Whale: SHORTLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE 2023

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A story where the same person can act heroically, cowardly and with great cruelty at different points in her life. Upon publication of the author’s first story, Frank and I (2003), he received the prestigious Munhakdongne New Writer Award. Cheon’s debut novel, Whale, was published the following year. It won the 10th Munhakdongne Novel Award and has become one of the most loved novels in South Korea, where it is regarded as a modern classic.

International Booker prize announces longlist to celebrate

Whale gives new meaning to the generation-spanning epic. Cheon expertly inserts metafictional jousts into his stirring prose, sardonically toying with our need for narrative even as he explores his characters' lives with heartfelt urgency. Wonderfully translated by Kim, Whale is an intricate work of art with unexpected riches." The tale focuses on three women and how they navigate changing circumstances while one aspect remains the same: Sexism. Protagonist Geumbok flees her bleak live in a rural area and enters relationships with men who help her survive and then rise in the social ranks. The business-savvy, matter-of-fact woman adapts to the expanding capitalist system by starting several enterprises, the most ambitious one being the cinema in the form of the title-giving whale. Geumbok tortures and neglects the second protagonist, her mute daughter, who gets a storyline of her own. Then, we have a one-eyed woman who directs an army of bees, born into another female line of family trauma. These three narrative strands are intertwined with minor stories about other characters (the most important one being a gangster with a scar), and it's fascinating how the author maintains control of this sprawling concept. did this book have a lot of objectionable stuff in it? yes. but did i lap up this book like it was freaking ice cream? also yes. At times the tone felt like a dark fairytale, other times whimsical or magical realism or even a cautionary tale (this was the law of…). Throughout, the tone is pitch perfect, never losing its way: it is reminiscent of oral history, and really feels like the story is being gossiped about, with the narrator interjecting quite often giving their two cents. Themes include: class, status, power, politics, capitalism, greed, sexual freedom, gender power dynamics. Note: there are several instances of violence against women (a lot!!!). And this author seems to have his idiosyncrasies and quirks: a huge obsession with descriptions of women’s bodies…. and penises, so many penises. A peerless work devoted to telling a powerful story and lauded for expanding Korean literature into new dimensions.”— The HankyorehThere's a talking elephant, but in fairness, the talking elephant only talks to the mute, autistic- y, whale-looking, other female protagonist. Jumbo talks to her while alive and even when he's been killed and stuffed.

Whale by Cheon Myeong-kwan — sins of the mother

What was left behind after the fire raged was truly gruesome. Eight hundred people died in the theater. The market next door caught fire, and the losses were astronomical. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say half of Pyeongdae burned down. It was the worst catastrophe since the war. I am still reading the novel but I wanted to write a few words about it before the winner is announced Tomorrow. I think the novel has the best chances to win. I loved Boulder more but I am not sure it will win. This one epic, longer and “big” in every way, from the themes explored to the writing style and plot. Think Big! Think of the biggest thing on the planet, and turn it into an epic story of enormous proportions and scope and you will get this whale of a novel. Cheon Myeong-kwan is a South Korean novelist, screenwriter and director whose work has been translated into eight languages. Whale also captures the essence of "han," a Korean concept of deep-seated emotions like rage, grief, and sorrow. It adds depth to the story, reflecting the characters' internal struggles and the Korean cultural identity. Whale doesn't shy away from depicting violence and brutality. While these scenes may be disturbing, they serve a purpose in showing the challenges faced by the characters and their pursuit of justice. The novel has elements of revenge, as the characters seek retribution for the injustices they face.She wasn’t obsessed with the whale just because of its size. When she saw the blue whale from the beach, she had glimpsed what eternal life looked like, life that had triumphed against death. That was the moment the fearful small-town girl became enraptured by enormous things. A peerless work devoted to telling a powerful story and lauded for expanding Korean literature into new dimensions." It is the story of a mother and a daughter. The mother, Geumbok, is from a remote mountain village, and throughout the first part of the book her fortunes rise, then fall, and ultimately rise again, until eventually she builds her own movie theatre in the shape of a whale. There has never been a novel like this in Korean literature . . . A novel that's more like reading out loud than reading quietly to oneself; its structure is like that of a folktale. You can feel the oral tradition in the rhythm of the sentences." Women and men alike suffer in this novel. They suffer physical, sexual and psychological abuse. If you have a hard time reading about these topics, beware. Huge trigger warning for violence and all types of abuse.