Read Women discussion

Our June Womens Prize for Fiction longlist read is 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster by Mirinae Lee. I am out of town without my laptop, but back home Sunday night, where my copy of Trickster awaits. I’ll add background on both our novel and author then.

Who’s planning to join?

I am reading this one, so far it's good at story and its structure.

Nidhi wrote: "I am reading this one, so far it's good at story and its structure."

That’s great, Nidhi. Very exciting!

I will definitely be joining in this one as well. While looking up if it was a translated work (it isn’t), I came across this short, non-spoilery article from the Korea Herald if anyone is interested: https://m.koreaherald.com/amp/view.ph... where the author briefly discusses her inspiration and history behind the book.

Anything akin to Pachinko is worth a gander, imo.

I read this recently. I liked it. I didn't love it as much as some of the other Women's Prize longlist books that I read, but I'm glad I read it and I thought it was a worthy addition to that longlist.

I'm hoping to get this one in this month. I have found that my various group "commitment" books are overwhelming my monthly reads. But I have it and it's high on the list!

Anita wrote: "I will definitely be joining in this one as well. While looking up if it was a translated work (it isn’t), I came across this short, non-spoilery article from the Korea Herald if anyone is interest..."

Thanks for this link, Anita.

I found and am a fan of this Asian Review of Books review, too: https://asianreviewofbooks.com/conten... (I don't see any spoilers, but a purist who wants to know nothing might find it to offer too much)

Excerpting the beginning of the review for a description that might offer those on the fence more details without spoilers:

Tales of love, loss and survival set in the war-torn Korea of the 20th century are cleverly linked in the life of one female “trickster” in this debut novel from South Korean writer Mirinae Lee. Seven individual stories are connected through the device of an elderly lady, Mrs Mook, recounting her experiences. Listening carefully is Lee Sae-ri, a middle-aged divorcee who works at the Golden Sunset retirement home where Mrs Mook lives. In a bid to ease the residents through their final years, Lee Sae-ri has taken it upon herself to write their “obituaries” by recording their personal histories.

The novel focuses solely on Mrs Mook’s exploits which appear exceptional in more ways than one.

Mirinae Lee

This interview includes a lot of interesting info about Ms. Lee as well as her decision to finish this novel in English, after initially starting to write it in Korean. https://www.writersdigest.com/write-b...

I love that the initial idea for this novel came from her great -aunt being one of the oldest women to escape alone from North Korea.

I started this last night and told myself to read at least 10% (about 30 pages I believe), and ended up finishing nearly a quarter of it. The writing really drew me in, and the format of the story-telling has me wondering. Thoroughly enjoying it so far, even though she’s already tackled some ugly truths about war (nothing graphic or explicit) concerning civilian casualties and comfort women.

I have this out from the library right now -- no excuse not to join in this month!

I liked this book very much. The scenario was new for me, my first book based in Korea, about the war in Korea, POV of women about the destruction war causes and the cost of survival. Above all the plight of 'comfort women'.
Story is straight forward, I liked the presentation which keeps the reader hooked.

Anita wrote: "I started this last night and told myself to read at least 10% (about 30 pages I believe), and ended up finishing nearly a quarter of it. The writing really drew me in, and the format of the story-..."

I started this yesterday. It has one of the best beginnings (first dozen pages) I’ve read in ages, like, literally years. I’m astounded that a debut author could so efficiently introduce her main characters, the setting, and the framing for the stories, and do it in a way that completely draws the reader in.

Full credit, also, to the audible narrator. She’s fantastic. Having just forced myself to endure another narrator whose every syllable grated, it’s a pleasure to experience the pairing of beautiful writing and nuanced, elegant narration.

Nidhi wrote: "I liked this book very much. The scenario was new for me, my first book based in Korea, about the war in Korea, POV of women about the destruction war causes and the cost of survival. Above all the..."

I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Nidhi (if enjoy is the right word, always tough with this subject matter). It’s interesting to me to follow predominately Western readers’ of both Japanese lit and Korean lit, given the intersection of the countries’ histories and the louder voice that Japan tends to have globally.

Melissa wrote: "I have this out from the library right now -- no excuse not to join in this month!"

Yay!

Rose wrote: "I read this recently. I liked it. I didn't love it as much as some of the other Women's Prize longlist books that I read, but I'm glad I read it and I thought it was a worthy addition to that longl..."

What were your favorites from the longlist, Rose? Are you rooting for a particular winner?

I am looking forward to read the Women's Prize winners with this group, both fiction and non-fiction.

Carol wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I have this out from the library right now -- no excuse not to join in this month!"

Yay!"

From the long list, I my favorites were

Brotherless Night
Restless Dolly Maunder
Enter Ghost
Ordinary Human Failings
And Then She Fell

Only the first three made it onto the shortlist and of those, I'd probably choose Brotherless Night. Big caveat though is that I haven't been able to get ahold of Soldier Sailor yet, and that one looks like a potential winner.

I dnf'd The Wren, the Wren and River East, River West so Soldier Sailor is the only shortlisted book I haven't read yet.

I have to say that “heartrending” in a book description tends to make me run for the hills, but I’ll overcome that instinct for self-preservation and seek out Brotherless Night.

Well, Brotherless Night covers some similar ground to The Art of Losing - the impact on a population caught in the middle between colonial occupation and aggression and also violence and exploitation from the opposing forces. It seems this is a story repeated often in recent history.

Rose wrote: "Well, Brotherless Night covers some similar ground to The Art of Losing - the impact on a population caught in the middle between colonial occupation and aggression and also violence and exploitati..."

It is, indeed - you're right, of course.

I'm in the middle of The 4th Life: Me, Myself and Mole. My impression is one I had several years ago when I read A Separation by Katie Kitamura, e.g., the sentences are so often incredibly elegant, but the work as a whole isn't going anywhere. I'm listening to it on audio and enjoying that experience immensely, and I thought the Prologue and first chapter were compelling. Since then, however, it feels as though there's a certain amount of, if not repetition, then standing in one place and revisiting the same experience from multiple points of view. Maybe it's the first person. Maybe it's the awareness that our narrator is telling her stories out of order, but without any sense of the why. Maybe it's the challenge that connected short stories always have, which is how to make the next story not feel like you're starting over. Maybe, in part, it's the challenge of many Korean novels - so much suffering, so little hope and happiness. Resilience, yes, in spades. But it's difficult to say one enjoys reading about endless suffering.

But those elegant sentences satisfy.

This disconnection between stories made the book special for me, which I called 'structure'. It is intentional on part of the author as well as the protagonist, we are offered a part of zigsaw puzzle at a time to guess the final picture.

Nidhi wrote: "This disconnection between stories made the book special for me, which I called 'structure'. It is intentional on part of the author as well as the protagonist, we are offered a part of zigsaw puzz..."

I appreciate that it’s intentional, Nidhi. I am glad it worked for you and other readers.

Rose wrote: "Carol wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I have this out from the library right now -- no excuse not to join in this month!"

Yay!"

From the long list, I my favorites were

Brotherless Night..."

Rose - the judges heard you! : )

What have been your favorite "lives" or chapters? I think the 4th life, Me, Myself and Mole was brilliant, Close second is the 6th life, The Spy Who Writes Yellow. I'm at the beginning of the 7th Life and keenly aware that the 7th and 8th lives comprise the majority of the book, so I'm holding my breath for what's to come.

I was pleased to hear that!

Carol wrote: "Rose wrote: "Carol wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I have this out from the library right now -- no excuse not to join in this month!"

Yay!"

From the long list, I my favorites were

[book:Brotherless Ni..."

I finished Trickster and am super impressed with Lee's ending, in addition to the beginning. When a book has a good ending, I'm always tempted to rate it higher because it leaves me with a good impression. I look forward to reading whatever she publishes next.

Other overall thoughts from members who have finished?

Carol wrote: "I finished Trickster and am super impressed with Lee's ending, in addition to the beginning. When a book has a good ending, I'm always tempted to rate it higher because it leaves me with a good imp..."

I just finished this last night as well! I really enjoyed it, and I’m glad you came around Carol.

The ending was unexpected but not at all a surprise I suppose.

I'm reading this a month late to coincide with another book club. Just started today and I'm already hooked. It's reminding me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in it's format which is a formal that I love so I'm hoping for good things!

Jess wrote: "I'm reading this a month late to coincide with another book club. Just started today and I'm already hooked. It's reminding me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in it's format wh..."

I hope you continue to enjoy it, Jess. I still think about it - it's a special one.

I've finished this now and I really enjoyed it. Me, Myself and Mole was also my favourite life but I loved how they all came together despite such disparate voices.

Jess wrote: "I've finished this now and I really enjoyed it. Me, Myself and Mole was also my favourite life but I loved how they all came together despite such disparate voices."

Yay! I agree. I’m glad you ended up liking it, too. I don’t know how this didn’t make the short list, but it was a great read for me.