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토지 #8
토지 8 - 2부 4권
392 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1969
4 people want to read
About the author
Pak Kyongni
35 books40 followersPak Kyongni (December 2, 1926 – May 5, 2008) was a prominent South Korean novelist. She was born in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, and later lived in Wonju Gangwon Province. Pak made her literary debut in 1955, with Gyesan (계산, Calculations). She is, however, most well known for her 16-volume story Toji (토지, The Land), an epic saga set on the turbulent history of Korea during 19th and 20th century. It was later adapted into a movie, a television series and an opera.
Pak Kyongni died from lung cancer at the age of 81 on May 5, 2008 and many literary men recollected her as a guide for their literary works and life as a writer. She was posthumously awarded the country's top medal by the newly created Culture Ministry of South Korea for her promoting South Korean arts.
Pak Kyongni died from lung cancer at the age of 81 on May 5, 2008 and many literary men recollected her as a guide for their literary works and life as a writer. She was posthumously awarded the country's top medal by the newly created Culture Ministry of South Korea for her promoting South Korean arts.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 18, 2019
Korea was ruled by Japan for 35 years from 1910 to 1945, the year when the WWII ended. The background of Land 8 is said to describe the period from 1919, the year the first Korean resistance occurred during the rule of Korea by Japan, to 1929.
I read vol. 1~7 when I visited my mother in South Korea in October in 2018. After coming back home, there was no way to get the rest of the volumes 8~20. But recently I was surprised to find vol. 8~13 on the bookshelves at the center I go to. I was amazed not finding the previous volumes I read. They looked like gifts for me. So I borrowed all of them. But it is more than three months passed since I read book 7, I had difficulty to reflect the names of the characters while reading. There are just too many names. Book 8 deals with a lot of of new characters including the second generation of the main characters. I found almost nothing about the main characters, Kilsang and Suhee, and a little disappointed. I was very disappointed when Hwan hanged himself in the prison after being arrested. Hwan was a very mysterious character. Hwan was an offspring of Ms. Yoon, Suhee's paternal grandmother who was raped by Kim, Gaejoo, a leader of Donghak revolting peasant movement. I wanted to find more about him but he killed himself too soon after being put in a solitary prison not to expose the secrets the Japanese police wanted. Another minor character, a lady, committed a suicide as well in the same way as Hwan. The two people's suicides were not convincing and treated a little lightly.
It was very interesting yet; I did not enjoy the plot as much as the language Kyongni Pak played. This book made me look up the Korean dictionary several times, which hardly happens when I read books written in Korean. I admire Kyongni's language skills that lead quite natural dialogues.
I read vol. 1~7 when I visited my mother in South Korea in October in 2018. After coming back home, there was no way to get the rest of the volumes 8~20. But recently I was surprised to find vol. 8~13 on the bookshelves at the center I go to. I was amazed not finding the previous volumes I read. They looked like gifts for me. So I borrowed all of them. But it is more than three months passed since I read book 7, I had difficulty to reflect the names of the characters while reading. There are just too many names. Book 8 deals with a lot of of new characters including the second generation of the main characters. I found almost nothing about the main characters, Kilsang and Suhee, and a little disappointed. I was very disappointed when Hwan hanged himself in the prison after being arrested. Hwan was a very mysterious character. Hwan was an offspring of Ms. Yoon, Suhee's paternal grandmother who was raped by Kim, Gaejoo, a leader of Donghak revolting peasant movement. I wanted to find more about him but he killed himself too soon after being put in a solitary prison not to expose the secrets the Japanese police wanted. Another minor character, a lady, committed a suicide as well in the same way as Hwan. The two people's suicides were not convincing and treated a little lightly.
It was very interesting yet; I did not enjoy the plot as much as the language Kyongni Pak played. This book made me look up the Korean dictionary several times, which hardly happens when I read books written in Korean. I admire Kyongni's language skills that lead quite natural dialogues.
Displaying 1 of 1 review