"Priya Prithiviraj has a gift for storytelling and conveys convincingly the angst of this 18-year-old. Readers of Amy Tan and other Asian authors will delight in this novella, I Still Remember." ― Readers' Favorite
How do you forget someone you've loved once?
Ji-woo dreams of becoming a writer and is back in college giving it a second shot. But then Weon-gyu, her first love, comes back into her new life. Will she give up on her dreams or will she write them a happy ending?
Priya Prithiviraj is a poet, writer, and the author of Purple Kisses (The Linnet's Wings Press, 2017). Her work has appeared in the New Plains Review, Tower Journal, Torrid Literature Journal, and Eastlit among others. Currently based in India, she is a doctoral researcher in English language education at the English and Foreign Languages University.
"Priya Prithiviraj has a gift for storytelling and conveys convincingly the angst of this 18-year-old. Readers of Amy Tan and other Asian authors will delight in this novella, I Still Remember." ― Readers' Favorite
It such has a beautiful cover and the title ‘I Still Remember’ goes absolutely well with the story. The story takes place in Korea, it seems the author is familiar with the Korean stuff as well because the way she describes is incredible. The protagonist’s names are Weon gyu and Kim ji woo. The story begins with Kim Ji Woo; she is a student of the English department. It is about the lives of today’s generation… where you tend to show how strong you are but sometimes there are things, which become hard to forget. The story will unfold as you continue reading; one good thing is that it does not contain unnecessary details so it’s gonna save a lot of your time. It’s just a 22 pages long. Believe me! This beautiful story is worth reading your time.
Quotes included are heart touching and intriguing.
“You’re going to look at this photograph and smile, Ji-wooy, years from now when you’ve grown old as I am now”
Personally, I really loved the poem included in that book which I will leave it to you to judge after reading how beautiful it is. Moreover, yes, she still remembers but the question arrives here what she remember and how she continue her life and does she pursue her dream of becoming a writer? To find out more you have to give a read to this short contemporary novel.
What can I say...it's been a while since I've felt the sting of first love, but I Still Remember brought it all back. It takes place in Korea in college settings and it was very reminiscent of my years in university. It is a contemplative story, written almost poetically, which brings us into the emotion of the protagonist Ji-woo, as she recalls a lost love. Prithviraj will have you rooting for here...I sure was. Highly recommend it as a quick heartfelt read!
"The scent of first rain; it always reminded me of that feverish first love. The thought made me envy my own younger self." This is a short and sweet read with a lot of impact. Even though it's about young love and first heartaches, I enjoyed its peaceful and calming atmosphere. The story is like a fragile bubble, pretty and ephemeral.
" I filled the void with my own sunshine and embarked on a beautiful journey to find my own true self."
This short story about love and heartbreak was a very worthwhile 30 minutes read. I love how at the first line the author was already trying to capture the readers' attention and boggle their minds as to what had happened to Ji-wooya and Weon-gyu. No clear back story was told and all you had to rely on was brief moments of our main character remembering the things that happened between them. While I was curious to know more what had happened, that ending still shocked me a little, and I found it both endearing and full of hope.
I may not be a huge fan of Korean culture, the book was able to capture very familiar things, and I'm sure those who are obsessed with anything korean will appreciate this story. I really loved the way the writing just flowed so easily, and you would immediately put yourself into Ji-wooya's shoes. The poetry bits were also very superb, and it was just as short yet lovely as the rest of the book.
There is so much promise in Priya's writing, and I can't wait to read more of the things she will write soon!
This is such a short and sweet story. I fully enjoyed reading it. The writing style is lucid and warm. I liked the way the author used simple words which everyone could understand. 🍂I still remember is a short story of a Kim Ji Woo, a young woman who is passionate to become a writer and is back in the college giving it a second shot after her heartbreak. But then Weon-Gyu(her first love) happens to be her professor. Will she able to write again or will she able to move on? 🌺The story switches between past and present which confused me a bit in the beginning. The character of Ji Woo written so realistic. Her stage of confusion, pain and desire to move on, all the emotions are depicted so well in this short 24 pages. I loved the story premise. There are also some college and coffee shop scenes which makes you nostalgia. 🍂My only disappointment is that the story ended. I really wanted more of it. There is a short poem at the end, it's so beautiful and deep. I truly believe the story has the potential to be a full-length novella. At least up to 100 pages. Overall it's a very quick read. Highly recommended.
I Still Remember is a really sweet and adorable short novel. First of all, the story is set in Korea, and I think the author gave us enough description for us to really feel the atmosphere. This book is so different from what I usually read, it has only around 24 pages and yet the story can delivers a deep meaning for us. I love how the author managed to make a strong female character with a sad and tragic background. I feel like the title fits perfectly for the story, and the poetry! I'm not a huge fan of poetry but I do love this one, and it speaks for the character really well. The only thing that bothers me is the fact that the plot is going back and forth, with many flahback scenes which make me have to read it twice before fully understand the plot. But overall, this book is captivating and I truly recommend it to everyone!
I Still Remember is a beautiful story that stays with you. I loved it for the fine writing and the meaningful message it conveys. I also enjoyed the slice of college life shown in the story. I would definitely recommend this and I'm really looking forward to a sequel. :)
"I Still Remember "is a short story about love, heartbreak and moving on. I loved how @priya_prithviraj has woven the story with alternating past and present perspectives. Reading this one made me fall in love with novella's once again.
I can not stress enough on the amazing writing! The author has done a brilliant job at making the story short and precise yet not leaving even the smaller details.
Go for it if you looking for a short sweet read this fall! ❤️
The author of this title reached out to me asking if I would take the time to review her short story "I Still Remember". Priya, if you are reading this, I am sorry it took me so long to get around to reading, reviewing, and sharing your work. This piece of literature is beautifully written and it is obvious that the author is a very talented writer. I enjoyed the setting and storyline she created immensely and could relate to the topic of "losing your first love". So why the three-star rating? Well, to be completely honest, I wish this story had been longer. I didn't get to spend as much time with Ji-woo, the main character, as I wanted to, and think that this piece would have had a much bigger impact if it had just had more substance to it. I would definitely consider reading more of this author's work in the future and believe that with some guidance, she will be able to expand upon her talents and write a piece even better than this one.
A lovely little short story about a woman in Seoul who learns to love herself again after heartbreak. She remembers the good times, but knows what is best for her is to move on and be happy and free.
I enjoyed the poem this story was based on, which was first published in print in 2016. It was interesting to see the author give it it's own story, to know where the poem came from!
This was such a quick read! A breather for sure....especially from all the fantasy books.
The title really goes well with the story, you’ll know why upon reading it.
The story takes place in Korea. At first it wasn’t really mentioned, but from the characters name, I guessed it. However, later on several destinations were mentioned. So yeah...its set in Korea. Seems like the author Priya is really knowledgeable about this country because from the description she gave out, its amazing. However, those who aren’t familiar with this culture or country, it might be a little confusing for them.
So the book is just 24 pages long and it is relatively easy to understand, no unnecessary dragging description. The story is about Kim Ji Woo, who has such a strong character with a tragic end, because it talks about falling in love to experiencing a heartbreak real quick.
“You never forget someone you’ve loved once” wow, this bit seemed to really stuck with me🥺
There was a short poem included and I really enjoyed it because it was written so beautifully. You’ll have to read to find out because I think that poem is really the main part.
I also adored the bit of college scenes shown in the story.
Thanks to the author, Priya, for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
It was too short for my liking. I would love to know more honestly. One thing I disliked was the switch between the past and the present, I had to read it several times to know what really was going on.
Because it's always difficult to understand other cultures and description when it comes to sensitive matters, I found myself a little daunted by I Still Remember, but the story in itself was beautiful.
Prithviraj tells the story of Ji Woo and her recovery after losing the love of a lifetime, Weong-gyu. You aren't given he actual reason for the loss (other than what is given to you and I won't say because it would be a SPOILER!), but I can say, Ji Woo learns to live without him.
The story is almost like watching a flower greeting morning rays of sunshine. You get too feel Ji Woo's blossoming without the man she thought she needed in her life. This happens through a personal journey while going back to a dream she'd always carried: writing.
With taking classes, and a holiday, Ji Woo meets new people, learns new things and that life does go one after a boy. Prithviraj's writing takes you, the reader, on a cultural journey into letting go. She shows how one can move on and discover who they really are, without a love interest. And if one can survive the interaction, once that person returns to their life.
I Still Remember is a soft story that's easy to read and relate to. Grab a copy of I Still Remember, by Priya Prithviraj or visit her website here for her other works. I'm on to the next read!
It's a beautiful short read about love ,hurtful feelings, coming out and that lovely song which replays in the back of your mind.
If you are looking out for a light-headed romantic read to forget or remember someone special on this monsoon day grab it, you won't be disappointed...set against a korean background it evokes freshness.
A stunning short story. So well written and emotional, you truly enter this period of the protagonist's life and emote along with her. She's so personable and real, her experiences are so relatable that you will feel sympathy, empathy and pride as you would for a friend. Very much recommend this read ♥️
I've seen comments that described this story as a 'breather' and I honestly think that is the perfect word for it. It's a story that quickly depicted life, all of its ups and downs. It reminds you that there's always a rainbow after a storm and you can always stand up whenever you fall. It is very easy and warm to read. Although, I have to say that I quite got a little confused with the timeline of the story. I think it would be better if there's like a heading when it happened or like dates. I would also like to know more about the characters! Their personalities are promising and I hope we get more back stories of what really happened between Ji woo and Weong gyu so that we'd feel the emotions better and we'd have more connection with the characters.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read your story, Priya! I enjoyed it!
I Still Remember is a short story set in South Korea. It tells the story of Ji-Woo, as she recounts her first love with Weon-gyu, and meets him again in the present.
This story was really well researched. Prithviraj carefully constructed Ji-woo’s world, drawing on Korean customs and traditions. I loved the use of spring as a moment of transformation for Ji-woo, as she navigates her new life, and finds fulfilment within herself.
I like to think of this story as a love story in 2 ways, of the love that had once bloomed between Ji-woo and Weon-gyu, and the blossoming of love that Ji-woo finds for and within herself.
This story has a really satisfying ending, and reminds us that although love can end, we can still remember how it once was, without wanting, or needing things to go back to the way they were.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
“You never forget someone you have loved once.” . . How do you forget someone you've loved once? ❣️ Ji-woo dreams of becoming a writer and is back in college giving it a second shot. But then Weon-gyu, her first love, comes back into her new life. Will she give up on her dreams or will she write them a happy ending? . . A short story based in Korea about Love, heart breaks and moving on. This amazing story comes with lesson that Love is a part of life not the end of life….so if it doesn't work for you, come out of it and move on with life !! . . The author @priya was kind enough to offer me an ebook for an honest review. Thank you….it was a quick read with a strong message !! ❣️
It's good, really! Especially that I really love reading books and watching films or series that are set in Korea. But I hope you can write more stories that are set in your country or locale so I can get to know more of your culture through literature! 😊 And will there ever be a back story of Weong-gyu and Ji Woo? I feel like this could have been a more detailed novel in which we can all relate to the characters somehow. That way we can be more attached to them. 💞 However, I already felt what the character was feeling. Which is good!
Hope to read more of your works! I am so happy and proud of you, my friend, Priya! 💞😍
What a sweet story that really captures the feeling of "the one that got away" and then getting another chance to fight for that love again. Will Ji-Woo choose love or her dreams of writing? You must read to find out! This is a short read yet is a full and emotional story of love, rejection and choices! You can feel Ji-Woo's heart as you read each page!
Priya did a great job of bringing deep rooted emotions to life in this story. It was easy to fall in love with Ji-Woo! I found myself invested in her choices and more importantly, in her heart! If you are looking for a short and sweet read, this is the book for you!!
I really enjoyed this book! For it being only about 5,000 words, I admit, I was a bit unsure if this story would be able to be fully developed. That being said, it was for me. I Still Remember is a very nice, quick, enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to contemporary fans!
So… this book is a nice short read, something nice and easy to pick up. I read this on holiday and I wanted something that I could get stuck into but something that wasn’t going to take all my time up if I got stuck into it and to be honest this book did just that I actually finished it in 2 night
I loved your writing style, the way you justify the title of the book is commendable I totally agree with other writers that your story is short and sweet. I will love to read it's sequel...and next time don't compromise to add some more spoons of sugar in that.
I am a young and a healthy soul. I'm fine if I get diabetes after reading your book. I loved it.
A heartwarming read that is brimming with raw emotion. The author truly has a gift when it comes to writing about the epic highs and lows of first love and what it means to let go. The characters, Kim, Ira, Han-sung, Weon-gyo are all so easy to love and root for, and by the end the reader is left in awe at the mere simplicity and beauty of the writing.
This is a gloomy romance story which ones sad but at the same time its a story about an unrequited love of a girl whose feelings were not returned but she when realized it,faces the reality bravely with a smile :) a must read for all beautifully penned by Priya !
*I was sent a copy in exchange for my honest review.*
This was such a well written story. I really connected with Kim Ji Woo. I know what it’s like to experience that first love and first heartbreak and I felt like it was written very well in this story. I would definitely recommend to a friend!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.