eunwu's mother, Suwon, the research center and its significance. Considering the revelations later in the novel, I found myself wondering whether the people surrounding Young-a were more interconnected than they initially appeared. Perhaps this ambiguity was deliberate, but it remained one of the few unresolved questions I had after finishing the book.
At its core, the 'orange' in the title comes to symbolize the soft, human emotions we all possess, while the 'bread knife' represents the forces that cut into them, whether societal expectations, personal repression, or the people around us. Through the collision of these symbols, the novel explores why relationships can simultaneously comfort and wound us.
In the fullness of time, the novel begins lightly but ends heavily. If you, like Young-a, have ever felt caught between who you are and who you are expected to be, this novel will likely leave you with much to think about long after the final page. It is a provocative and deeply human story for anyone who has ever dreamed of being truly free.
August 18, 2026
Oh Yeongah is a conformist, suppressing any lurking socially-unacceptable impulses she strives to be seen to be “good.” The notion of what counts as “good” has kept her in a relationship with Lee Suwon a kind-hearted, social worker she doesn’t love but considers too fragile to reject. It’s also made her subject to the whims of best friend Eunju whose commitment to various causes is combined with a controlling, censorious nature. Eunju thinks it’s fine to tell Yeongah what to think and, crucially, how to act. Yeongah works as a kindergarten teacher, in line with her perception women are supposed to want to nurture young children – even though she doesn’t actually like them. On the surface Yeongah is the embodiment of the idea women should above all be kind. But, on the inside, Yeongah is deeply conflicted, cynical, exhausted by her attempts to fulfil everyone else’s expectations. She rarely smiles anymore something that makes the people around her uneasy. A chance encounter leads her to a clinic that promises to restore her sense of well-being via a free experimental procedure affecting her brain chemistry. But instead of restoring her equilibrium, the procedure inexplicably unleashes Yeongah’s long-buried rage and a delight in the grotesque and violent.
Award-winning author Cheong Ye’s speculative novella takes its cue from Sartre’s notion of “bad faith” and the likely consequences of living an inauthentic life. The philosophical dimension is more than familiar but it works surprisingly well as a means of exploring gender roles and repression within a wider consumer capitalist framework - Yeongah is painfully aware Korean society values money above all else. The story’s also an effective indictment of therapy culture, especially the prison of positive thinking that writers like Barbara Ehrenreich have so carefully critiqued. I was impressed too by Cheong Ye’s representation of the uneasy dynamics of friendship, the things left unsaid, the burden of masking so as not to be disruptive. Cheong Ye’s narrative’s disciplined, fluid and insightful, laced with wry humour, with some very satisfying twists and turns. Translated by Slin Jung.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Wildfire for an ARC
Award-winning author Cheong Ye’s speculative novella takes its cue from Sartre’s notion of “bad faith” and the likely consequences of living an inauthentic life. The philosophical dimension is more than familiar but it works surprisingly well as a means of exploring gender roles and repression within a wider consumer capitalist framework - Yeongah is painfully aware Korean society values money above all else. The story’s also an effective indictment of therapy culture, especially the prison of positive thinking that writers like Barbara Ehrenreich have so carefully critiqued. I was impressed too by Cheong Ye’s representation of the uneasy dynamics of friendship, the things left unsaid, the burden of masking so as not to be disruptive. Cheong Ye’s narrative’s disciplined, fluid and insightful, laced with wry humour, with some very satisfying twists and turns. Translated by Slin Jung.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Wildfire for an ARC
July 16, 2026
“I was changing, transforming into something that wasn’t myself, and in my mind I knew this wasn’t progress, but regression.”
Orange and the Bread Knife is one of those quiet novels that gradually reveals its emotional depth. At first, it seems simple and understated, but with every chapter it uncovers another layer of loneliness, healing & the invisible wounds people carry. Rather than relying on dramatic twists, the story finds its strength in ordinary moments and honest conversations, making the characters feel incredibly real.
What I loved most was the writing. It has a calm, comforting rhythm that makes you want to slow down and absorb every page. Healing rarely happens all at once, it comes through small acts of kindness, understanding & the courage to keep moving forward.
The novel also gently explores how people who seem completely different can unexpectedly become a source of comfort for one another. It never forces its message; instead, it lets the emotions grow naturally, leaving a lasting impression without becoming overly sentimental.
It is a story about carrying pain, finding connection in unexpected places & realizing that even the smallest moments of warmth can change the direction of a life.
“A better person is not necessarily a good person.”
“Control and freedom are two sides of the same coin. They can’t exist without the other—in fact, they shine even brighter in each other’s presence. You can’t have an extreme without a balance to upset.”
Orange and the Bread Knife is one of those quiet novels that gradually reveals its emotional depth. At first, it seems simple and understated, but with every chapter it uncovers another layer of loneliness, healing & the invisible wounds people carry. Rather than relying on dramatic twists, the story finds its strength in ordinary moments and honest conversations, making the characters feel incredibly real.
What I loved most was the writing. It has a calm, comforting rhythm that makes you want to slow down and absorb every page. Healing rarely happens all at once, it comes through small acts of kindness, understanding & the courage to keep moving forward.
The novel also gently explores how people who seem completely different can unexpectedly become a source of comfort for one another. It never forces its message; instead, it lets the emotions grow naturally, leaving a lasting impression without becoming overly sentimental.
It is a story about carrying pain, finding connection in unexpected places & realizing that even the smallest moments of warmth can change the direction of a life.
“A better person is not necessarily a good person.”
“Control and freedom are two sides of the same coin. They can’t exist without the other—in fact, they shine even brighter in each other’s presence. You can’t have an extreme without a balance to upset.”
July 31, 2026
Portakal ve Ekmek Bıçağı, Güney Koreli yazar Cheong Ye’nin kısa ama etkisi uzun süren psikolojik/distopik romanı…
Roman, görünüşte kusursuz ve uyumlu bir toplumda yaşayan öğretmen Oh Yeong-a’nın hikayesini anlatıyor. Yıllarca başkalarının beklentilerine göre yaşayan, kendi benliğini ve duygularını bastıran Yeong-a, insanı “daha iyi bir versiyonuna” dönüştürdüğü iddia edilen dört haftalık deneysel bir duygu düzenleme programına katılıyor. Ancak bu süreç, bizi şu sorularla baş başa bırakıyor: Topluma uyum sağlamak uğruna kendimizden ne kadar vazgeçiyoruz? Bastırılan duygular gerçekten yok oluyor mu? “Daha iyi bir insan” olmak gerçekten ne demek?
Bu kitap beni oldukça kişisel bir yerden yakaladı.
Sanırım uzun yıllar güçlü görünmeye çalışan, uyum sağlamayı öğrenen ve zamanla kendi ihtiyaçlarını ikinci plana atan herkes bu romanda kendinden bir parça bulacaktır.
En çok etkilendiğim nokta ise karakterin kendi olmaya başladığında hissettikleri, söyledikleri ve yaptıklarıydı. Çünkü orada öfkeden çok özgürlük gördüm. İlk kez kendini sansürlememenin, içinden geçeni söyleyebilmenin ve olduğu gibi var olabilmenin verdiği o derin rahatlama hissi…
Okumam sırasında zihnimde yankılananlar…
Sürekli uyum sağlama çabası… İnsan bazen farkına bile varmadan kendi isteklerinden uzaklaşıp başkalarının beklentilerine göre yaşamaya başlıyor. Bastırılmış öfke… Kitap öfkeyi yalnızca yıkıcı bir duygu olarak değil; görülmeyen ihtiyaçların, ihmal edilmiş benliğin ve ihlal edilen sınırların sesi olarak ele alıyor.
Kimlik arayışı… “Ben gerçekten bunu mu istiyorum, yoksa benden beklenen bu mu?” sorusu kitabın en güçlü damarlarından biri.
Yeniden başlama cesareti… Geçmişi silemeyiz ama kendimizi yeniden tanımlama ihtimalimiz her zaman var.
Kitabı bitirdiğimde geriye hikayeden çok bir his kaldı. Bana göre gerçek özgürlük, dünyanın değişmesi değil; artık kendini saklamak zorunda hissetmemek ve belki de en ağır yük, başkalarının seveceği biri olmaya çalışırken kendi sesini kısmakmış.
Roman, görünüşte kusursuz ve uyumlu bir toplumda yaşayan öğretmen Oh Yeong-a’nın hikayesini anlatıyor. Yıllarca başkalarının beklentilerine göre yaşayan, kendi benliğini ve duygularını bastıran Yeong-a, insanı “daha iyi bir versiyonuna” dönüştürdüğü iddia edilen dört haftalık deneysel bir duygu düzenleme programına katılıyor. Ancak bu süreç, bizi şu sorularla baş başa bırakıyor: Topluma uyum sağlamak uğruna kendimizden ne kadar vazgeçiyoruz? Bastırılan duygular gerçekten yok oluyor mu? “Daha iyi bir insan” olmak gerçekten ne demek?
Bu kitap beni oldukça kişisel bir yerden yakaladı.
Sanırım uzun yıllar güçlü görünmeye çalışan, uyum sağlamayı öğrenen ve zamanla kendi ihtiyaçlarını ikinci plana atan herkes bu romanda kendinden bir parça bulacaktır.
En çok etkilendiğim nokta ise karakterin kendi olmaya başladığında hissettikleri, söyledikleri ve yaptıklarıydı. Çünkü orada öfkeden çok özgürlük gördüm. İlk kez kendini sansürlememenin, içinden geçeni söyleyebilmenin ve olduğu gibi var olabilmenin verdiği o derin rahatlama hissi…
Okumam sırasında zihnimde yankılananlar…
Sürekli uyum sağlama çabası… İnsan bazen farkına bile varmadan kendi isteklerinden uzaklaşıp başkalarının beklentilerine göre yaşamaya başlıyor. Bastırılmış öfke… Kitap öfkeyi yalnızca yıkıcı bir duygu olarak değil; görülmeyen ihtiyaçların, ihmal edilmiş benliğin ve ihlal edilen sınırların sesi olarak ele alıyor.
Kimlik arayışı… “Ben gerçekten bunu mu istiyorum, yoksa benden beklenen bu mu?” sorusu kitabın en güçlü damarlarından biri.
Yeniden başlama cesareti… Geçmişi silemeyiz ama kendimizi yeniden tanımlama ihtimalimiz her zaman var.
Kitabı bitirdiğimde geriye hikayeden çok bir his kaldı. Bana göre gerçek özgürlük, dünyanın değişmesi değil; artık kendini saklamak zorunda hissetmemek ve belki de en ağır yük, başkalarının seveceği biri olmaya çalışırken kendi sesini kısmakmış.
August 6, 2026
Yazar mesaj kaygım yok ortada bir yerdeyim demiş ama cümleleri o kadar sürekli mesaj vermeliyim havasındaki bir noktada okuru sıkıyor maalesef. Konu güzel, anlatmak istediği şeyler hoş ama laf kalabalığı bir yerden sonra. Ama filme uyarlansa müthiş akar
August 27, 2026
“𝘈𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺,
𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.”
A story that gives voice to the abuse of teachers in contemporary Korea. A profession that is supposed to be respected has been traded for less. Lately, such a disrespect for this kind of labor has even lead some to death. And here, the story decides to build up the pent-up frustrations and aggressions into climax, where most of the story happens.
Packs a punch, but perhaps not as hard as I wished for it to hit. And I think that’s due to a very weak translation of the text, one at once awkward and clumsy in parts.
𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.”
A story that gives voice to the abuse of teachers in contemporary Korea. A profession that is supposed to be respected has been traded for less. Lately, such a disrespect for this kind of labor has even lead some to death. And here, the story decides to build up the pent-up frustrations and aggressions into climax, where most of the story happens.
Packs a punch, but perhaps not as hard as I wished for it to hit. And I think that’s due to a very weak translation of the text, one at once awkward and clumsy in parts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The third and fourth links were more windows into the misfortunes of strangers. These tragedies were abnormal and unexpected misfortunes, but the grief they generated did not transcend the scope of the individual’s life. I was struck by guilt, a voyeur peeping into the suffering of others. But the excitement! The thrill of witnessing the sudden upheavals of these strangers’ lives! This was the forbidden fruit, and it had claws. I did want to be a good person, yes, but I quickly tied up that desire and hung it far, far below, over the gaping abyss. My brain reveled in the catharsis.
I burst out laughing.
세 번째 링크, 네 번째 링크. 모두 이름 없는 불행이 담겨 있었다. 결코 일반적이지 않은, 한 명의 삶을 초월하지 못하는 다채로운 어둠들. 타인의 괴로운 삶을 관음하는 건 죄책감을 불러일으켰다. 동시에, 타인의 삶이 송두리째 바뀌는 순간을 목도하는 쾌감이 일었다. 나쁜 것에는 갈고리가 있다. 평생을 선하게 살고자 애썼던 마음이 삽시간에 묶여 저 아래에 대롱대롱 매달렸다. 카타르시스에 뇌가 절여졌다.
웃음이 터져 나왔다.
Orange and the Bread Knife (2026) is Slin Jung's translation of 오렌지와 빵칼 (2024) by 청예 (Cheong Ye).
The novel is narrated by Oh Yeongah (오영아), a 27 year old woman who works as a kindergarten teacher. She tries to live an ethical life, with strong self-control, overcoming the provocations of the children in her class, one boy in particular, and their parents, and chided by her best friend who berates her for the morality of her life choices (such as watching a TV series by a director who was found to have committed plagirism while at college).
And her long-standing relationship with her boyfriend is almost too perfect, but somewhat loveless:
We went to an artisanal pastry shop in Jongno and picked up a box of orange-flavoured donuts, because Suwon was a thoughtful man who remembered that his girlfriend snacked on sweets at night when she was on her period. When the cashier handed me the box with a red ribbon stuck on top, I assumed that same smile again. “You really love oranges, don’t you?” I asked Suwon. “Yeah, because they’re sour.” “There’s a lot of other sour things in the world.” “Well, oranges have this really deep flavor, you know? The sourness makes the sweetness taste . . . fuller.”
But as a result her life is increasingly joyless.
It had been so long since I'd lost my smile.
웃음을 상실한 지가 너무 오래됐다.
And when she visits Euwnu, the mother of the troublesome boy in her class - a woman who runs an ethical vegan bakery, which is struggling as directly opposite is a discount supermarket selling much cheaper and longer-lasting baked goods - the woman recommends that she seek therapy:
If the Quay went on tossing products day after day, it would soon collapse. The family would reel from the loss, Eunwu would grow even more incorrigible, the woman’s sighs would deepen, and yet another business launched to coexist with the environment and provide healthy dining options would go dark and close its shutters permanently. I couldn’t let that happen. I had to do my part. Preventing at least one loaf of bread from going into the waste bin was an important job, too. Someone had to take responsibility and consume them.
“All right,” the woman replied, heading to the counter and swiping my card before slicing up the loaf. The knife looked as if it needed some sharpening, and was probably an old companion—which made it a perfect fit for the outdated décor.
Right next to the register was a statue the size of a forearm. With its twisting, bony limbs, soulflayed face, and copper hue, it looked completely out of place among the fluffy buns and crunchy pastries. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. “It’s a replica of ‘Diego.’ By Alberto Giacometti,” the woman said.
The therapy clinic that both Eunwu and Suwon (not so?) coincidentally recommend proves to be one that offers an as yet unapproved treatment that alters the balance of chemicals in the brain, and removes Yeongah's social inhibitions, causing her to take more pleasure in other's misfortune (see the opening quote) - and she comes to admire Eunwu (particularly after certain revelations) who seems to have achieved an antinomic* balance to which she aspires [* the novel actually reads antimonic, which is a typo]:
The woman had achieved perfect equilibrium. She embodied both good and evil, but allowed herself to be swallowed by neither. Few people could walk that line between morality and immorality, and yet she had attained the antinomic state of exercising control while indulging in freedom. A secret kingdom of liberty, where one cylindrical path led between the main and rear gates and made entrance and exit indistinguishable—but was there ever a need to distinguish between them at all?
A fascinating character study - the perfect antidote to the wave of 'healing' fiction.
The novel comes with short but illuminating afterwords from both the author (for whom the novel seems to have been as cathartic as the story was for Yeongah) and the translator (who explains a gloss she made, with the author's permission, to account for the difference between a western bread knife and a Korean 빵칼).
I burst out laughing.
세 번째 링크, 네 번째 링크. 모두 이름 없는 불행이 담겨 있었다. 결코 일반적이지 않은, 한 명의 삶을 초월하지 못하는 다채로운 어둠들. 타인의 괴로운 삶을 관음하는 건 죄책감을 불러일으켰다. 동시에, 타인의 삶이 송두리째 바뀌는 순간을 목도하는 쾌감이 일었다. 나쁜 것에는 갈고리가 있다. 평생을 선하게 살고자 애썼던 마음이 삽시간에 묶여 저 아래에 대롱대롱 매달렸다. 카타르시스에 뇌가 절여졌다.
웃음이 터져 나왔다.
Orange and the Bread Knife (2026) is Slin Jung's translation of 오렌지와 빵칼 (2024) by 청예 (Cheong Ye).
The novel is narrated by Oh Yeongah (오영아), a 27 year old woman who works as a kindergarten teacher. She tries to live an ethical life, with strong self-control, overcoming the provocations of the children in her class, one boy in particular, and their parents, and chided by her best friend who berates her for the morality of her life choices (such as watching a TV series by a director who was found to have committed plagirism while at college).
And her long-standing relationship with her boyfriend is almost too perfect, but somewhat loveless:
We went to an artisanal pastry shop in Jongno and picked up a box of orange-flavoured donuts, because Suwon was a thoughtful man who remembered that his girlfriend snacked on sweets at night when she was on her period. When the cashier handed me the box with a red ribbon stuck on top, I assumed that same smile again. “You really love oranges, don’t you?” I asked Suwon. “Yeah, because they’re sour.” “There’s a lot of other sour things in the world.” “Well, oranges have this really deep flavor, you know? The sourness makes the sweetness taste . . . fuller.”
But as a result her life is increasingly joyless.
It had been so long since I'd lost my smile.
웃음을 상실한 지가 너무 오래됐다.
And when she visits Euwnu, the mother of the troublesome boy in her class - a woman who runs an ethical vegan bakery, which is struggling as directly opposite is a discount supermarket selling much cheaper and longer-lasting baked goods - the woman recommends that she seek therapy:
If the Quay went on tossing products day after day, it would soon collapse. The family would reel from the loss, Eunwu would grow even more incorrigible, the woman’s sighs would deepen, and yet another business launched to coexist with the environment and provide healthy dining options would go dark and close its shutters permanently. I couldn’t let that happen. I had to do my part. Preventing at least one loaf of bread from going into the waste bin was an important job, too. Someone had to take responsibility and consume them.
“All right,” the woman replied, heading to the counter and swiping my card before slicing up the loaf. The knife looked as if it needed some sharpening, and was probably an old companion—which made it a perfect fit for the outdated décor.
Right next to the register was a statue the size of a forearm. With its twisting, bony limbs, soulflayed face, and copper hue, it looked completely out of place among the fluffy buns and crunchy pastries. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. “It’s a replica of ‘Diego.’ By Alberto Giacometti,” the woman said.
The therapy clinic that both Eunwu and Suwon (not so?) coincidentally recommend proves to be one that offers an as yet unapproved treatment that alters the balance of chemicals in the brain, and removes Yeongah's social inhibitions, causing her to take more pleasure in other's misfortune (see the opening quote) - and she comes to admire Eunwu (particularly after certain revelations) who seems to have achieved an antinomic* balance to which she aspires [* the novel actually reads antimonic, which is a typo]:
The woman had achieved perfect equilibrium. She embodied both good and evil, but allowed herself to be swallowed by neither. Few people could walk that line between morality and immorality, and yet she had attained the antinomic state of exercising control while indulging in freedom. A secret kingdom of liberty, where one cylindrical path led between the main and rear gates and made entrance and exit indistinguishable—but was there ever a need to distinguish between them at all?
A fascinating character study - the perfect antidote to the wave of 'healing' fiction.
The novel comes with short but illuminating afterwords from both the author (for whom the novel seems to have been as cathartic as the story was for Yeongah) and the translator (who explains a gloss she made, with the author's permission, to account for the difference between a western bread knife and a Korean 빵칼).
Read
April 20, 2026Quite a dark read! A refreshing change from the trend of cozy translated fiction. The story follows Oh-Young, a school teacher who is considerate and kind. She is a people-pleaser, always smiles, meets societal expectations, curates her 'likes' according to what is expected of her, is a good friend and girlfriend. She feels empty, depressed and numb, and undergoes a four week emotion regulation program at Seohyang Medical Research Center. This is an attempt to 'fix' herself and become better. But the program leaves her with all filters down, and she begins to speak her mind.
Now she is speaking uncomfortable truths, speaking her mind, cursing, no longer attuned to serving the expectations that society and relationship roles have placed on her.
I enjoyed how this books makes us think that much of our 'personality' is masked. We are eager to be liked by everyone that we often hide true emotions and become less difficult. But where does this emotional suppression end? There's nothing good that comes out of being a difficult person to the society, but what about the self and self-expression? Or is it too wrong to assume that nothing good comes out of being authentic, because that's your true self? This novel has themes of authenticity, people-pleasing, brain filters that help (or not) us function in a society, the burden of societal expectations. I particularly enjoyed the author's note at the end. It was thought provoking.
Pick this up if you are looking for a slightly dark read with uncomfortable truths.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
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Now she is speaking uncomfortable truths, speaking her mind, cursing, no longer attuned to serving the expectations that society and relationship roles have placed on her.
I enjoyed how this books makes us think that much of our 'personality' is masked. We are eager to be liked by everyone that we often hide true emotions and become less difficult. But where does this emotional suppression end? There's nothing good that comes out of being a difficult person to the society, but what about the self and self-expression? Or is it too wrong to assume that nothing good comes out of being authentic, because that's your true self? This novel has themes of authenticity, people-pleasing, brain filters that help (or not) us function in a society, the burden of societal expectations. I particularly enjoyed the author's note at the end. It was thought provoking.
Pick this up if you are looking for a slightly dark read with uncomfortable truths.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
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March 27, 2026
I found this an interesting if difficult book. I think it is well written but I do think something is lost in translation. I loved the translators notes at the end and can see they worked hard to make sure the book made sense in English. Definitely do not read the translators notes before you read the book because there are spoilers. I wonder if I struggled with it because other Korean books I have read have been more whimsical, or about Zen Buddhism so abstract concepts didn’t need as much explanation. I also wonder if I actually found the topic triggering, young woman subjugating herself so much I became irate with her. Goes to extraordinary lengths to change. The final ending is shocking and i just deleted what I wrote as I realised it was a spoiler. I think if you are in a precarious mental health state or struggling with taking care of yourself this is an excellent book and also possibly an overwhelming book. If you still want to read it then get some support before you do. If you are robust I think you might also find it difficult to understand and to relate to it.
It is a beautiful book and I’d love to read another book by this author, I’d just like it to be more relaxing but then I think that’s totally missing the whole point! Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
It is a beautiful book and I’d love to read another book by this author, I’d just like it to be more relaxing but then I think that’s totally missing the whole point! Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
August 17, 2026
5 yıldız için çok öznel bir kriterimi karşılamadığından 4. yoksa hakkı 5.
Daha iyi biri olmak için -ki daha iyinin ne demek olduğunu kitapta tartışıyoruz bol bol- beynine işlem yaptıran Yeong-a beni benden aldı.
Geçmişe duyduğu özlemle, solan gülüşüyle, topluma adapte olma çabasıyla tanıdığımız herhangi bir kadın Yeong-a. Beklentileri karşılamak için kendimizde vazgeçtiklerimize o kadar öfkelendim ki anlatamam. (Evet anlatmam lazım biliyorum, deniyorum.)
İşlem sonrası küfrettiği sahnede kahkaha attım, o ana kadar içimde woke arkadaşına, gıcık öğrencisine ve sümsük sevgilisine birikmiş öfkem, düğüm olmuş sinirlerim boşaldı. Onun ihtiyacı gore çizgisine geldiğinde anlamakta zorlandım. Kontrol kalksa hepimiz öyle olmayız diye düşünüyorum yine de, orada bambaşka şeyler rol oynuyor gibi -selam Freud!
Eun-woo'nun babası meselesi bence mekan adları sarf edildiği andan itibaren açıktı dolayısıyla şaşırmadım ama yazarun buna şaşırmayanlar için de bir sürprizi vardı.
Sonunda kafamı karıştıran bir iki nokta oldu ama ben mi anlamadım yazarın tercihi açık bırakmak mıydı emin olamadığımdan tekrar okuyup değerlendireceğim. Evet tekrar okuyacağım bir kitap bu.
Daha iyi biri olmak için -ki daha iyinin ne demek olduğunu kitapta tartışıyoruz bol bol- beynine işlem yaptıran Yeong-a beni benden aldı.
Geçmişe duyduğu özlemle, solan gülüşüyle, topluma adapte olma çabasıyla tanıdığımız herhangi bir kadın Yeong-a. Beklentileri karşılamak için kendimizde vazgeçtiklerimize o kadar öfkelendim ki anlatamam. (Evet anlatmam lazım biliyorum, deniyorum.)
İşlem sonrası küfrettiği sahnede kahkaha attım, o ana kadar içimde woke arkadaşına, gıcık öğrencisine ve sümsük sevgilisine birikmiş öfkem, düğüm olmuş sinirlerim boşaldı. Onun ihtiyacı gore çizgisine geldiğinde anlamakta zorlandım. Kontrol kalksa hepimiz öyle olmayız diye düşünüyorum yine de, orada bambaşka şeyler rol oynuyor gibi -selam Freud!
Eun-woo'nun babası meselesi bence mekan adları sarf edildiği andan itibaren açıktı dolayısıyla şaşırmadım ama yazarun buna şaşırmayanlar için de bir sürprizi vardı.
Sonunda kafamı karıştıran bir iki nokta oldu ama ben mi anlamadım yazarın tercihi açık bırakmak mıydı emin olamadığımdan tekrar okuyup değerlendireceğim. Evet tekrar okuyacağım bir kitap bu.
September 1, 2026
I know the genre for this book is not a "psychological thriller" but it seemed to me that way in some pages. At the end of the book, the author says "you either hated this book and you're a person of moral or you liked this book but don't worry you're still a person of moral because you were raised that way". Absolutely true. The book divides you in two but nothing is black and white in the real world and this is a woman's breakdown, questioning herself about the honesty to herself.
When you live in a world where you're raised with absolute moral but people claim that they're "clean", that they're well-behaved, that they're ethic but do judge you... maybe they're not so ethic, are they?
Happy that someone finally expressed the feelings of an oppressed person, who wasn't "bad" but acted "bad" because she has been actually treated "bad" (even if they won't accept that).
When you live in a world where you're raised with absolute moral but people claim that they're "clean", that they're well-behaved, that they're ethic but do judge you... maybe they're not so ethic, are they?
Happy that someone finally expressed the feelings of an oppressed person, who wasn't "bad" but acted "bad" because she has been actually treated "bad" (even if they won't accept that).
Read
August 1, 2026Kitabın arkasındaki tanıtım yazısını okuduğumda işte aradığım bu diye düşündüm. Konusu çok ilgimi çekti çünkü son zamanlarda benzer şeyleri düşünüp duruyordum. Bunları düşünen olarak yalnız olmadığımı hissetmek yazarın akıllıca kurgusunu okuyunca iyi geldi. Hele kitabın sonundaki QR’lı not ile okuyucuların yorumlarına erişebilmek fikri de böyle düşünen hisseden başka başkalarının olduğunu gösterdiği için bence harika olmuş. Sana kötü bir yazar olduğunu söyleyenlere inat daha çok yazmalısın Cheong Ye!
July 14, 2026
I don’t understand why the author over explained everything. Give the readers some credit
June 30, 2026
2.5 to low 3. Easy read, interesting concept but nothing gripped me
July 19, 2026
Orange and the Bread Knife by Cheong Ye is a brilliant, thriller that explores exactly what happens when an unhappy people-pleaser is finally pushed over the edge!
The story is told through the perspective of Yeongah, a kindergarten teacher in her twenties whose life feels a bit meh.
She will do anything to please people and avoid causing upset, even when dealing with a toxic friend where she is utterly damned if she does, and damned if she doesn't.
However, when Yeongah is given an unexpected opportunity, all hell breaks loose!
I felt when she messes up, apologising has become her only way of seeking approval: "This was the reason I chose not to hide my wrongdoings and allowed myself to be judged by her."
While it can often be hard to pull emotions through translated fiction, Slin Jung does this well.
I felt Yeongah's anxiety carries over into the English text.
Though it is a shorter novel, the pacing is fantastic. The tension builds beautifully, and the story never feels rushed or nothing was missed.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves quick, high-impact thrillers.
A massive thank you to NetGalley, Headline, and Wildfire a massive thank you to Cheong Ye for this great book.
The story is told through the perspective of Yeongah, a kindergarten teacher in her twenties whose life feels a bit meh.
She will do anything to please people and avoid causing upset, even when dealing with a toxic friend where she is utterly damned if she does, and damned if she doesn't.
However, when Yeongah is given an unexpected opportunity, all hell breaks loose!
I felt when she messes up, apologising has become her only way of seeking approval: "This was the reason I chose not to hide my wrongdoings and allowed myself to be judged by her."
While it can often be hard to pull emotions through translated fiction, Slin Jung does this well.
I felt Yeongah's anxiety carries over into the English text.
Though it is a shorter novel, the pacing is fantastic. The tension builds beautifully, and the story never feels rushed or nothing was missed.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves quick, high-impact thrillers.
A massive thank you to NetGalley, Headline, and Wildfire a massive thank you to Cheong Ye for this great book.
March 31, 2026
*Received advanced copy from NetGalley*
Admittedly, I enjoyed this book more at the start, but overall, I liked the story as it was unique.
I loved the scenes that explored the main character’s complex friendship and relationship dynamics. I could deeply relate to the pressure of masking and playing into the roles that society designates for us. I appreciated this and sympathised with Youngah’s journey of dissolving those masks, even if it was utterly destructive.
“I made the choices I made because I wanted to be a good person, but where did those choices lead? A life where I have everything I never wanted.”
Ultimately, this story highlighted the relentless modern pressure we all face to create and expect perfection in an imperfect world. It was a very relatable story that covered themes such as the weight of societal expectations and conformity with great nuance.
Admittedly, I enjoyed this book more at the start, but overall, I liked the story as it was unique.
I loved the scenes that explored the main character’s complex friendship and relationship dynamics. I could deeply relate to the pressure of masking and playing into the roles that society designates for us. I appreciated this and sympathised with Youngah’s journey of dissolving those masks, even if it was utterly destructive.
“I made the choices I made because I wanted to be a good person, but where did those choices lead? A life where I have everything I never wanted.”
Ultimately, this story highlighted the relentless modern pressure we all face to create and expect perfection in an imperfect world. It was a very relatable story that covered themes such as the weight of societal expectations and conformity with great nuance.
September 21, 2026
Kitabı okurken kendimi çok gördüm. Kendi istediğimiz şeyleri değilde bizden beklenen davranışları yapmamız aslında kendi benliğimizi yok eden bir şey ama bunu yapmaya devam ediyoruz, edeceğiz de.
Dengeyi sağlamak lazım. Ama nasıl?
İşte kitap biraz bunu anlatıyor. Benliğini kaybetmiş biri, gülmeyi unutmuş biri…
Benim için özel bir kitap oldu. Okunmasını öneririm.
Dengeyi sağlamak lazım. Ama nasıl?
İşte kitap biraz bunu anlatıyor. Benliğini kaybetmiş biri, gülmeyi unutmuş biri…
Benim için özel bir kitap oldu. Okunmasını öneririm.
August 17, 2026
“Ben çocukları ve kedileri severim. Sevdiğim halde onları nefret ediyormuşum gibi hayal edebilme çelişkimi lütfen anlayışla karşılayın.”
Ya da karşılamayın. “Siz biraz daha az ahlaklı olsanız bile sizi sevebilirim. Sizi anlayabilirim de. Çünkü ben de öyle bir insanım.”
Ya da karşılamayın. “Siz biraz daha az ahlaklı olsanız bile sizi sevebilirim. Sizi anlayabilirim de. Çünkü ben de öyle bir insanım.”
July 12, 2026
Sadece sonu yüzünden 4 yıldız verdim. Ama genel olarak çok beğendim. Beni derin sorgulamalara itti. Cheong Ye’nin yeni kitaplarını okuma hevesini artırdı.
September 8, 2026
Canim portakallı kek çekti
September 24, 2025
short/simple still strong.
통제가 내 세계의 종교였다면 자유는 내 세계의 구세주였다.
통제와 해방은 짝꿍이라 함께 있을 때 더 빛나거든요. 뭐든지 균형이 존재해야만 극단으로 치달아 볼 수도 있지요.
통제가 내 세계의 종교였다면 자유는 내 세계의 구세주였다.
통제와 해방은 짝꿍이라 함께 있을 때 더 빛나거든요. 뭐든지 균형이 존재해야만 극단으로 치달아 볼 수도 있지요.
July 22, 2026
Again weird book for weird girls
August 16, 2026
Orange and the Bread Knife
Author : Cheong Ye
Translator : Slin Jung
Protagonist Oh Yeongah is a 27-year-old private kindergarten school teacher (majored in early childhood education), who's trying to be a woman society is expecting her to be : w/ extreme self-restraint & control despite the incitement from a boy who comes from overseas, w/ kindness & consideration as well for his mother, even if it is inconvenient for her to bring him extra personally home, & trying to live ethically & morally to please her "best friend" who continuously criticizes her every move & decision. To top if off, there's also her long-term boyfriend who's like a robot built to be faultless & perfect, & yet she can't love him back like he does.
In the end, she got sick & tired of everything everyone is telling her what to do. I mean, who wouldn't, right? After deciding to get help, her boyfriend found Seohyang Medical Research Center that offered counseling free of charge & ironically was the same one she'd gotten from the annoying boy's mother. Turns out it wasn't counseling what she was getting, but rather a stimulation procedure, particularly a minor adjustment of her frontal lobe functions to change her emotional state, lasting for 4 weeks at most. The big question now is, did it change her for the better?
Wow! From a striking cover to a grim & dark read, this book was an unsettling but thought-provoking read! Selective justice & morality, hypocrisy, societal norms & expectations especially of women --- such popular themes have been controversial up till now & let's be honest, it has always been only the black & white & never the in-between & even those outside the box were never considered & just completely ostracized as if they don't exist.
I have to say though, I am not completely sure if Yeongah really obtained that subconscious wish for freedom & liberty because at the end of the novel, my interpretation of her actions were indeed off-grid, but also mixed w/ ambiguity where she actually wants a balance more of both & not just more of the violent side. And holy fff--- the plot twist at the end made me take a long deep breath. I mean I had my hunches but it was still intense!
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S.
The Acknowledgements & Translator's note are both must-reads AT THE END of the reading the novel. Watch out for spoilers! Also the 3-minute video w/ the provided QR code. Trigger warning for flashing lights!
Follow me for more book reviews on:
❥ Instagram @bookwormdenz
❥ Threads @denz.kaye
❥ Meta @bookworm.denz
❥ Goodreads @bookwormdenz
Author : Cheong Ye
Translator : Slin Jung
Protagonist Oh Yeongah is a 27-year-old private kindergarten school teacher (majored in early childhood education), who's trying to be a woman society is expecting her to be : w/ extreme self-restraint & control despite the incitement from a boy who comes from overseas, w/ kindness & consideration as well for his mother, even if it is inconvenient for her to bring him extra personally home, & trying to live ethically & morally to please her "best friend" who continuously criticizes her every move & decision. To top if off, there's also her long-term boyfriend who's like a robot built to be faultless & perfect, & yet she can't love him back like he does.
In the end, she got sick & tired of everything everyone is telling her what to do. I mean, who wouldn't, right? After deciding to get help, her boyfriend found Seohyang Medical Research Center that offered counseling free of charge & ironically was the same one she'd gotten from the annoying boy's mother. Turns out it wasn't counseling what she was getting, but rather a stimulation procedure, particularly a minor adjustment of her frontal lobe functions to change her emotional state, lasting for 4 weeks at most. The big question now is, did it change her for the better?
Wow! From a striking cover to a grim & dark read, this book was an unsettling but thought-provoking read! Selective justice & morality, hypocrisy, societal norms & expectations especially of women --- such popular themes have been controversial up till now & let's be honest, it has always been only the black & white & never the in-between & even those outside the box were never considered & just completely ostracized as if they don't exist.
I have to say though, I am not completely sure if Yeongah really obtained that subconscious wish for freedom & liberty because at the end of the novel, my interpretation of her actions were indeed off-grid, but also mixed w/ ambiguity where she actually wants a balance more of both & not just more of the violent side. And holy fff--- the plot twist at the end made me take a long deep breath. I mean I had my hunches but it was still intense!
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S.
The Acknowledgements & Translator's note are both must-reads AT THE END of the reading the novel. Watch out for spoilers! Also the 3-minute video w/ the provided QR code. Trigger warning for flashing lights!
Follow me for more book reviews on:
❥ Instagram @bookwormdenz
❥ Threads @denz.kaye
❥ Meta @bookworm.denz
❥ Goodreads @bookwormdenz
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is one of the most electrifying and subversive novels I’ve read in a long time. Cheong Ye delivers a razor-sharp critique of the “mask” we all wear to survive polite society, zeroing in on the suffocating weight of East Asian social expectations with surgical precision. The premise feels like a brilliant hybrid of Black Mirror and Convenience Store Woman: darkly funny, deeply unsettling, and strangely cathartic.
The story follows Oh Young-a, a schoolteacher who has spent her entire life being relentlessly “good.” She’s the ultimate people-pleaser—smiling through every expectation, swallowing every desire, and molding herself to fit the rigid demands of family, colleagues, and society. Years of self-suppression have left her hollow, depressed, and emotionally numb.
In a desperate attempt to “fix” herself, she signs up for a cutting-edge four-week emotion regulation program at the Seohyang Medical Research Centre. What’s supposed to sculpt her into a more efficient, happier version of herself instead shatters her completely. The treatment strips away every social filter she’s ever had. Suddenly, Young-a stops smiling on command, starts saying every blunt, uncomfortable truth that crosses her mind, and begins to revel in the “bad behavior” she once feared.
The pacing becomes absolutely relentless once the treatment kicks in, and Slin Jung’s translation beautifully preserves the sharp, biting edge of Young-a’s newly unfiltered voice. What makes the book so compelling is how it manages to be hilariously wicked in its darkness while delivering a sobering, gut-punch critique of what we sacrifice when we choose “pleasantness” over truth.
Highly recommended for anyone who’s ever felt trapped by the need to be nice.
The story follows Oh Young-a, a schoolteacher who has spent her entire life being relentlessly “good.” She’s the ultimate people-pleaser—smiling through every expectation, swallowing every desire, and molding herself to fit the rigid demands of family, colleagues, and society. Years of self-suppression have left her hollow, depressed, and emotionally numb.
In a desperate attempt to “fix” herself, she signs up for a cutting-edge four-week emotion regulation program at the Seohyang Medical Research Centre. What’s supposed to sculpt her into a more efficient, happier version of herself instead shatters her completely. The treatment strips away every social filter she’s ever had. Suddenly, Young-a stops smiling on command, starts saying every blunt, uncomfortable truth that crosses her mind, and begins to revel in the “bad behavior” she once feared.
The pacing becomes absolutely relentless once the treatment kicks in, and Slin Jung’s translation beautifully preserves the sharp, biting edge of Young-a’s newly unfiltered voice. What makes the book so compelling is how it manages to be hilariously wicked in its darkness while delivering a sobering, gut-punch critique of what we sacrifice when we choose “pleasantness” over truth.
Highly recommended for anyone who’s ever felt trapped by the need to be nice.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The book follows a young woman who lives in the shadow of her own life, trying to please everyone and defining herself by how well she does so. One day, she encounters an opportunity to change her circumstances, and the story traces the consequences of that shift, both practically and philosophically.
At its core, the novel explores the divide between those who live suppressed lives and those who are freer, as well as those caught in between—individuals who feel constrained yet seek relief by exerting control over others. Each path carries a cost, and the book usefully questions whether freedom from social norms necessarily leads to happiness or moral clarity.
The pacing is engaging, and the writing has an energetic, almost jittery quality that brings the narrator—herself restless and unsettled—to life. Some reviewers have noted the book’s supposed graphic nature, echoing the author’s own surprise in the afterword at the level of violence in her work. This feels overstated: compared to others in the genre, the book is relatively restrained, with little that is truly explicit or graphic, though more sensitive readers may still find parts uncomfortable.
There is clear promise here. The author tackles bold themes in an engaging way, but the prose would benefit from greater polish and precision. At times, it feels as though the author pulls her punches, which limits the impact of the material.
Overall, recommended for readers interested in feminist themes and the tension between conformity and self-determination.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
At its core, the novel explores the divide between those who live suppressed lives and those who are freer, as well as those caught in between—individuals who feel constrained yet seek relief by exerting control over others. Each path carries a cost, and the book usefully questions whether freedom from social norms necessarily leads to happiness or moral clarity.
The pacing is engaging, and the writing has an energetic, almost jittery quality that brings the narrator—herself restless and unsettled—to life. Some reviewers have noted the book’s supposed graphic nature, echoing the author’s own surprise in the afterword at the level of violence in her work. This feels overstated: compared to others in the genre, the book is relatively restrained, with little that is truly explicit or graphic, though more sensitive readers may still find parts uncomfortable.
There is clear promise here. The author tackles bold themes in an engaging way, but the prose would benefit from greater polish and precision. At times, it feels as though the author pulls her punches, which limits the impact of the material.
Overall, recommended for readers interested in feminist themes and the tension between conformity and self-determination.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh Yeongah is a 27 year-old kindergarten teacher. She's contempt with her current self, almost depressive, apologises to everything and everyone. So when a parent of a child she teaches, and her boyfriend Suwon both offer her advice to go for counselling, she is reluctant but eventually gives it a go.
The counselling is a new technology, and Oh Yeongah's frontal lobe is altered for a period of time. During this time, she unleashes her inner self and says things to people and her best friend Eunju that she's witheld in herself for a very long time...
The book explains about self control and losing self control of your inner self. Are you a good or bad person? Do you always accept and agree with what other people say about you and the World? The good person is our self controlled persona, whereas the bad side is locked inside and doesn't come out.
I really enjoyed this book and I enjoyed reading both the author's and translator's acknowledgements (make sure to read from beginning to end - I had to re-read the prologue when I read the acknowledegments)!
If you enjoyed the Netflix series "We Are All Trying Here", then I think this book is for you.
Also for those who like "Convenience Store Woman" by Suyaka Murata and "The Vegetarian" by Han Kang.
Thanks to Netgalley and Headline | Wildfire for this wonderfully translated book.
The counselling is a new technology, and Oh Yeongah's frontal lobe is altered for a period of time. During this time, she unleashes her inner self and says things to people and her best friend Eunju that she's witheld in herself for a very long time...
The book explains about self control and losing self control of your inner self. Are you a good or bad person? Do you always accept and agree with what other people say about you and the World? The good person is our self controlled persona, whereas the bad side is locked inside and doesn't come out.
I really enjoyed this book and I enjoyed reading both the author's and translator's acknowledgements (make sure to read from beginning to end - I had to re-read the prologue when I read the acknowledegments)!
If you enjoyed the Netflix series "We Are All Trying Here", then I think this book is for you.
Also for those who like "Convenience Store Woman" by Suyaka Murata and "The Vegetarian" by Han Kang.
Thanks to Netgalley and Headline | Wildfire for this wonderfully translated book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh Young-a is a kindergarten teacher and is constantly getting worn down by keeping up with everyone’s expectations of hers including those at work, family and friends. It gets to the point where she starts to become depressed and numb to everything. So when a free 4 week emotional regulation program becomes available to help her with this, she can’t refuse… She begins to speak her true mind to everyone but how far will she take it?
This was a fantastic, honest and raw novel about having enough of conforming to societies standards and getting a taste of freedom, as self destructive as that may be. If you are someone who is a people pleaser I feel like you will get just a little relief reading this 😀
There were so many interesting points in this novel about freedom vs self control and since it is such a short novel I don’t want to spoil them! But, expect to relate to things like the frustration of dusting off a microaggression or pretending to care to save face.
I loved the thoughtful notes at the back of the novel by the author and translator (beware spoilers, make sure you read it at the end!)
ALSO extra points for Australia being mentioned!!
Thank you to Cheong Ye, Headline and Netgalley for access to this ARC ♥️
Happy Publishing Day (June 11)! 🎉
This was a fantastic, honest and raw novel about having enough of conforming to societies standards and getting a taste of freedom, as self destructive as that may be. If you are someone who is a people pleaser I feel like you will get just a little relief reading this 😀
There were so many interesting points in this novel about freedom vs self control and since it is such a short novel I don’t want to spoil them! But, expect to relate to things like the frustration of dusting off a microaggression or pretending to care to save face.
I loved the thoughtful notes at the back of the novel by the author and translator (beware spoilers, make sure you read it at the end!)
ALSO extra points for Australia being mentioned!!
Thank you to Cheong Ye, Headline and Netgalley for access to this ARC ♥️
Happy Publishing Day (June 11)! 🎉
July 7, 2026
this hit me harder than i expected :'-)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. raw, gripping, and one that stays with you long after u finish !!!!
i went in thinking it would be another sharp commentary on society, but it ended up feeling way more personal than that. the kind of story that quietly unsettles you while you're reading it.....and then you're left sitting there afterwards, staring at nothing.
youngah's journey really made me think about how easily we learn to call things "normal" when they're actually just familiar. how often we mistake red flags for green ones simply because we've been taught to accommodate, to make ourselves smaller, to stay agreeable, to keep the peace.
and that ending..… i genuinely didn’t expect it to go there omg gOOSEBUMPS EVERYTIME I THINK ABT IT !!!! 🥹 it doesn’t wrap things up neatly or try to comfort you in any way - it just lingers. and somehow that makes it even more powerful.
more than anything, this book made me reflect on the people we choose to keep close. how important it is to be surrounded by those who see you as your full self, not just the version that's easiest to love or most convenient to accept.
can't believe i finished this in one sitting :'-) definitely one that's going to stay with me for a very long time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. raw, gripping, and one that stays with you long after u finish !!!!
i went in thinking it would be another sharp commentary on society, but it ended up feeling way more personal than that. the kind of story that quietly unsettles you while you're reading it.....and then you're left sitting there afterwards, staring at nothing.
youngah's journey really made me think about how easily we learn to call things "normal" when they're actually just familiar. how often we mistake red flags for green ones simply because we've been taught to accommodate, to make ourselves smaller, to stay agreeable, to keep the peace.
and that ending..… i genuinely didn’t expect it to go there omg gOOSEBUMPS EVERYTIME I THINK ABT IT !!!! 🥹 it doesn’t wrap things up neatly or try to comfort you in any way - it just lingers. and somehow that makes it even more powerful.
more than anything, this book made me reflect on the people we choose to keep close. how important it is to be surrounded by those who see you as your full self, not just the version that's easiest to love or most convenient to accept.
can't believe i finished this in one sitting :'-) definitely one that's going to stay with me for a very long time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Youngah is a teacher, and therefore could be considered an authority figure of sorts. But she is also a Korean woman, in a society that is deeply misogynistic. So, she frequently finds herself in situations where her boundaries are effortlessly transgressed, and she has to make herself small to fit in with whatever role is required of her as a female.
Unsurprisingly, she is exhausted from the stress of maintaining this facade. So, Youngah decides to attend a course on emotional regulation based on some questionable methods. And, equally unsurprisingly, what is released in the process is previously suppressed and now almost uncontrollable emotion - and a very different way of seeing the world.
For anyone who has read Cho Nam-Joo's international bestseller Kim Ji-Young, Born 1982 (for which she received death threats in South Korea), the stresses of being a woman in that society will be no surprise. But Youngah's trajectory is very different from Kim Ji-Young's, so strap in and enjoy the ride. An interesting take on (justifiable) female rage, this earns 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Unsurprisingly, she is exhausted from the stress of maintaining this facade. So, Youngah decides to attend a course on emotional regulation based on some questionable methods. And, equally unsurprisingly, what is released in the process is previously suppressed and now almost uncontrollable emotion - and a very different way of seeing the world.
For anyone who has read Cho Nam-Joo's international bestseller Kim Ji-Young, Born 1982 (for which she received death threats in South Korea), the stresses of being a woman in that society will be no surprise. But Youngah's trajectory is very different from Kim Ji-Young's, so strap in and enjoy the ride. An interesting take on (justifiable) female rage, this earns 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
September 13, 2026
Karen Horney'nin "Tyranny of the Shoulds" isimli ideal benliklerimize ulaşmak için kendimize koyduğumuz kurallar ve uyguladığımız baskı ile ilgili bir makalesi vardır. Bu iç mekanizmalar pekiştikçe giderek içsel diktatörlere, tiranlara dönüşür. Toplumsal performanslara çok önem veren Doğu toplumlarında da toplumsal kurallar, beklentiler benzer şekilde (eğer ego güçlü değilse) kişiye eziyet eder hale gelir. Portakal ve Ekmek Bıçağı'nın kahramanı da böyle bir durumdan müzdarip biçimde hayatını sürdürüyor. Bu her ilişkiye sirayet eden bir şema aslında. Aman ağzımızın tadı bozulmasın, ayıp olur diye diye çeşitli ilişkiler, kariyerler, yaşam tarzları senelerce sürüyor. Çünkü karakterimiz içsel bir "böyle olmalı" idealine öyle itaat içerisindeki kendi fikri, kendi arzuları boğulup gitmiş. Ben romanı beğendim çünkü bizzat kendim de böyle süreçlerden geçtim. O yüzden bu durumu ve kırılma noktalarını okumak hoşuma gitti. Sonu aceleye getirilmiş gibi geldi, o yüzden bir puan kırdım. Bu konu daha fazla olayla, daha detaylı işlenebilirmiş. Bu haliyle biraz çerezlik bir roman olmuş. Yine de memnun kaldım.
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