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Endless Blue Sky
Set in 1940s colonial Korea and Japanese-occupied Manchuria, Endless Blue Sky tells the love story between Korean writer Ilma and Russian dancer Nadia. The novel is both a thrilling melodrama set in glamorous locations that would shortly be tragically ravaged by war, and a bold piece of writing espousing new ideas on love, marriage, and race. Reading this tale of cosmopolitan socialites finding their way in a new world of luxury hotels, racetracks, and cabarets, one gets a sense of the enthusiasm for the future that some felt in Korea at the time.
Honford Star’s edition of Endless Blue Sky, the first in English, includes an introduction and explantory notes by translator Steven D. Capener.
Honford Star’s edition of Endless Blue Sky, the first in English, includes an introduction and explantory notes by translator Steven D. Capener.
342 pages, Paperback
Published June 18, 2018
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2240 people want to read
About the author
Lee Hyoseok
9 books12 followersLee Hyoseok was born in Pyeongchang, in what is now South Korea. Publishing his first short story while studying English Literature at Keijō Imperial University, Lee’s early work displayed a sympathy for the socialist cause, and later became more modernist in style. Lee was famously part of Guinhoe, the ‘Group of Nine’, a group which included Yi Sang and Lee Taejun. Every year, his hometown celebrates his life with the Hyoseok Cultural Festival.
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August 15, 2018
Respecting and wanting to learn the customs of a loved one is an attempt to adapt oneself to that person and is, perhaps, the greatest act of devotion that love inspires.
The recently founded publisher Honford Star's stated mission is to "publish the best literature from East Asia, be it classic or contemporary. We believe there are many important East Asian authors and books yet to be read by English-language readers, so we aim to make these works as accessible as possible. By working with talented translators and exciting local artists (and paying everyone fairly), we hope to see more bookshelves containing beautiful editions of the East Asian literature we love."
Their first book was Sweet Potato (my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), an excellent but also important collection of the short stories of Korean author Kim Tongin.
Endless Blue Skies is their 3rd book, and 2nd translation from the Korean, and again a very important work for English language readers to appreciate the development of Korean literature pre 1945, as well as an enjoyable read in its own right, but one with a very different sexual aesthetic to Kim Tongin's work.
이효석 (Lee Hyoseok) (1907-1942) is best known today for the 1936 short story 메밀꽃 필 무렵 (When the Buckwheat Blooms, a translation by Kim Chong-un and Bruce Fulton can be found at http://hompi.sogang.ac.kr/anthony/klt...). The popularity even today of this story reflects its nature as a lyrical bucolic tale of Korean life:
The moon was a day or two past full, and its light was soft and pleasant. Twenty miles of moonlit walking lay before them to Taehwa-two mountain passes, a stream crossing, hilly paths along endless fields. They were traversing a hillside. It was probably after midnight by now, and it was so deathly still the moon seemed to come alive; you could almost hear it breathe, right there in front of you. Awash in moonlight, the bean plants and the drooping corn stalks were a shade greener. The hillside was covered with buckwheat coming into flower, and the sprinkling of white in the gentle moonlight was almost enough to take your breath away. The red stalks seemed delicate as a fragrance, and the donkeys appeared to have more life in their step.
But he also wrote two full length novels including this, 벽공무한, serialised in the 매일신보 (Daily News) in 148 installments from 25 January 1940 to 8 July 1941. See https://ko.m.wikisource.org/wiki/벽공무한 for the Korean original.
The translation is from Steven Carpener, a literature professor at Seoul Women's University, who has written extensively on Lee Hyoseok's, and this edition comes with a very helpful introduction as well as footnotes.
Writing in the Seoul Journal of Korean Studies in 2009, Carpener explained how Lee's late work does not fit the neat political labels of socialism or Korean nationalism, or both, expected by later critics of works written under the Japanese occupation; instead he is a Korean DH Lawrence, also influenced by Walt Whitman and Milton, as suggested by the paper's title Paradise Found: Recovery and Redemption in Lee Hyoseok’s Later Literature.
You’re already thirty-five, right? You’ve lived more than half your life; isn’t it about time you started to really make something of yourself?’
‘When I think of my age, I do feel a bit embarrassed, but I’m pretty sure there will be some good things ahead. I can’t keep going on like this …’
Far from smooth, the first half of his life had been crooked and thorny. Even failing at his first love paled in comparison to the tragedy he had suffered just a few months ago –the loss of his mother, the last living member of his immediate family, had dealt his spirit a crushing blow.
But as the novel opens he has the opportunity to travel to Harbin, in Japanese controlled Manchuria, on a cultural mission. Although he has been there before he feels that this may be the decisive trip he needs:
Even though he had taken the path of the wanderer frequently over the past few years in search of he knew not what, never had a trip felt this right; this time felt like nothing less than the road to happiness.
Harbin is a truly international metropolis, with a large Russian community and a distinctly cosmopolitan feel, which for Ilma contrasts favourably with the conservative Korea (Joseon), even down to the colourful clothes versus the traditional white Korean hanbok:
This impression became even stronger when they entered Katiskaya Boulevard. Both sides of the street were lined with old buildings, and people were strolling about – it was like a corner of Europe. It was as if he had come to a foreign country, and Ilma’s heart raced every time he experienced this feeling. The change in colour of the dress of the men and women was even more interesting than the change of seasons. ‘For some reason, whenever I come here, I feel like I’ve arrived at the place I’ve been searching for.’
...
This impression became even stronger when they entered Katiskaya Boulevard. Both sides of the street were lined with old buildings, and people were strolling about – it was like a corner of Europe. It was as if he had come to a foreign country, and Ilma’s heart raced every time he experienced this feeling. The change in colour of the dress of the men and women was even more interesting than the change of seasons. ‘For some reason, whenever I come here, I feel like I’ve arrived at the place I’ve been searching for.’
...
The Chulim Department Store, under foreign management, was the best in all of Harbin... There was more than just one language being used. One could hear Russian and English, and the mix of languages emanating from all about the place gave it the feel of an international department store. The goods on display on all floors gave of the subtle glimmer and pleasing vibe of Europe. This was not the result of anything that could happen in a day. This glow that suffused the place was the product of strong traditions, accumulated and passed down over a thousand years. It was like a small display case of Europe itself.
His luck immediately changes as well, winning the 10,000 Won first prize in the lottery (a very handsome but not life transforming amount). He falls in love with an impoverished Russian dancer: Lonely Nadia, who had lost her father in Manjuri and buried her mother in Harbin a few years ago; she lived with her aunt and worked in a cabaret, not even earning one won a day.
The beautiful blond Nadia has film star looks, as his Korean friends remark when they meet her (one of a number of cultural references to Western movies used in the novel)
‘Doesn’t she remind you of Luchaire? Corinne Luchaire, the French actress?’
‘That’s it. That’s who she looks like. That gentle, pure face.’
Alongside his lottery win, Ilma also at the same time gains an embarrassment of romantic riches. He is also pursued by both his first love, who married someone else a decade ago but now regrets it, and a Korean actress, sought after by many men but with eyes only for Ilma. As a friend notes:
'Is there anyone in the world happier than him? Are there not women who will give him their hearts, and women who will give him their lives? It’s hard enough to win the wholehearted love of one woman, and Ilma has two or three clamouring for his love. He must be happier than King Solomon. If you’re going to be born a man, you might as well be born a man like him. Is he such a catch or is it that women have such poor taste? No matter how you see it, it’s quite a spectacle. Could things be more unfair? Cupid must have lost his mind to give one man all the luck in love.’
Much of the (melo)drama of the novel arises from the entangled love lives of Ilma and his friends. One distinctive contrast to Kim Tongin's work is that Lee Hyoseok gives his female characters sexual agency, indeed one even uses a sedative to have her way with Ilma.
Ilma's idealistic view of Harbin is modified as he comes to know its seedier side. There is much poverty, and the Korean community is associated with organised crime. His best friend's uncle runs an apparently respectable pharmacy, but deals in opiates from a backroom, to which one of Nadia's dancer friends becomes addicted, and then the uncle himself falls foul of the local crime syndicates:
Most people know about the evil flowering in the deep, dark recesses of this place, but not many are aware that with the evil and vice, there is also terror lurking there as well.
...
Most cities were the same, but Harbin, in particular, was a city of empty husks. The streets were international display cases of empty husks, harried by life, wandering in bewilderment. Such thoughts were not new for Ilma, but today they came to him with redoubled intensity.
And Ilma achieves true happiness when he imports the best of the West into Korea, literally by bringing Nadia back as his wife.
The place he longed for was not here, but over there. It was the Western countries that had produced modern civilization. But it was Ilma, more than anyone else, who had boldly sought the object of that nostalgia and imported his dream.
And Nadia's enthusiastic embrace of Korean culture rekindles Ilma's own affection, realising that a blend of the best of East and West is his true dream. Even the very white clothes that to Ilma symbolise the conservatism and lack of colour in Korea, appeal to Nadia.
‘In the past, our ancestors were among the most cultured in the world. They made wonderful pottery and were good painters and musicians.’
'I want to live in the midst of such accomplishments. I want to wear white clothes, look at pottery and paintings, and listen to old music... I must learn the Joseon language. It’s the language of the place I love.’
One thing that distinguishes Honford Star's books is the specially commissioned illustrations for the front covers. Here Korean artist Lee Kyutaehas created an image where "Ilma can be seen walking arm in arm with the hanbok-wearing Nadia past choga, traditional Korean houses made of straw, wood, and soil."
Indeed seeing Nadia enthusiastically embracing Joseon culture, helps Ilma to an epihany:
The sight of Nadia sitting in front of the low table eating Joseon food suddenly seemed very natural to Jongse, and the awkward impression she had once given had disappeared without a trace. This brought up an important point: whether one’s hair is black or red, whether one speaks the same language or not, all sit at the banquet of life as equals, and there is nothing remotely unnatural about this. Differences in lifestyle are not fundamental obstacles to harmony. Whether one eats bread or rice is an inconsequential difference. When love is strong enough, the assimilation of the human race is as simple as can be.
Indeed as Ilma's friends remark, even Nadia' s ostensibly very different looks contain a strong hint of Joseon:
‘In the end, it seems that Ilma’s dream had something to do with Asia after all. The more I look at her face the more Asian it looks. Her eyes, her eyelashes, her nose are all Joseon. The only difference is that her skin is white, and her hair is blonde.’
The novel, other than a rather hasty wrap-up coda, finishes on a lyrically romantic note between Ilma and Nadia, which gives the novel its title.
The sky was particularly blue, and the couple was standing by the window in a state of total bliss. What more could they need?
‘Endless blue sky …’
Both happiness and unhappiness were endless. Staring at the endless blue sky that seemed like endless life, Nadia now felt that her entire body had been dyed azure by that sky of blue.
‘What do you think will fall from that sky?’
겨울날로서는 드물게 푸른 하늘을 내다보면서 부부는 창에 의지해서 행복 의 포화상태에 있었다. 지금 그들에게 더 필요한 것이 또 무엇일 것인가.
“가이없는 푸른 하늘 ...”
행복도 무한하고 불행도 무한한---무한한 인생 같이도 가이없는 창공을 바라보며 나아자는 자기 한 몸이 푸르게 물드는 듯도 한 착각을 느꼈다.
“... 저기서 무엇이 떨어질까요.”
Recommended and I look forward to more books from Honford Star.
The recently founded publisher Honford Star's stated mission is to "publish the best literature from East Asia, be it classic or contemporary. We believe there are many important East Asian authors and books yet to be read by English-language readers, so we aim to make these works as accessible as possible. By working with talented translators and exciting local artists (and paying everyone fairly), we hope to see more bookshelves containing beautiful editions of the East Asian literature we love."
Their first book was Sweet Potato (my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), an excellent but also important collection of the short stories of Korean author Kim Tongin.
Endless Blue Skies is their 3rd book, and 2nd translation from the Korean, and again a very important work for English language readers to appreciate the development of Korean literature pre 1945, as well as an enjoyable read in its own right, but one with a very different sexual aesthetic to Kim Tongin's work.
이효석 (Lee Hyoseok) (1907-1942) is best known today for the 1936 short story 메밀꽃 필 무렵 (When the Buckwheat Blooms, a translation by Kim Chong-un and Bruce Fulton can be found at http://hompi.sogang.ac.kr/anthony/klt...). The popularity even today of this story reflects its nature as a lyrical bucolic tale of Korean life:
The moon was a day or two past full, and its light was soft and pleasant. Twenty miles of moonlit walking lay before them to Taehwa-two mountain passes, a stream crossing, hilly paths along endless fields. They were traversing a hillside. It was probably after midnight by now, and it was so deathly still the moon seemed to come alive; you could almost hear it breathe, right there in front of you. Awash in moonlight, the bean plants and the drooping corn stalks were a shade greener. The hillside was covered with buckwheat coming into flower, and the sprinkling of white in the gentle moonlight was almost enough to take your breath away. The red stalks seemed delicate as a fragrance, and the donkeys appeared to have more life in their step.
But he also wrote two full length novels including this, 벽공무한, serialised in the 매일신보 (Daily News) in 148 installments from 25 January 1940 to 8 July 1941. See https://ko.m.wikisource.org/wiki/벽공무한 for the Korean original.
The translation is from Steven Carpener, a literature professor at Seoul Women's University, who has written extensively on Lee Hyoseok's, and this edition comes with a very helpful introduction as well as footnotes.
Writing in the Seoul Journal of Korean Studies in 2009, Carpener explained how Lee's late work does not fit the neat political labels of socialism or Korean nationalism, or both, expected by later critics of works written under the Japanese occupation; instead he is a Korean DH Lawrence, also influenced by Walt Whitman and Milton, as suggested by the paper's title Paradise Found: Recovery and Redemption in Lee Hyoseok’s Later Literature.
The picture that we are given by most of what has been written about Lee Hyoseok (1907-1942), the author and the man, is a complex one. He is portrayed in Korean literary criticism in surprisingly disparate ways. Examples of the epithets by which his work (and often his person) have been categorized are “decadence,” “fascination with the foreign,” “escapist,” “romanticist,” “accommodationist,” “naturalist,” “eroticist,” “aestheticist,” and “collaborationist.”Endless Blue Skies tells the story of 천일마 (Cheon Ilma). He is 35 when the novel opens and searching for meaning in life:
...
Much of what was written after 1936, and this is especially true for Lee Hyoseok’s later works, does not fit very neatly into the picture of the latter colonial Korea that has been painted by many historians and literary critics. In fact, the picture of Korea between 1936 and the beginning of the Pacific War in December of 1941 portrayed in Lee's (and other’s) works, is greatly at odds with the bleak images of one-sided exploitation at the hands of the colonial masters. What we see in Lee's full-length novels Pollen and Endless Blue Sky, is a diversity of experience and choice that speaks more to a modern cosmopolitanism, which includes hope for individual salvation, than to a deepening poverty of wallet and spirit. The treatment of such portrayals of the colonial experience by critics has traditionally been, of course, to dip the pen in the poison ink of collaboration, or, in Yi’s case, of accommodation.
You’re already thirty-five, right? You’ve lived more than half your life; isn’t it about time you started to really make something of yourself?’
‘When I think of my age, I do feel a bit embarrassed, but I’m pretty sure there will be some good things ahead. I can’t keep going on like this …’
Far from smooth, the first half of his life had been crooked and thorny. Even failing at his first love paled in comparison to the tragedy he had suffered just a few months ago –the loss of his mother, the last living member of his immediate family, had dealt his spirit a crushing blow.
But as the novel opens he has the opportunity to travel to Harbin, in Japanese controlled Manchuria, on a cultural mission. Although he has been there before he feels that this may be the decisive trip he needs:
Even though he had taken the path of the wanderer frequently over the past few years in search of he knew not what, never had a trip felt this right; this time felt like nothing less than the road to happiness.
Harbin is a truly international metropolis, with a large Russian community and a distinctly cosmopolitan feel, which for Ilma contrasts favourably with the conservative Korea (Joseon), even down to the colourful clothes versus the traditional white Korean hanbok:
This impression became even stronger when they entered Katiskaya Boulevard. Both sides of the street were lined with old buildings, and people were strolling about – it was like a corner of Europe. It was as if he had come to a foreign country, and Ilma’s heart raced every time he experienced this feeling. The change in colour of the dress of the men and women was even more interesting than the change of seasons. ‘For some reason, whenever I come here, I feel like I’ve arrived at the place I’ve been searching for.’
...
This impression became even stronger when they entered Katiskaya Boulevard. Both sides of the street were lined with old buildings, and people were strolling about – it was like a corner of Europe. It was as if he had come to a foreign country, and Ilma’s heart raced every time he experienced this feeling. The change in colour of the dress of the men and women was even more interesting than the change of seasons. ‘For some reason, whenever I come here, I feel like I’ve arrived at the place I’ve been searching for.’
...
The Chulim Department Store, under foreign management, was the best in all of Harbin... There was more than just one language being used. One could hear Russian and English, and the mix of languages emanating from all about the place gave it the feel of an international department store. The goods on display on all floors gave of the subtle glimmer and pleasing vibe of Europe. This was not the result of anything that could happen in a day. This glow that suffused the place was the product of strong traditions, accumulated and passed down over a thousand years. It was like a small display case of Europe itself.
His luck immediately changes as well, winning the 10,000 Won first prize in the lottery (a very handsome but not life transforming amount). He falls in love with an impoverished Russian dancer: Lonely Nadia, who had lost her father in Manjuri and buried her mother in Harbin a few years ago; she lived with her aunt and worked in a cabaret, not even earning one won a day.
The beautiful blond Nadia has film star looks, as his Korean friends remark when they meet her (one of a number of cultural references to Western movies used in the novel)
‘Doesn’t she remind you of Luchaire? Corinne Luchaire, the French actress?’
‘That’s it. That’s who she looks like. That gentle, pure face.’
Alongside his lottery win, Ilma also at the same time gains an embarrassment of romantic riches. He is also pursued by both his first love, who married someone else a decade ago but now regrets it, and a Korean actress, sought after by many men but with eyes only for Ilma. As a friend notes:
'Is there anyone in the world happier than him? Are there not women who will give him their hearts, and women who will give him their lives? It’s hard enough to win the wholehearted love of one woman, and Ilma has two or three clamouring for his love. He must be happier than King Solomon. If you’re going to be born a man, you might as well be born a man like him. Is he such a catch or is it that women have such poor taste? No matter how you see it, it’s quite a spectacle. Could things be more unfair? Cupid must have lost his mind to give one man all the luck in love.’
Much of the (melo)drama of the novel arises from the entangled love lives of Ilma and his friends. One distinctive contrast to Kim Tongin's work is that Lee Hyoseok gives his female characters sexual agency, indeed one even uses a sedative to have her way with Ilma.
Ilma's idealistic view of Harbin is modified as he comes to know its seedier side. There is much poverty, and the Korean community is associated with organised crime. His best friend's uncle runs an apparently respectable pharmacy, but deals in opiates from a backroom, to which one of Nadia's dancer friends becomes addicted, and then the uncle himself falls foul of the local crime syndicates:
Most people know about the evil flowering in the deep, dark recesses of this place, but not many are aware that with the evil and vice, there is also terror lurking there as well.
...
Most cities were the same, but Harbin, in particular, was a city of empty husks. The streets were international display cases of empty husks, harried by life, wandering in bewilderment. Such thoughts were not new for Ilma, but today they came to him with redoubled intensity.
And Ilma achieves true happiness when he imports the best of the West into Korea, literally by bringing Nadia back as his wife.
The place he longed for was not here, but over there. It was the Western countries that had produced modern civilization. But it was Ilma, more than anyone else, who had boldly sought the object of that nostalgia and imported his dream.
And Nadia's enthusiastic embrace of Korean culture rekindles Ilma's own affection, realising that a blend of the best of East and West is his true dream. Even the very white clothes that to Ilma symbolise the conservatism and lack of colour in Korea, appeal to Nadia.
‘In the past, our ancestors were among the most cultured in the world. They made wonderful pottery and were good painters and musicians.’
'I want to live in the midst of such accomplishments. I want to wear white clothes, look at pottery and paintings, and listen to old music... I must learn the Joseon language. It’s the language of the place I love.’
One thing that distinguishes Honford Star's books is the specially commissioned illustrations for the front covers. Here Korean artist Lee Kyutaehas created an image where "Ilma can be seen walking arm in arm with the hanbok-wearing Nadia past choga, traditional Korean houses made of straw, wood, and soil."
Indeed seeing Nadia enthusiastically embracing Joseon culture, helps Ilma to an epihany:
The sight of Nadia sitting in front of the low table eating Joseon food suddenly seemed very natural to Jongse, and the awkward impression she had once given had disappeared without a trace. This brought up an important point: whether one’s hair is black or red, whether one speaks the same language or not, all sit at the banquet of life as equals, and there is nothing remotely unnatural about this. Differences in lifestyle are not fundamental obstacles to harmony. Whether one eats bread or rice is an inconsequential difference. When love is strong enough, the assimilation of the human race is as simple as can be.
Indeed as Ilma's friends remark, even Nadia' s ostensibly very different looks contain a strong hint of Joseon:
‘In the end, it seems that Ilma’s dream had something to do with Asia after all. The more I look at her face the more Asian it looks. Her eyes, her eyelashes, her nose are all Joseon. The only difference is that her skin is white, and her hair is blonde.’
The novel, other than a rather hasty wrap-up coda, finishes on a lyrically romantic note between Ilma and Nadia, which gives the novel its title.
The sky was particularly blue, and the couple was standing by the window in a state of total bliss. What more could they need?
‘Endless blue sky …’
Both happiness and unhappiness were endless. Staring at the endless blue sky that seemed like endless life, Nadia now felt that her entire body had been dyed azure by that sky of blue.
‘What do you think will fall from that sky?’
겨울날로서는 드물게 푸른 하늘을 내다보면서 부부는 창에 의지해서 행복 의 포화상태에 있었다. 지금 그들에게 더 필요한 것이 또 무엇일 것인가.
“가이없는 푸른 하늘 ...”
행복도 무한하고 불행도 무한한---무한한 인생 같이도 가이없는 창공을 바라보며 나아자는 자기 한 몸이 푸르게 물드는 듯도 한 착각을 느꼈다.
“... 저기서 무엇이 떨어질까요.”
Recommended and I look forward to more books from Honford Star.
April 3, 2022
An absolutely amazing novel 😘. I haven’t read something as enjoyable and moving as this book in a while.
Plot 📖: The novel takes place in 1940s colonial Korea and Japanese-occupied Manchuria. It tells a love story, between the Korean writer Ilma and a Russian cabaret dancer Nadia. It’s a thrilling melodrama with a hint of Korean soap opera and a wide range of different characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the downtrodden Russians living in Manchuria, the shady business owner of Manchuria, the intellectual Seoul residents and the city’s business tycoons. The variety of characters and the in-depth look into their lives are fascinating.
I literally could not be any more surprised how feminist Lee Hyoseok is in this book. Although reading it in 2020 (80 years since its publishcation), one could feel the author is a bit preachy with his feminisit ideologies.
My only criticism of the plot is that I wanted to learn more about Nadia, like her backstory and her flaws. The novel portrays Nadia as a minor character and it only shows her in the most positive light.
Writing ✍️ :poignant, philosophical yet still easy to read. It also possesses a certain kind of charm similar to some classics such as Far from the Madding Crowd or Brideshead Revisited. I ended up highlighting so many passages.
My favourite passage from the novel is the scene where Nadia is seen enjoying different Korean food at a banquet:
‘Differences in lifestyle are not fundamental obstacles to harmony. Whether one eats bread or rice is an inconsequential difference. When love is strong enough, the assimilation of the human race is as simple as can be.’
Translator 🇰🇷 -> 🇬🇧: the footnotes in this novel are extremely helpful for non-Korean readers. I honestly think the translator deserves a Booker Prize for translating this prose in the most poignant yet relatable way to the wider audience.
Plot 📖: The novel takes place in 1940s colonial Korea and Japanese-occupied Manchuria. It tells a love story, between the Korean writer Ilma and a Russian cabaret dancer Nadia. It’s a thrilling melodrama with a hint of Korean soap opera and a wide range of different characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the downtrodden Russians living in Manchuria, the shady business owner of Manchuria, the intellectual Seoul residents and the city’s business tycoons. The variety of characters and the in-depth look into their lives are fascinating.
I literally could not be any more surprised how feminist Lee Hyoseok is in this book. Although reading it in 2020 (80 years since its publishcation), one could feel the author is a bit preachy with his feminisit ideologies.
My only criticism of the plot is that I wanted to learn more about Nadia, like her backstory and her flaws. The novel portrays Nadia as a minor character and it only shows her in the most positive light.
Writing ✍️ :poignant, philosophical yet still easy to read. It also possesses a certain kind of charm similar to some classics such as Far from the Madding Crowd or Brideshead Revisited. I ended up highlighting so many passages.
My favourite passage from the novel is the scene where Nadia is seen enjoying different Korean food at a banquet:
‘Differences in lifestyle are not fundamental obstacles to harmony. Whether one eats bread or rice is an inconsequential difference. When love is strong enough, the assimilation of the human race is as simple as can be.’
Translator 🇰🇷 -> 🇬🇧: the footnotes in this novel are extremely helpful for non-Korean readers. I honestly think the translator deserves a Booker Prize for translating this prose in the most poignant yet relatable way to the wider audience.
June 11, 2021
What a pleasurable read. Written in the early 1940s, a Korean novel taking place almost entirely in Manchuria (Harbin), which had been colonized by the Japanese (as Korea had been at the time). The story itself has more to do with relationships and love and life in general, with an ending that was beautiful in its own way (although very abrupt).
Also, kudos to the translator and editor for including notes at the end of each chapter, which really helped.
Also, kudos to the translator and editor for including notes at the end of each chapter, which really helped.
January 10, 2024
I had the hardest time getting into this book and once I upgrade my level I want to come back to it and read it in Korean to see if I can appreciate this story, filled with melodrama and hardships of occupied Korea bit more.
April 4, 2022
I’ve been thinking, writing, and re-writing this review overnight… I’ve finally settled with the fact that nothing I’ll ever write will ever justify how beautifully written this book is.
Let me start off by admitting that I seldom read East Asian literary works. This book came to my knowledge via a random Goodreads recommendation and I thought…might as well give this a try? And so this is my first East Asia literature that’s set in colonial Korea (Joseon) and the city of Harbin, in Manchuria (previously, the city is in Central China).
Even though the main plot of this book is the love story between Ilma, a man from Joseon who’s life changed forever after receiving a job offer from a very prestigious company in the entertainment industry in Harbin, and Nadia, a Russian refugee and dancer in Harbin, this book brings so much more to the table that adds to its charm:
Firstly, I am blown away by how Hyoseok painted a very colourful picture of the cultural diversity of Joseon and Harbin: touching on the lives of Russian refugees and Russian architectural influence in Harbin, influence of French films and Western musical composers over the society, as well as the rich appreciation in the entertainment industry (movies, music, literature etc.) and culture in general. Indeed, I’ve learnt a lot; googling maps of where the cities are, looking at the pictures of the towns from 1929-mid WWII, the buildings mentioned etc. — it’s so fascinating!!
The book is also filled with philosophies on love, marriage, overcoming adversities, fulfilling ambitions and living a fruitful life. I am surprised at how pro-European and avant-grade the ideologies presented by Hyoseok on here. Despite most of the women, especially Danyeong, having questionable moral earlier in the book, all the female characters exhibit VERY STRONG values of proto-feminism. I’d even go as far as to say that this book is ahead of its time! (not in a sense of glorifying European values, in fact, this book presents no glorification of one culture over another.)
In agreement to one of the reviewers on here, my only criticism is that I wish Nadia’s character is more deeply explored as the book shines her under only positive light (maybe the purpose of this is to contrast her with Danyeong et al.?). Needless to say, I really like the healthy take on the way Nadia is appreciating and learning Joseon’s culture!
Some parts felt rather abrupt too, such as Byeoksu’s and Emilia’s adversities. Perhaps Hyeoseok wanted let the readers know of the challenges that the Russian immigrants faced back then? — I don’t want to imply too much!
The plot itself is not really gripping, and rather melodramatic but is still meaningful in its slow pace and simplicity (I like the pace tbh as there’s a lot to take in!). I won’t say the book is a heavy one though. Since the characters work (or eventually work) in the entertainment industry, it actually reminds me of those tumultuous Hollywood-set novels (lots of hotels involved, fine dining etc etc).
In the end, every character got their happy ending and found ways to go about their lives one way or another. It got me smiling from ear to ear. Perhaps the title of the book summarise the story well: blue-sky.
Utmost appreciation to the translator, Steven Capener, for the truly informative footnotes. Thus, making the book easier to read than it already is.
What an experience it has been reading this! Shelving under recommended reads for sure.
———
My appreciation to Izzah (12__read) for helping with the procurement of this book. Reading this wouldn’t be possible otherwise ☺️
Let me start off by admitting that I seldom read East Asian literary works. This book came to my knowledge via a random Goodreads recommendation and I thought…might as well give this a try? And so this is my first East Asia literature that’s set in colonial Korea (Joseon) and the city of Harbin, in Manchuria (previously, the city is in Central China).
Even though the main plot of this book is the love story between Ilma, a man from Joseon who’s life changed forever after receiving a job offer from a very prestigious company in the entertainment industry in Harbin, and Nadia, a Russian refugee and dancer in Harbin, this book brings so much more to the table that adds to its charm:
Firstly, I am blown away by how Hyoseok painted a very colourful picture of the cultural diversity of Joseon and Harbin: touching on the lives of Russian refugees and Russian architectural influence in Harbin, influence of French films and Western musical composers over the society, as well as the rich appreciation in the entertainment industry (movies, music, literature etc.) and culture in general. Indeed, I’ve learnt a lot; googling maps of where the cities are, looking at the pictures of the towns from 1929-mid WWII, the buildings mentioned etc. — it’s so fascinating!!
The book is also filled with philosophies on love, marriage, overcoming adversities, fulfilling ambitions and living a fruitful life. I am surprised at how pro-European and avant-grade the ideologies presented by Hyoseok on here. Despite most of the women, especially Danyeong, having questionable moral earlier in the book, all the female characters exhibit VERY STRONG values of proto-feminism. I’d even go as far as to say that this book is ahead of its time! (not in a sense of glorifying European values, in fact, this book presents no glorification of one culture over another.)
In agreement to one of the reviewers on here, my only criticism is that I wish Nadia’s character is more deeply explored as the book shines her under only positive light (maybe the purpose of this is to contrast her with Danyeong et al.?). Needless to say, I really like the healthy take on the way Nadia is appreciating and learning Joseon’s culture!
Some parts felt rather abrupt too, such as Byeoksu’s and Emilia’s adversities. Perhaps Hyeoseok wanted let the readers know of the challenges that the Russian immigrants faced back then? — I don’t want to imply too much!
The plot itself is not really gripping, and rather melodramatic but is still meaningful in its slow pace and simplicity (I like the pace tbh as there’s a lot to take in!). I won’t say the book is a heavy one though. Since the characters work (or eventually work) in the entertainment industry, it actually reminds me of those tumultuous Hollywood-set novels (lots of hotels involved, fine dining etc etc).
In the end, every character got their happy ending and found ways to go about their lives one way or another. It got me smiling from ear to ear. Perhaps the title of the book summarise the story well: blue-sky.
Utmost appreciation to the translator, Steven Capener, for the truly informative footnotes. Thus, making the book easier to read than it already is.
What an experience it has been reading this! Shelving under recommended reads for sure.
———
My appreciation to Izzah (12__read) for helping with the procurement of this book. Reading this wouldn’t be possible otherwise ☺️
October 17, 2022
What a beautiful little slice of life I just experienced.
July 17, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
July 1, 2023
this book was set in 1940’s colonial Korea and when Manchuria was occupied by the Japanese.
this was just really about individual characters finding their own purpose in life and how they deal with romantic feelings, and especially letting go in order to move on with life. they dealt with emptiness, sadness, success, and happiness, which were all beautifully written by the author.
relationships with friends and loyalty were highlighted in this book because they were always there for each other when in need and when they hit their own milestones.
but what was really focused was the love story of Ilma, a Korean writer from Seoul and Nadia, a Russian cabaret dancer from Manchuria. Ilma who worked at a newspaper, had a work trip to Manchuria and events lead him to meet Nadia her at the cabaret. both of them had different cultures and languages but they wanted to learn each other’s customs because they were so devoted to each other.
the translation and footnotes of Steven Capener was clear and precise, and very helpful to me, as a non-Korean reader 😅
im so glad that this is one of the books i picked when my tito was willing to buy for me last year :”)) more people should be reading this because i’d say that this was an amazing read ⭐️
this was just really about individual characters finding their own purpose in life and how they deal with romantic feelings, and especially letting go in order to move on with life. they dealt with emptiness, sadness, success, and happiness, which were all beautifully written by the author.
relationships with friends and loyalty were highlighted in this book because they were always there for each other when in need and when they hit their own milestones.
but what was really focused was the love story of Ilma, a Korean writer from Seoul and Nadia, a Russian cabaret dancer from Manchuria. Ilma who worked at a newspaper, had a work trip to Manchuria and events lead him to meet Nadia her at the cabaret. both of them had different cultures and languages but they wanted to learn each other’s customs because they were so devoted to each other.
the translation and footnotes of Steven Capener was clear and precise, and very helpful to me, as a non-Korean reader 😅
im so glad that this is one of the books i picked when my tito was willing to buy for me last year :”)) more people should be reading this because i’d say that this was an amazing read ⭐️
April 23, 2022
I picked this book up to scratch my Manchukuo itch. And it did do the trick. It was so interesting reading a serialised story written in 1941, set in Japanese occupied Korea (Joseon) and the Japanese puppet state in Manchuria. The focus on Harbin, Seoul, and the railway infrastructure that linked that part of the world together was fascinating. The story managed to tie into some contemporary issues too. Such as the bonds issued by the Manchurian government as a kind of lottery, the issues surrounding banditry in the north Manchurian countryside, the prevalence of the drug trade, and the pseudo-feminism of "new women" in Korea who acted in a western style.
Obviously, Hyoseok, as a writer, could not write freely. His first short stories and books were praised for their openness about topics like homosexuality and socialism, but in his later life (he died in his 30s) his novels became tamer. At that time, writing provocatively was a good way to cut short your career. This book is the last novel he wrote and it is very modern in style and full of melodrama.
It's a typical melodramatic love story between the main character, Ilma, and a Russian cabaret dancer he meets in Harbin, Nadia. There's a very large cast of secondary characters who each get entangled in the others' personal lives. For the most part, I quite enjoyed it.
But there are some gripes, mainly to do with the characters. Every female character in the book is to some extent in love with Ilma. While it makes for good drama, there isn't really a reason to believe it. Nadia's backstory is totally absent. When Ilma and Nadia first see each other in the book, it's clear they've already met before. The whole side-plot about the gold mine is redundant. Why is Hun a character?
There's lots in here I really like, but the story wasn't really one of them. 2.5/5
Obviously, Hyoseok, as a writer, could not write freely. His first short stories and books were praised for their openness about topics like homosexuality and socialism, but in his later life (he died in his 30s) his novels became tamer. At that time, writing provocatively was a good way to cut short your career. This book is the last novel he wrote and it is very modern in style and full of melodrama.
It's a typical melodramatic love story between the main character, Ilma, and a Russian cabaret dancer he meets in Harbin, Nadia. There's a very large cast of secondary characters who each get entangled in the others' personal lives. For the most part, I quite enjoyed it.
But there are some gripes, mainly to do with the characters. Every female character in the book is to some extent in love with Ilma. While it makes for good drama, there isn't really a reason to believe it. Nadia's backstory is totally absent. When Ilma and Nadia first see each other in the book, it's clear they've already met before. The whole side-plot about the gold mine is redundant. Why is Hun a character?
There's lots in here I really like, but the story wasn't really one of them. 2.5/5
July 21, 2022
Personal rating:
2.5🌟, rounded up to 3🌟
Favourite quote:
“When we are apart, I become brave. When we meet, my courage fades, only to return when we are apart again. At this rate, I may follow you my entire life.”
This took FOREVER to finish. It's so slow, but nothing interesting really happened. The only two reasons I rounded my rating up to 3 stars is because:
a) I kinda like Miryeo. Can you imagine, this story is written by an Asian in the mid 1900s (because we Asians are known to be quite conservative etc. if you missed the memo) and it has a woman who took revenge on her husband—who stayed out all night with another woman—by announcing to him she's going to stay out for a night as well, just to give him a taste of his own medicine? And then she went and did just that 😯 AND she was the one who packed up her things and left her husband + their house after returning and getting into a huge fight with him. I'm kinda in awe of her, honestly.
b) I adore the cover of this book. I'm mainly sad I didn't enjoy the story because now I no longer have a valid reason to get a physical copy of this book and to display the gorgeous cover at my home library 🙁
Apart from these though, I don't really recommend Endless Blue Sky. The story is meh, the prose is basic, characters are also meh. Like why are all the beautiful women so infatuated with Ilma? Who knows. This story is like the opposite of a typical YA romance where an average girl unexplicably finds herself adored by a number of earth-shatteringly gorgeous guys.
I'm just glad I finally finished with this and can now move on to another book.
2.5🌟, rounded up to 3🌟
Favourite quote:
“When we are apart, I become brave. When we meet, my courage fades, only to return when we are apart again. At this rate, I may follow you my entire life.”
This took FOREVER to finish. It's so slow, but nothing interesting really happened. The only two reasons I rounded my rating up to 3 stars is because:
a) I kinda like Miryeo. Can you imagine, this story is written by an Asian in the mid 1900s (because we Asians are known to be quite conservative etc. if you missed the memo) and it has a woman who took revenge on her husband—who stayed out all night with another woman—by announcing to him she's going to stay out for a night as well, just to give him a taste of his own medicine? And then she went and did just that 😯 AND she was the one who packed up her things and left her husband + their house after returning and getting into a huge fight with him. I'm kinda in awe of her, honestly.
b) I adore the cover of this book. I'm mainly sad I didn't enjoy the story because now I no longer have a valid reason to get a physical copy of this book and to display the gorgeous cover at my home library 🙁
Apart from these though, I don't really recommend Endless Blue Sky. The story is meh, the prose is basic, characters are also meh. Like why are all the beautiful women so infatuated with Ilma? Who knows. This story is like the opposite of a typical YA romance where an average girl unexplicably finds herself adored by a number of earth-shatteringly gorgeous guys.
I'm just glad I finally finished with this and can now move on to another book.
March 24, 2024
4 stars.
It should be noted that this book is, in fact, contemporary lit fiction (not historical fiction) because Lee Hyoseok was writing about the time in which he was living. That being said, it is surprising to think this book was written in the early/mid-20th Century, when the themes and ideas Lee has his characters think about and pursue are so modern, especially considering Korean societal norms and values in the 1940s. True love against societal expectations, free will v. the winds of destiny, pursuing self-actualization, the differing-yet-true strengths of women and men... Honestly, at some parts, the events of the story played out like a K-drama due to the passion Lee infused into the dialogue between characters, but, nonetheless, this is a deep study of human nature along with being entertaining and plenty heartwarming.
Endless Blue Sky reminds me of a Jane Austen novel in that it has wit, it does not find love and romance trivial matters (in real life or in literature), and it ultimately wants the reader to see people for who they are despite their faults and given their triumphs.
It should be noted that this book is, in fact, contemporary lit fiction (not historical fiction) because Lee Hyoseok was writing about the time in which he was living. That being said, it is surprising to think this book was written in the early/mid-20th Century, when the themes and ideas Lee has his characters think about and pursue are so modern, especially considering Korean societal norms and values in the 1940s. True love against societal expectations, free will v. the winds of destiny, pursuing self-actualization, the differing-yet-true strengths of women and men... Honestly, at some parts, the events of the story played out like a K-drama due to the passion Lee infused into the dialogue between characters, but, nonetheless, this is a deep study of human nature along with being entertaining and plenty heartwarming.
Endless Blue Sky reminds me of a Jane Austen novel in that it has wit, it does not find love and romance trivial matters (in real life or in literature), and it ultimately wants the reader to see people for who they are despite their faults and given their triumphs.
January 26, 2025
Do we still need to analyze what a perfect relationship is? In Endless Blue Sky we unfolds the thrilling love story between the Korean writer and Russian dancer. As characters navigate the complexities of love, marriage, and societal expectations, the stories then delves into the cosmopolitan world of luxury hotels, racetracks, and cabarets. Portraying a vibrant era on the brink of war. This novel will uncover the untold stories in a melodrama set. Let's dive into the heart of transcends borders and time!
Ilma (Korean Writer) was a charming man. He effortlessly attracts women (Just what we love, eh?😏). The focal point of the story, Ilma navigates through complex relationships and plays a significant role in the lives of the women around him. He thn meet Nadia. She was Russian Dancer. Ilma's love interest and a Russian dancer. Her character adds depth to the narrative as the love between Ilma and Nadia.. ... blossom? 😅
These characters, along with others, contribute to the novel's exploration of live, societal expectations, and personal struggles against the backdrop of a changing and challenging historical setting.
Ilma (Korean Writer) was a charming man. He effortlessly attracts women (Just what we love, eh?😏). The focal point of the story, Ilma navigates through complex relationships and plays a significant role in the lives of the women around him. He thn meet Nadia. She was Russian Dancer. Ilma's love interest and a Russian dancer. Her character adds depth to the narrative as the love between Ilma and Nadia.. ... blossom? 😅
These characters, along with others, contribute to the novel's exploration of live, societal expectations, and personal struggles against the backdrop of a changing and challenging historical setting.
October 18, 2024
I absolutely enjoyed reading this, such an underrated novel and omg, the cover is absolutely stunning. I loved almost all the main characters-Ilma, Nadia, Hun, Neungbo, Miryeo, Byeoksu, and Danyeong. Even though some of the characters had their own conflicts, I am glad that they found closure towards the end. Honestly, such a feel-good novel! Also, I agree with the translator's note towards the end that the author had an abrupt ending haha.
Ps. I just hoped that there would be more chapters on Nadia and Ilma <3
*******
"Respecting and wanting to learn the customs of loved one is an attempt to adapt oneself to that person and is, perhaps, the greatest act of devotion that love inspires"
"Both happiness and unhappiness were endless. Staring at the endless blue sky that seemed like endless life, Nadia now felt that her entire body had been dyed azure by that sky of blue"
*******
Ps. I just hoped that there would be more chapters on Nadia and Ilma <3
*******
"Respecting and wanting to learn the customs of loved one is an attempt to adapt oneself to that person and is, perhaps, the greatest act of devotion that love inspires"
"Both happiness and unhappiness were endless. Staring at the endless blue sky that seemed like endless life, Nadia now felt that her entire body had been dyed azure by that sky of blue"
*******
August 10, 2024
I bought this book on a whim a couple of years ago for summer reading. While I don't think I will read the book again, I was swept up into the relationships of all the characters. There is a large ensemble cast, and though I enjoyed the development of the secondary characters, understanding how they approached this transition of fortune and life changes of Ilma and the times, I found that personally the primary couple of Nadia and Ilma was underdeveloped (such as the build-up and further maintenance of the relationship).
February 18, 2024
It felt like traveling in time and space. Walking on the streets of Harbin and Seoul, listening to music and chatting with men and women of another time. I enjoyed reading feminist and progressive characters mixed with elitist conversations and endless focus on feminine beauty. A wonderful journey.
July 6, 2025
the plot slowly devolving into a lame soap opera was not for me. the setting is really nice though, to experience a different time and culture from someone else's eyes. if there was a version of the book with just that and the plot edited out, it will be 5/5.
February 5, 2021
It's simple yet profound
November 10, 2023
There’s actually nothing wrong with this one, the story just wasn’t for me. I can see others enjoying it
November 15, 2024
more melodramatic than your abuela's telenovela. justice for myeongdo.
February 5, 2025
4.7
For a book written by a Korean man 85 years ago, this books themes and feminism ideals are remarkable considering the social norms of that time.
What makes endless blue sky different is for a book set in 1940s Japanese-occupied Korea and Harbin, a turbulent period. It offered a more nuanced and human perspective of that era by showing the daily glamorous (or not) lives of its characters, and their search of meaning in life rather than only focusing on the suffering caused by colonialism and wars. it offered a kind of little precious time capsule. . It felt both simple and profound in equal measures. With beautiful, thought provoking passages throughout.
(kudos to the translator. this is the most beautiful translation I came across for East Asian literature)
For a book written by a Korean man 85 years ago, this books themes and feminism ideals are remarkable considering the social norms of that time.
What makes endless blue sky different is for a book set in 1940s Japanese-occupied Korea and Harbin, a turbulent period. It offered a more nuanced and human perspective of that era by showing the daily glamorous (or not) lives of its characters, and their search of meaning in life rather than only focusing on the suffering caused by colonialism and wars. it offered a kind of little precious time capsule. . It felt both simple and profound in equal measures. With beautiful, thought provoking passages throughout.
(kudos to the translator. this is the most beautiful translation I came across for East Asian literature)
October 21, 2023
Warm book with an interesting historic insignt. Loved the closure all the characters got at the end. Has not felt boring nor predictable at any point. Great litterary style as well.
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