10 Must-Read Korean Novels in Translation

[@katekursive1370]

Korean women write like a knife through the heart. It's not uncommon for me to cry through an entire book

[@WillowTalksBooks]

What a way to put it! Love that.

[@whctjsdlfqhrlfprl]

@@WillowTalksBooks love it 2!

[@SwatiThakur-i9k]

Suggest a book like?

[@애니-e1z]

Han Kang has been awarded a Novel Prize yesterday and your review about her is pretty helpful to understand her books. Thank you.

[@mansi3420]

I was just looking for korean literature, this video is exactly what I needed.

[@TheBookBully]

I've started reading more Korean (and Japanese) literature recently, especially after I discovered Han Kang and Deborah Smith. I was so bowled over by what The Vegetarian does that I immediately read The White Book and Human Acts. And this year I read The Plotters and I LOVED it. It made me laugh and genuinely surprised me at its twists and turns. I believe it's part of a series? I hope more are translated soon because I would love to continue.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I'm so glad to hear you're reading so much Korean fiction! The Plotters is so much fun! Please read Pyun Hye-young next!

[@anahudson9250]

@@WillowTalksBooks hun jk mh try

[@pem1990]

I just moved to UK from Japan, where I was gorging myself on the wide selection of Korean novels, short stories and essays translated into Japanese. It even came to a point where almost all the books I was reading were by Korean writers! Now that I'm in UK I'm trying to get my hands on English translations of Korean literature that are not available in Japanese (including some works by Kyung-Sook Shin whom I adore). I found your video extremely helpful and insightful, thank you!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Welcome to the UK! Kyung-sook Shin really is something special, isn't she? And please check out the books of Pyun Hye-young if you haven't already :)

[@Kinnryuukenn07]

저는 (만) 16살 한국인입니다! 제가 얼마전에 재밌게읽은 소설을 추천해드리자면 "달러구트 꿈 백화점" 시리즈 입니다.

[@책읽어주는클라우디아]

한국문학을 사랑해주시고 소개해 주셔서 대단히 고맙습니다. 저는 소설을 낭독하고 있는데 이 채널을 접하고 더욱 신중하고 재미있게 낭독해야겠다는 책임감이 드는군요. 이 채널의 독자분들 모두 행복한 오늘 되시길요~

[@karakask5488]

The Plotters contains some of my favorite lines, "Black tea is steeped in imperialism. That's what gives it its flavor. Anything this flavorful has to be hiding an incredible amount of carnage." Just genius. It makes you think about your own consumption.

[@candaceshook5313]

Willow, you are my new KZbin obsession. I could listen to you talk about books for hours!

[@bobbysquest]

I‘m in love with how you talk and explain so much without revealing anything and love how you chose your words and just the way you talk! Also thank you so much for that video!

[@amandar3467]

Han Kang is now the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize!! Glad she's getting the attention she deserves. Just rewatching this older video as I get more into Korean literature. Love your videos!

[@laineyrae8981]

Thank you so much for this video, Books and Bao really sets the standards for bookish content on the internet. I work at an American bookstore where fellow readers of Korean (even Korean-American) literature are few and very far between. One of my favorite books of the year is Almond by Sohn Won-pyung. Also, the Kingdom of the Gods, a manhwa written by Kim Eun-hee and art by Yang Kyung-il. If you dont mind me giving two honorary mentions (they were not written in Korean or did not originate from Korea, but are still very much Korean)... the Magical Language of Others, a memoir by E.J. Koh, and a Cruelty Special to Our Species, a book of poems by Emily Jungmin Yoon. I first said Almond was a favorite but all of these would easily make my top 10 reads of 2020. Thanks again.

[@majdoulineelaasemi1559]

Thank you for the recommendations, I will check the honorable mentions :)

[@jenntendo64system]

I have loved reading more East Asian books in translation, including Korean books! This year I read Untold Night and Day, The Vegetarian, and Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982. Really enjoyed them ALL and I am keeping them all so I can revisit them. The Plotters sold SO WELL when I worked at Waterstones, but I didn’t know anything about it. I’m definitely interested now! I think I added The Court Dancer to my TBR when you or Jess mentioned it earlier this year.

[@silpionsbooks]

I found this video while randomly searching for Korean bookish advice. What a great find! I have to try and read all these books now... and watch more of your videos!

[@theamethyst93]

The vegetarian got me back into reading a few weeks ago. That was an incredible book, the best I’ve ever read so far honestly.

[@rachel1021]

Your video about Whale made me realize how few Korean novels I've read, but I've loved everything I've read so far. My favorite at the moment is Love in the Big City. Also really loved Flowers of Mold, Kim Jiyoung and The Vegetarian. I'm going to make reading books by Korean writers a bigger priority. 😊

[@beaning.2709]

OMG!!! I’m so glad I found this video! I read Han Kang’s work last summer and truly fell in love with Korean Literature but I really struggled to find any other translated works! I’m so excited to read some of these!!!

[@Icry2much._.]

I love Almond not sure if it's counted as a korean literature book but it's originally written in korean so ig that counts it's brilliant, it's heartbreaking to see someone suffer so much yet you sit there helplessly without actually being able to help the protagonist. I FREAKING LOVE IT SO MUCH AS A TEENAGERS I RELATE WITH SOME PARTS IN THE NOVEL AS WE ARE MOSTLY OVERLOOKED BY THE SOCIETY... GIVE IT A READ ITS GREAT!!

[@helloitsme5727]

The Vegetarian, Human Acts, Our Happy Time destroyed me emotionally. I'm such a sucker for Korean and Japanese literature. 🖤

[@francastanos1790]

I also read those three Hankang books 😍 and Kim Jiyoung born 1982! I just loved them all, now I'm looking for my next Korean book ¡Thank you for the help!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You're very welcome!

[@remanasu4563]

I've mainly read mangas, manhwas and manhuas, So I was interested to search for Japanese, Chinese and Korean literature or novels and I'll definitely check Pyun Hye-young's works! Thank you so much for the recommendations!!

[@seasyrenn]

I started reading Hye-Young Pyun and i have to say that i just absolutely love it so far, ill update when i am finished. I think you have immaculate taste in your book choice and you're very well spoken ~ either way thank you so much for your recommendations. I am also quite a huge fan of Ito Junji and asian literature in general. Finding your channel was literally my favourite thing today! ♡

[@wonderalicez]

I stumbled upon your blog and now I'm watching your videos. I adore how you describe these books, and I can't wait to read them

[@sihamwh]

Thank you for these series on ''novels in translation'' ( not the biggest fan of this expression but that's a story for another time). Many great books to pick from and great insight into their backgrounds too. I feel totally illiterate when it comes to Asian literature.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I do agree that it's an awkward phrase. 'World literature' is another option but it all still hints at an Anglo-centric attitude. If you want more recommendations, out website is built around lit in translation so browse Books and Bao to your heart's content.

[@blablu1317]

I‘m so glad I found you here 🤩 Thanks for all the recommendations! Have read and re-read all of Han Kang‘s novels and need more Korean literature 😊

[@sandrazuks9017]

Thanks for this, I love Korean literature too. I think it began with Hang Kang as well, 'Human Acts' is one of my all time favourite books. Will definitely look up Hye-Young Pyun, 'The Hole' as haven't read that (although have been aware of it) & 'B the book & me', everything else you've mentioned I have read. Do you like Hwang Sok-Yong? I love 'Familiar Things" and 'Princess Bari'. I love how Korean literature talks about death, mother's becoming birds, spirits visiting or leaving their bodies. It creates a beautiful line between the living and the dead, that I find comforting. I also love the food descriptions. When I read Kyung-Sook Shin, I need kimchi near by.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Wow you are very right about the relationship with death and how it is viewed through Korean lit. That's a really good and comforting point!

[@davryphan814]

I just finished one of Korean fiction called please look after mom. It was exquisite and I really love it. I think I fall for Korean novels so I try to find more titles. Thank you so much

[@constantfear4482]

Yeah it's so good

[@HannaSawkaHamaguchi]

Thanks for this video! I am a fan of Korean films and series and I noticed the terrific writing. This made me curious about the literature. I just read the Vegetarian (as per your recommendation) and WOW! The White Book is up next.

[@sjain8111]

appreciate the background bits artfully woven in on names and history 🤍

[@amimir2284]

so glad that I found your channel!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Aw thank you!

[@HMarie.99]

I haven’t read a lot of Korean literature yet, but I read Human Acts this year and it’s one of my favorite pieces of literature I’ve ever experienced! It was so incredibly touching and gripping, I cried multiple times and annotated so much. Some Korean lit that I wish would be translated are Jung Eun-gwol‘s novels, especially „Hong Chungi“ and „the moon that embraces the sun“ since I watched the TV adaptations of those^^

[@bookishsabrina]

I added so many of these to my TBR! I am always trying to work in more translated fiction, with varying levels of success. I haven't read that much Korean lit and there are many authors in here I've been really excited to try. Human Acts is one of my favorite novels, it is truly incredible. It's definitely a goal of mine in 2021 to try to more consistently be reading translated fiction, not just in August during WIT month :)

[@guillotine이다비다]

Just read kimjiyoung 1982 and Pachinko ( by Korean American) Good to know someone talks about K literature.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Absolutely and I'll be doing more talking about it in the future. (We have loads more reviews and articles on Korean books on our website btw; just quickly plugging that).

[@tspacefullstop4161]

Absolutely in love with these reviews...especially The Court Dancer. Thank you

[@greatkoliki2006]

Amazing review Thank you !

[@paholainen100]

I think “ your republic is calling you “ by young ha Kim is a great book too! Disguised as a political novel but deeper it covers issues such as family , fate in life and choices. A great and very accessible read.

[@Lord_Heron]

I loved 'Untold Night and Day' though I didn't think that it was in any way 'Lynchian', that is not how it feels to me. A great read and a real treasure imo, though not a standard or straightforward narrative, somewhat surreal and don't expect everything to be explained at the end, just enjoy the journey.

[@mx.eyebrows]

If you liked Untold Night & Day, you really need to read The Blind Owl (the book that is mentioned a bunch in it, and I think is an inspiration for it)!!!!! Love both!!!!

[@user-dv9yj1cw1b]

incredibly informative video, thank you for this!!

[@austinquick6285]

Pursuing translating Korean work

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Okay

[@rightonrightonrighton]

Just read Untold Night and Day at your recommendation. Really unnerving book that's brilliantly evocative.

[@anisamuthiah628]

I think I can listen to you 24/7

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Omg you’re too kind 😭

[@anisamuthiah628]

@@WillowTalksBooks hahaha no, just telling my opinion. The way you speak your mind is awesome and I think your mind is beautiful too :)

[@Bella-xl9xv]

Pyun Hye-Young is my cousin! I am so proud of her! :)

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Oh wow that’s so cool!!

[@Bella-xl9xv]

@@WillowTalksBooks So glad you like her work :)

[@enigmaticreverieproduction5169]

I loved Pachinko!!! And how it was written, to jump from 3 generations it had hope then it had heartbreak and so much more!

[@15BigDreamer]

Check out “I’ll be Right There” by Kyung Sook Shin. It’s probably her most underrated novel. I think it’s her best one. New subscriber from Spain :)

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Oh thanks, I will do!

[@dhonchung5056]

Happy to found this channel 🥰..new subscriber...

[@AnniesBookNook]

I totally agree I LOVED The White Book by Han Kang SO MUCH. So underrated, it needs more hype. I want to read Bae Su-Ah's Untold Night and Day, and the Court Dancer has been on my TBR for a while. My goal this year is to read more books translated from Korean

[@JLynnEchelon]

White Book is, so far, my favorite Han Kang. One thing I really, really appreciate about her is that her books are so very different. If one doesn't speak to you, another one might be for you.

[@jeremyrice3719]

Disappointed to hear Korean genre fiction has by in large not been translated as of yet. Read the Plotters a few years ago and loved it.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yeah, the plotters is so much fun and the author has a new book out in translation very, very soon. But we definitely need more!

[@Ashleylobesu_2007]

You really changed a lot nowadays 😮

[@harioandluigi4569]

Your hair looks like a kpop star in this! So cute

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you :)

[@AuburnAfterglow]

OMG I was so confused after hearing about Kyung-sook Shin on booktube and then seeing the name in different order in Poland (The Court Dancer has just been published here), this is so interesting :D I don't think I've read any Korean books yet, yes yes, I know... I might start with The Court Dancer or The Vegetarian ;)

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yeah the name thing is definitely frustrating and I wish publishers would just agree on a system! The Vegetarian is where I started and I was certainly hooked from there!

[@shannonbarrios1290]

ive only read one, its Human Acts by Han Kang. One of my treasured books honestly. I read it when i was in middle school and really bawled my eyes out. It also didn’t help that I was in some sort of existential depression then.🤧😅

[@Foeipoes]

Ok so now I want to read aaallll of these right this minute and I don't know what to do with myself :'D

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Aha! My plan is working!

[@Foeipoes]

@@WillowTalksBooks I finished Kim Jiyoung, born in 1982 mere seconds ago (loved it, thank you!). One down....! :)

[@corpclarke]

Untold Day and Night is a claustrophobic and magical book. A Least We Can Apologise by Lee Ki-Ho is a surreal, satirical masterpiece. Should be on the list.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I haven't read that one. I can't put books I haven't read on the lists that I make.

[@corpclarke]

@@WillowTalksBooks I think you'll like it judging from this list.

[@pandalyn2267]

Thank you so much for this and covering The Hole. I'm planning on reading all the others you've mentioned. Just found you and I'm so excited! ...Love you, too? :/

[@Julia-jf2pk]

The Hole was absolutely brilliant. It's own kind of horror.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Absolutely! Couldn't agree more. It has stuck with me for years.

[@sercemwksiazkach]

Thank you for this video! I discovered quite a few very interesting novels that might really suit my taste like The Plotters and The Court Dancer. I've already had some of these on my to-read list, but you convinced me to pick them up sooner! Your passion for translated books is beaming and I loved to see that~ Edit: ALSO thanks to you I discovered that The White Book is set in Warsaw - the capitol of Poland, where I'm from and I actually live close lolol that made me want to pick it up even more! I looked it up and it was even translated into Polish with the title being "The White Elegy". Interesting choice, do you think it suits the book?

[@latte934]

I recommend yolk! It's a little heavy but the ending is a happy one. *A few tw, ed(bulimia), cancer

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thanks, I've seen that book everywhere recently so il have to pick it up!

[@Alittlefruitgoesalongway]

Wow, The Hole sounds absolutely amazing and terrifying. I'll have to look for a copy

[@toasted_heretic]

Lovely video, thank you so much. I've not read any of these... I'm about to though.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You're very welcome! I really hope you love them like I did.

[@miriamc7139]

Wish i had seen this a year ago, well now i am inspired to read a book i havent felt like reading for a while so now, i have a few books to find. Just wanted to say that The Hole that you talk about there is a Japenese book by the same name? Any connection ? Or no, interesting. Anyway i'm on info overload, i've read some Murakami, so hope to get through a few books and hopefully improve my poor critique skills can get alittle better. Thanks M Its good to listen to good book reviews.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thanks for watching! The Japanese novel is unrelated as far as I know but I haven't actually read it (fun fact: the publisher refused to give me a review copy because my review of her last novel wasn't positive enough lol). Anyway, I have a thousand other Korean and Japanese books to recommend if you browse our blog and the channel :)

[@miriamc7139]

@@WillowTalksBooks will do

[@mrseskasi]

I started reading the vegetarian … the first part was fine( I didn’t finish it rather I abandoned as I would a burning coal)… ironically it’s not about being vegetarian( which I am😅)… Rather it points to the failure of society even the people closest to you to understand you( that’s how I read it)… the woman is literally starving herself because something is not right for her inside out… (as someone who realised I was anorexic and struggled to rise above I can relate)… but for people all that mattered was that she had become vegetarian… the sheer blindness of people was staggering…this is why even though I didn’t find the characters or plot interesting I could continue reading… because it hit different… and the the bits where you get the woman’s perspective is interesting… the violent undertone .. gave it a more malevolent and sinister vibe. But the second part made me hurl… I tried to push through it but the brother in law’s sexual descriptions and fetishisation were not only perverse … it felt like I was trying to force an abhorrent alien object into my system … just yuck!

[@Nixx0912]

Did you read "The cabinet" speking of Un-Su Kim? I heard of his crime fiction and I acctualy have another of his crime novels, I don't know if this one got translated in English, french title is "Le sang chaud". I that wasn't the one I orginaly setted out to buy but they only had this one in the library. I'm usually trying to wait for the "poche" - pocket sized additions as they're easier to carry and also cost around 10€ max. I got "Le placard" - "The cabinet" after I moved and acctualy read it first. I'm used to weird books (Isaka Kotaro came to my mind, or Kafka) but that was one of the weirdest I've read. The French cover acctualy has the hand with ginko leaf growing out of it, referencing one of the characters in the book who has an actual tree growing out of him. I would love to hear your thoughts about it.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you for reminding me. I've had my eye on The Cabinet for a while and I'll definitely get to it.

[@Ali94749]

Think I will pick up The Hole. Thus channel was such a find!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you so much! And yes, The Hole is a horror masterpiece. I hope you love it!

[@Ali94749]

I'm sure I will! I don't understand why you aren't famous on book tube. You should have much more subscribers!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Haha thank you! Honestly, most of our content is actually on our website. The KZbin channel is still pretty new. I've been putting a lot more effort into it for the last 6 months and hopefully that'll pay off!

[@JLynnEchelon]

Honestly, I hated Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, but I will keep it on my shelf as long as I live in Korea. It helps weed out men in my life. It's a book I didn't like, but I think is important. I would have appreciated it more if it had just been non-fiction.

[@eleanorbrown8914]

stopped at 4:58 and want to keep watching, but anti-communist/anti-DPRK propaganda is popping up again… followed through just for the books and it got better! good video

[@eyemohini]

I honestly couldn’t finish the hole bc I was so disturbed. And like you said, nothing outwardly terrifying happens 😂

[@ananicolevigueras2262]

Vegetarian did it for me and now I'm here and ready to be done again

[@ihatepicnics3481]

I seriously wanna read some Asian books . Being an Asian I wanna know more about Asian countries writings.

[@CASSIE_COLE]

Have you read the good son by You Jeon Jeon? That’s the only korean novel I’ve read and I loved it

[@WillowTalksBooks]

It was on my radar and I was even planning on doing a written review but I somehow missed it completely. Same thing happened with Almond by Won-pyung Sohn. I blame covid. But both Almond and The Good Son sound fantastic and I will get to them. Glad you loved it!

[@sarahagnes3192]

Can you please help me to find the pdf version of the vegetarian by Han Kang and the White Book.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Plenty of awesome indie bookshops sell them. If you really want a digital copy, you can buy one from Amazon. If you don't have the money, you can order them from your local library.

[@rebeccac5515]

Well I've just added 3 of these to my list. Love your videos, but they are consistently terrible for my TBR management.

[@Wats06071]

I have read very few Korean novels, so again, I don't have your wide knowledge. I have read Kim Jiyoung last year. I think it is a very good book, because it gets its message through, and achieves its goal. However, and you touched on that, it is a very underwhelming and meh novel. It is almost non-fiction. I still think it is worth reading though, and I would recommend it, but with caveat. This year I have read so far Pachinko (famous) and Almond by Won-pyung Sohn. Two very different novels, but I liked both very much. I have added some of your suggestions to my list.

[@mikkareads]

THE kafkaesk novel?! Say no more.

[@lapvona]

i just read the vegetarian and i have to say i’m very confused by it

[@BenRogersWPG]

I love your Asian lit recommendation videos

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thanks! I'll be doing plenty more in the future!

[@sana-gq2ur]

❤❤❤❤

[@patihmcgulam3345]

How about if you review Indonesian Novel?

[@WillowTalksBooks]

We have reviewed quite a few Indonesian books on our website but I haven't made any videos yet.

[@killordiegaming5280]

Where can i read them

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You can buy books from bookshops or get them for free from your local library.

[@mochi-yk1he]

What is your job,I’m curious 🤨

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I'm a writer. Our website (booksandbao.com) is my full-time job but I also write freelance for other people.

[@marinamaccagni5253]

I'm reading "b book and me" but the bad italian translation is ruining my pleasure of reading it.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That's so irritating, I'm sorry! The English translation is excellent, in case you want to try that instead

[@Ari-io9tf]

love you too?

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Aw thanks 😊💜

[@말할수없는것에대하여]

한국인인데 한권도 안읽어봤지

[@hidekiryuga1487]

Sorry, but I can't help getting sidetracked by your attractive accent. lol

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Haha thank you very much!

[@francoisebou]

;

[@shnkm]

A good list of korean books just except "kjy born 1982". It's sort of an crystalization of victim complex and hatred. Reading the book would be like wasting your life, I bet. Our life is too short and precious to read the trash.