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자기 개발의 정석
오늘의 젊은 작가 시리즈 10권. 동시대적인 소재, 대담하고 독창적인 서사, 흡입력 강한 문장으로 강력한 팬덤을 형성하고 있는 작가 임성순의 다섯 번째 장편소설이다. 2015년 <세계의 문학> 가을호에 전재되었던 작품으로, 전재 당시 ‘전립선염에 걸린 중년 남성의 때늦은 성장’이라는 독특한 소재와 상황마다 펼쳐지는 리얼하고 디테일한 묘사, 읽기를 멈출 수 없을 정도로 리드미컬하고 유려하게 쓰인 차진 문장으로 출간 전부터 많은 기대를 모았다.
이 소설은 한 중년 남성의 성적 탐닉에 대한 이야기다. 스티븐 코비의 저서 <성공하는 사람들의 7가지 습관>(김영사, 1994)의 목차와 마찬가지로 ‘자신의 삶을 주도하라-끝을 생각하며 시작하라-소중한 것을 먼저 하라-윈윈을 생각하라-먼저 이해하고 다음에 이해시켜라-시너지를 내라-끊임없이 쇄신하라’와 같은 소제목들로 이루어진 구성은 자기계발이라는 명분으로 현대인의 정신마저 소비 대상으로 전락시키는 자본주의의 착취 구조를 풍자한다.
도구나 수단으로서가 아닌 쾌락 그 자체를 추구하는 이 부장의 ‘성장기’는 전 세계적 베스트셀러가 되어 한국의 수많은 부장님들을 꼭두새벽부터 영어 학원으로 내몰았던 자기 계발 신화를 비틀어 읽는 이들에게 쾌감을 선사한다. 독자들은 이번 소설을 통해 임성순의 진가를 제대로 확인할 수 있을 것이다.
이 소설은 한 중년 남성의 성적 탐닉에 대한 이야기다. 스티븐 코비의 저서 <성공하는 사람들의 7가지 습관>(김영사, 1994)의 목차와 마찬가지로 ‘자신의 삶을 주도하라-끝을 생각하며 시작하라-소중한 것을 먼저 하라-윈윈을 생각하라-먼저 이해하고 다음에 이해시켜라-시너지를 내라-끊임없이 쇄신하라’와 같은 소제목들로 이루어진 구성은 자기계발이라는 명분으로 현대인의 정신마저 소비 대상으로 전락시키는 자본주의의 착취 구조를 풍자한다.
도구나 수단으로서가 아닌 쾌락 그 자체를 추구하는 이 부장의 ‘성장기’는 전 세계적 베스트셀러가 되어 한국의 수많은 부장님들을 꼭두새벽부터 영어 학원으로 내몰았던 자기 계발 신화를 비틀어 읽는 이들에게 쾌감을 선사한다. 독자들은 이번 소설을 통해 임성순의 진가를 제대로 확인할 수 있을 것이다.
168 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2016
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 9, 2026
Yes, this is a book about male masturbation (and not the obvious kind), but it is more than that. It's a story about a middle-aged man, Lee, who has lived life according to the "proper way (정석)" breaking out of his shell.
Ever since he was a student, Lee opted into the formulaic way of achieving modest success, whether that's literally consuming the pages torn from textbooks in hopes of retaining knowledge or going through the motions at work and surviving long enough to become the head of a department. He doesn't question the monotonous rhythm of his life: going to a decent school, landing a decent job, and marrying a decent wife. There are no highs in his life, but also no lows. It is just his way of life.
However, all that changes when he receives the devastating diagnosis of prostatitis (enlarged prostate). As a means to abate the harmful effects of the condition, Lee is encouraged to massage his prostate on a regular basis using an apparatus designed specifically for that purpose. Lee is understandably appalled by the entire ritual, but he goes along with it for the sake of his health, all while keeping it under wraps from his family.
Eventually, Lee comes to find pleasure in the act itself, so much so that it becomes his one joy in life. Set aside the lewdness of the act, Lee masters the method of pleasing himself in the deepest way over time and paves a path for himself for the first time in his life. He goes through various trials and errors to refine this art of self-pleasure, which ultimately brings him as much despair as joy as a result of an inopportune rendezvous.
Despite the comical ending, I found the novel to be insightful in its rendition of a conformist individual finally realizing the need to break away from auto-pilot mode and actively seek out his own pleasure, no matter what the "proper way" may be for someone of his stature.
Ever since he was a student, Lee opted into the formulaic way of achieving modest success, whether that's literally consuming the pages torn from textbooks in hopes of retaining knowledge or going through the motions at work and surviving long enough to become the head of a department. He doesn't question the monotonous rhythm of his life: going to a decent school, landing a decent job, and marrying a decent wife. There are no highs in his life, but also no lows. It is just his way of life.
However, all that changes when he receives the devastating diagnosis of prostatitis (enlarged prostate). As a means to abate the harmful effects of the condition, Lee is encouraged to massage his prostate on a regular basis using an apparatus designed specifically for that purpose. Lee is understandably appalled by the entire ritual, but he goes along with it for the sake of his health, all while keeping it under wraps from his family.
Eventually, Lee comes to find pleasure in the act itself, so much so that it becomes his one joy in life. Set aside the lewdness of the act, Lee masters the method of pleasing himself in the deepest way over time and paves a path for himself for the first time in his life. He goes through various trials and errors to refine this art of self-pleasure, which ultimately brings him as much despair as joy as a result of an inopportune rendezvous.
Despite the comical ending, I found the novel to be insightful in its rendition of a conformist individual finally realizing the need to break away from auto-pilot mode and actively seek out his own pleasure, no matter what the "proper way" may be for someone of his stature.
Displaying 1 of 1 review