Who Will Come to My Funeral When I Die

by Kim Sang-hyun

This is how I see love.
Not making the other person prove it.
Often being foolish in front of it.
Being able to face someone without calculation.
Recognizing love without needing to be told.
Sharing the little moments of everyday life.
And if there are no flowers along the way,
plant them with a warm heart so they can bloom.
Feeling joy in walking that path together,
even if it means turning back to see the flowers a little late.

Love as if it will last forever, even if the pace is slow.

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Associated Names:
* 김상현 (Korean)
* Kim Sang-hyun (English)
* คิมซังฮยอน (Thai)

Reviews

[Shiandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and gentle read with so much care and wisdom to share. A must read after tough and heavy books.

[Honeypie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book title was sure catchy.

But I should have expected less. Cutesy title, cutesy cover. Just okay content.

It doesn't suck. Because if I'm being honest, I think when I write in my journals or blogs, I would probably write similarly. Haha!

With that said, it could have done with fewer pages, and more creativity in the pages. Like one-liners in a page. You know how it is in Instagram posts, etc.

Overall, it was just okay. But not too bad to warrant two stars.

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What should I do when death eventually comes? How should I face my own funeral? Will anyone remember me after I'm gone? I began to wonder if true death is not the end of life itself, but the moment when no one remembers you. What will remain of me in the memories of others when I die?

When someone dies, they can no longer create new memories. Perhaps that's why grief is often tied to the desperate wish to hold on to the memories they left behind. But those memories, too, begin to fade. To disappear is to no longer exist and to be forgotten is a kind of final death. Maybe that's why the longing to remember and the wish to be remembered carry such sorrow.

[Shanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though the title refers tp funeral but the content itself is about life. Every page feels like you are havinv a discussion with the writer, in a cafe, and talk about simple thing in life. Thats why this book feels so warm

[shira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like a big hug

[Jemalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first APOP book this year, and I give it 3.5 stars. I hadn’t read anything APOP since last year because I felt a little disappointed by some of the APOP books I had picked up before.

The title immediately caught my attention, though I personally felt that the content didn’t fully live up to it. There were definitely relatable quotes and thoughtful reflections throughout the book, but some parts felt mundane and repetitive. I was hoping for deeper insights, especially since the author has written several books with similar themes. However, a few entries came across more like fillers rather than meaningful additions to the discussion.

I genuinely enjoyed the first half of the book, as the reflections felt more sincere and engaging. The latter half, though, felt comparatively shallow to me and started to repeat ideas that had already been mentioned earlier. I wish the author had either explored a wider range of topics or maintained the same depth and consistency found in the earlier sections.

[Louise ~ The Serial Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I had never finished an inspirational or non-fiction book as quickly as I did this one. You might think that this book was all doom and gloom because of its title, but it’s not. On the contrary, it is about the beauty of life, the human’s innate longing for happiness, and the positive perspective that we should take when times feel weary.

Beautifully written! This book is full of wisdom. I love that every chapter was concise and some snippets of the author’s life experiences were shared, making it more relatable. The translation by Jeremiah Estela Magoncia was also worth noting and applauding, as it makes the book easy to read, absorb, and understand.

[Charles Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like having a life conversation with someone at a coffee shop. Warm yet it will hit you hard on your life choices past and present. But also will give you a sense of direction as to what you will be as you navigate through. This was an easy read for me, as I met with the author at some point of this book. I can see myself with him.

[Apol · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like it. I was attracted by the title but ending up disappointed just few chapters in. I don’t like the font used for the apop edition. And I feel like I am reading something chat gpt would tell me when I asked what to do when I am sad. I stopped reading after few pages. I was probably expecting something different. Or perhaps the translation could just be not it. 🤷‍♀️

[Gabriel Javier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite its title, it’s a gentle, feel-good book with a lot of insight on living!

This collection of essays and reflections catering different relatable topics encourage you to live your life with better actions.

The English  translation also feels natural, and the essays have substance, with a lot of quotable quotes that don't feel shallow! (to me, at least)

[m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book felt like you’re talking to a therapist. A big hug. Highly recommended for those who are doubting about their worth, value, and purpose in life.

[JasmineB · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book because of the title, but upon reading, I found that the title didn’t have much to do with the content. So that was my first disappointment.

This book contains a series of short (and boy, are they short) essays where the author reflects about life, people and experiences. He does not give a lot of context to his essays, i.e. he does not divulge much about the personal situation or circumstances that led to his reflection. Hence, his reflections come off as a series of cliché statements and feel-good encouragements.

I also feel that the enjoyment of this book is affected by the reader’s current level of maturity. I found the first two sections rather boring. I could see how it may be relatable to someone in their 20s since a lot of the essays talk about easing on comparison with others, finding oneself, persevering after failures, etc. Since I am a lot older, these are life lessons that I have dealt with long ago.